Side Airbag Bellows Folding for Directional Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side airbag devices face challenges in achieving accurate and quick deployment towards the lateral space between a passenger and a vehicle sidewall, often resulting in slower deployment speeds or varying deployment directions due to their folding configurations.
Innovation Solution
A side airbag device with a bellows-like or roll-like folded section is designed to deploy from the seat towards the lateral space, featuring a specific folding pattern that allows for rapid and controlled inflation, where the folded sections are positioned in front of the attaching portion to ensure accurate deployment direction and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the airbag is continuously folded in half in the same direction or alternately folded to form a bellows-like shape, then the deployment speed is improved, but the deployment direction cannot be regulated and may vary
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple folded sections (first folded section and second folded section) with different folding patterns. The first folded section uses continuous half-folding for rapid deployment, while the second folded section uses alternating bellows-like folding for directional control. This segmentation allows each section to specialize in one function, resolving the contradiction between speed and direction accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the airbag are given different folding characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The leading end portion uses a folding pattern optimized for speed, while the base portion uses a folding pattern optimized for directional stability. This local differentiation allows the airbag as a whole to achieve both rapid deployment and accurate directional control.
2Manufacturing precision
If the airbag is wound up in a roll-like shape in the same direction, then the deployment direction can be regulated, but it takes a long time to unwind and the deployment speed becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag structure is segmented into different folded sections, each with optimized folding patterns. The first folded section uses a configuration that enables rapid unwinding and deployment, while the second folded section provides directional guidance. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing speed optimization in one section and direction control in another.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding structure is designed to dynamically unfold during deployment. The alternating bellows-like folding pattern allows the airbag to expand in a controlled manner that maintains directional accuracy while achieving rapid deployment speed, transforming the static folded state into a dynamic deployment process.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the airbag is deployed to the sidewall to suppress contact with the passenger, then contact is reduced, but the airbag is rubbed against the sidewall causing slower deployment and potential deployment failure
Solution Approach 1:
The folded airbag structure acts as an intermediary mechanism that guides the deployment path. By pre-folding the airbag in specific patterns, the deployment direction is controlled to pass through the lateral space rather than directly contacting the sidewall, reducing friction while maintaining protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag is pre-folded into specific configurations before deployment that anticipate the deployment path. The folded sections are arranged to guide the airbag through the lateral space during inflation, preventing sidewall contact before it occurs and ensuring rapid, friction-free deployment.
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 side airbag device achieves accurate and quick deployment into the lateral space, minimizing contact with the passenger or sidewall, and ensures reliable inflation and deployment, stabilizing the deployment direction and speed.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator which generates gas for inflating and deploying the airbag from the attaching portion to a leading end portion thereof in a deployment direction
Data Source
AI summary
A side airbag device (1) protects the passenger (90) in the lateral space (92). The airbag (10) has an attaching portion (11) attached to a side section (85) of a seat (80), and is folded so as to be able to deploy from the side section (85) toward the lateral space (92). The inflator (2) generates gas and thereby deploys the airbag (10) to a leading end portion (12) in the deployment direction (F). The airbag (10) has a bellows-like folded section in which a part (30) between the leading end portion (12) and the attaching portion (11) is folded in a bellows-like shape. The bellows-like folded section is disposed in front of the attaching portion (11) in the deployment direction (F), and is folded double toward the back of the deployment direction (F) so that a portion (32) close to the attaching portion (11) is positioned therein.