Side Airbag Baffle Venting to Prevent Blockage

Solution Overview

Problem

The effectiveness of side airbag modules is compromised due to clogging of vent holes, which can lead to reduced shock-absorbency and potential injury from hot gas, especially when these holes are blocked by passengers or vehicle door trims during collisions.

Innovation Solution

A side airbag module design featuring a baffle that divides the airbag cushion into an inner and outer chamber, with strategically positioned first and second vent holes, where the first vent hole is internal to prevent blockage and the second vent hole is larger to ensure gas exhausts efficiently, preventing backflow and maximizing shock-absorbency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If vent holes are formed in the airbag cushion to exhaust hot gas, then passenger safety is improved, but the vent holes may be blocked by passengers or door trims reducing shock-absorbency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger injury from hot gasVSAvoidshock-absorbency efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag cushion is divided into an inner chamber and an outer chamber using a baffle. The first vent hole is formed only in the baffle separating the chambers, not exposed on the outer surface. This segmentation allows the vent hole to remain internally positioned and protected from blockage while still enabling hot gas exhaust from the inner chamber to the outer chamber and ultimately to the exterior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The baffle acts as an intermediary structure that contains the first vent hole. By positioning the vent hole within the baffle rather than directly on the airbag cushion surface, the patent creates a protected pathway for gas exhaust that cannot be blocked by passengers or door trims, while still allowing effective pressure equalization between chambers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the first vent hole is formed inside the airbag cushion, then the vent hole cannot be blocked, but the structure becomes more complex with baffles and dual chambers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevent hole blockage preventionVSAvoidairbag cushion structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag cushion is divided into an inner chamber and an outer chamber using a baffle. The first vent hole is formed only in the baffle separating the chambers, not exposed on the outer surface. This segmentation allows the vent hole to remain internally positioned and protected from blockage while still enabling hot gas exhaust from the inner chamber to the outer chamber and ultimately to the exterior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the inner chamber is inflated first, then shock-absorbency is maximized, but gas pressure may cause burning injury to passengers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock-absorbency efficiencyVSAvoidpassenger injury from hot gas

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The first vent hole is pre-positioned in the baffle to enable immediate pressure equalization as soon as the inner chamber begins to inflate. This preliminary arrangement of the venting pathway ensures that hot gas is continuously exhausted from the inner chamber to the outer chamber during the inflation process, preventing pressure buildup that could cause burning injuries while maintaining effective shock absorption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The baffle acts as an intermediary structure that contains the first vent hole. By positioning the vent hole within the baffle rather than directly on the airbag cushion surface, the patent creates a protected pathway for gas exhaust that cannot be blocked by passengers or door trims, while still allowing effective pressure equalization between chambers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This design prevents vent hole clogging and reduces the risk of passenger injury from hot gas, enhancing the safety and efficiency of the airbag's shock-absorbing capabilities by ensuring the first vent hole is not exposed and the second vent hole is not blocked, thus maintaining effective gas exhaust and inflation.

Implementation Method 1

a gas generating means (15) for generating a hot and high-pressure gas and exhausting the gas through an outlet when a car collision occurs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a side airbag cushion (10) that is configured to be filled with the exhausted gas and is inflated from back to front at a side of a passenger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas expansion: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS8550492B2Side airbag module

Publication Date: 2013.10.08 AUTOLIV DEV AB

AI summary

Provided is a side airbag module, including (i) a gas generating means generating a hot and high-pressure gas and exhausting the gas through an outlet when a car collision occur, (ii) a side airbag cushion that is configured to be filled with the exhausted gas and is inflated from back to front at a side of a passenger, and (iii) a baffle which includes a first vent hole and is formed inside the side airbag cushion to divide the inner space of the side airbag cushion into an inner chamber and an outer chamber, wherein a second vent hole is formed in a portion of the side airbag cushion, the portion corresponding to the outer chamber, and the inner chamber is inflated first and the outer chamber is inflated later as the side airbag cushion is inflated from back to front at a side of the passenger.