Side Airbag Chamber Layout for Compact, Reliable Seat Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side airbag devices face challenges in achieving reliable and rapid deployment while maintaining compactness, which affects their deployment behavior and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A side airbag device is designed with a pre-push chamber and a main chamber, secured by a bracket connected to the vehicle seat's side frame, where the main chamber deploys forward and the pre-push chamber deploys inward, utilizing a specific folding and creasing pattern to ensure quick and reliable deployment, and a flexible cover member is used to enclose the airbag for compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the airbag is made compact for stowage in the side supporting part, then the packaging space is reduced, but the deployment behavior is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) with distinct deployment directions. The first chamber deploys in the vehicle width direction, the second chamber deploys in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the third chamber deploys in both directions. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized for its specific deployment path, ensuring reliable deployment behavior even in a compact configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag utilizes three-dimensional deployment by expanding in multiple directions (vehicle width direction and vehicle front-rear direction) simultaneously through different chambers. This multi-dimensional deployment approach allows the airbag to achieve effective protection volume while maintaining a compact stowage profile by utilizing spatial efficiency.
2Volume of moving object
If the airbag is made compact, then the device size is reduced, but the deployment speed is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is segmented into multiple chambers that can deploy in different directions simultaneously. The first chamber is optimized for rapid deployment in the vehicle width direction, while the second chamber deploys in the vehicle front-rear direction. This segmentation allows the airbag to achieve rapid overall deployment by distributing the expansion across multiple independent chambers rather than relying on a single large chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag deployment occurs in a staged manner where different chambers expand in sequence or simultaneously based on the collision scenario. The first chamber provides initial rapid deployment in the vehicle width direction, followed by or concurrent with deployment of the second chamber in the vehicle front-rear direction, creating a periodic expansion pattern that ensures rapid overall deployment.
3Loss of time
If the airbag configuration is optimized for rapid deployment, then the deployment time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple chambers (first, second, and third chambers) with different deployment characteristics. The first chamber is configured for rapid deployment in the vehicle width direction, the second chamber for deployment in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the third chamber for deployment in both directions. This segmentation enables rapid deployment by allowing different chambers to expand independently in their optimized directions, reducing overall deployment time while managing complexity through functional specialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The third chamber is designed to deploy in both the vehicle width direction and vehicle front-rear direction, providing multi-functional capability. This universal chamber can respond to different collision scenarios (side collisions and rolling collisions) with a single structural element, reducing the need for separate specialized chambers and thereby managing device complexity while maintaining rapid deployment capability.
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 enables reliable and rapid deployment of the airbag in the desired direction, enhancing safety while maintaining compactness, and the cover member ensures efficient storage without loosening the compressed airbag.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator that supplies expansion gas to the airbag
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a side airbag device stored inside a vehicle seat and fixed to a side frame. The device includes an airbag that expands and deploys to restrict an occupant; an inflator that supplies expansion gas to the airbag; and a bracket connected to the side frame that holds the airbag and the inflator. The airbag includes a prepush chamber having an inflator stored therein and mainly deploys inside of the side frame; and a main chamber connected to the prepush chamber and mainly deploys forward of the side frame. The bracket includes a first surface oriented in the forward direction of the vehicle; and a second surface oriented to the inside of the seat in the width direction of the vehicle. When the airbag is stored by being folded and/or rolled, at least the main chamber is disposed on the first surface of the bracket.