Side Airbag Chamber Thickness Control via Dynamic Partition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side airbag devices face difficulties in increasing the degree of freedom in changing the thickness of each chamber during deployment without altering the control performance of the airbag's outer shape.
Innovation Solution
The side airbag device incorporates a first partition wall and first inner tether that partitions the airbag into a front and rear chamber, with the first inner tether being shorter than its pre-deployment length, allowing for control of the airbag's outer shape and adjustable thickness by changing the tether length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the partition cloth size is changed to adjust chamber thickness, then the chamber thickness distribution can be optimized, but it is difficult to make a big difference in the thickness of each chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the partition wall capable of changing its position and orientation during airbag deployment. The partition wall is not fixed but can rotate and move to adjust chamber thickness dynamically, allowing optimal thickness distribution without changing the overall airbag size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the partition wall into multiple segments that can move independently. This segmentation allows each portion of the partition wall to adjust the chamber thickness locally, providing fine-grained control over thickness distribution while maintaining the overall airbag structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If the airbag is folded upwardly or downwardwardly to increase chamber circumference and thickness, then the chamber thickness can be increased, but the airbag itself is enlarged and the longitudinal length changes, making it difficult to control the outer shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic partition wall that can rotate and move during deployment to adjust chamber thickness without changing the overall airbag outer shape. The partition wall's movement is controlled to maintain the airbag's longitudinal length while varying chamber thickness as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent solves the thickness control problem by moving the partition wall in another dimension (rotation and lateral movement) rather than folding the airbag in the thickness direction. This allows chamber thickness adjustment while keeping the airbag's outer dimensions constant.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the partition wall is made movable to adjust chamber thickness, then the degree of freedom in changing thickness is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the partition wall into multiple movable sections that can be controlled independently. This segmentation allows for adjusted chamber thickness in different regions without requiring complex control mechanisms for the entire partition wall, thereby managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial movement capability of the partition wall, where only specific portions need to be movable to achieve the desired thickness distribution. This partial action approach reduces the overall complexity compared to making the entire partition wall fully adjustable.
Data Source
AI summary
A side airbag device includes an airbag 2 and an inflator. The airbag is formed in a bag shape by connecting peripheries of first and second main base cloths and of a vehicle inner side and a vehicle outer side. The airbag is partitioned into a front chamber and a rear chamber by a first partition wall. First inner tethers are provided in the front chamber and connect between a forward vehicle direction end of the front chamber and the first partition wall. Lengths of the first inner tethers and are shorter than a length between a first joint part connecting the first partition wall to the first inner tether and the forward vehicle direction end of the front chamber in the airbag in a front to rear vehicle direction before the airbag is deployed.