Side Air Bag Sub-Chamber Deployment to Prevent Occupant Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side air bag devices are large in size and do not effectively restrain occupants during early stages of deployment, leading to potential ejection forces that can tension seat belts and compromise occupant safety.
Innovation Solution
A side air bag device integrated into a vehicle seat with a main chamber and a sub-chamber, where the sub-chamber deploys inside the side support part and further forward than the vehicle's forward edge, causing the side support part to protrude and deform, thereby preventing occupant ejection and maximizing restraint performance, while the main chamber deploys forward and outward to enhance protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a side air bag device with both main air bag and subsidiary air bag is provided to protect occupants during lateral impacts, then occupant protection performance is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the subsidiary air bag inside the main air bag structure. The subsidiary air bag is positioned within the side support part region, allowing both air bags to occupy overlapping spatial volumes. This nested configuration enables dual air bag functionality while minimizing the overall device size, resolving the contradiction between improved protection performance and increased device volume.
2Productivity
If the subsidiary air bag deploys prior to the main air bag to restrain occupant at early stage, then restraint effectiveness is improved, but occupant ejection force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the subsidiary air bag to deploy specifically within the side support part region, creating localized restraint at the critical lateral impact zone. The subsidiary air bag's deployment is spatially constrained to push the occupant toward the center of the seat, providing targeted restraint without generating harmful ejection forces. This localized approach improves restraint effectiveness while eliminating the harmful effect of occupant ejection.
3Reliability
If the sub-chamber deploys further toward forward side than vehicle forward edge of side frame, then occupant ejection is prevented, but side support part deformation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the side support part with deformable characteristics that allow it to protrude forward during air bag deployment. The side support part is configured to elastically deform and push forward when the subsidiary air bag inflates, dynamically adapting to the deployment forces. This dynamic deformation enables the sub-chamber to extend beyond the vehicle forward edge of the side frame, preventing occupant ejection while utilizing the structural flexibility of the side support part.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for quick and effective restraint of occupants by minimizing ejection forces and optimizing the deployment of both chambers to improve occupant protection, with the sub-chamber deploying before the main chamber to reduce disturbance and enhance the overall protection performance.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator supplying inflating gas to the air bag
Implementation Method 2
the sub-chamber deploys further toward a forward side than a vehicle forward edge of the side frame, thereby making at least a front part of the side support part protrude and deform toward an occupant side
Data Source
AI summary
A side air bag device restraining an occupant at the early stage of the deployment. A seat back has a side support part bulging in a vehicle forward direction at a side part in a vehicle width direction. A seat frame of the seat is provided inside the seat. The side air bag device has an air bag deploying to restrain an occupant and an inflator supplying inflating gas. A side frame part of the seat frame is inside the side support part, and the side air bag device is on an outer side of the side frame. The air bag has a main chamber deploying forward and to an outer side of the side support part and a sub-chamber deploying inside the side support part. The sub-chamber deploys further toward a forward side than a vehicle forward edge of the side frame, at least a front part of the side support part protrudes and deforms toward an occupant side.