Automotive Side Airbag with Diffuser for Arm Elevation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side airbag systems do not effectively prevent passenger arm interference with the chest during a side collision, leading to potential injury.
Innovation Solution
An automotive side airbag system featuring an inflator, air cushion, and diffuser with strategically positioned discharge holes that inflate and unfold to lift the passenger's arm diagonally, separating the air cushion into upper and lower chambers to distribute gas pressure effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the air cushion inflates in a conventional manner, then the chest protection function is provided, but the passenger's arm interferes with and presses against the chest
Solution Approach 1:
The air cushion is divided into multiple air bags (first air bag, second air bag, third air bag) with different inflation sequences and directions. The first air bag inflates to protect the chest, the second air bag inflates to lift the arm, and the third air bag provides additional protection. This segmentation allows different regions of the air cushion to perform different functions simultaneously, resolving the conflict between chest protection and arm interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by inflating the first air bag before the second air bag. The first air bag inflates initially to provide chest protection, and then the second air bag inflates to lift the arm away from the chest. This sequential preliminary action ensures that chest protection is established first, followed by arm elevation to prevent interference.
2Ease of operation
If the air cushion unfolds forward only, then the structure is simple, but the arm cannot be lifted diagonally upward to prevent chest pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The air cushion is designed to expand in multiple dimensions and directions rather than solely forward. The first air bag unfolds forward, the second air bag expands diagonally upward to lift the arm, and the third air bag provides additional coverage. This multi-dimensional expansion capability enables the arm lifting function while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure consisting of interconnected air bags.
Solution Approach 2:
The air cushion structure is designed to be dynamic and adaptable, with different air bags inflating at different times and in different directions based on the collision scenario. The system can adjust its inflation pattern to lift the arm diagonally upward when needed, transforming from a static forward-unfolding structure to a dynamic multi-directional protection system.
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 system effectively prevents the passenger's arm from pressing against the chest by lifting it during inflation, enhancing protection against injury in side collisions.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator ejecting gas when operating
Implementation Method 2
a diffuser disposed in the air cushion, supplying the gas ejected from the inflator to the air cushion, and having a discharge hole formed across a direction in which the air cushion is unfolded by the supplied gas
Implementation Method 3
an air cushion expanded and unfolded forward from a side of a passenger by the gas ejected from the inflator
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is an automotive side airbag including: an inflator ejecting gas when operating; an air cushion expanded and unfolded forward from a side of a passenger by the gas ejected from the inflator; and a diffuser disposed in the air cushion, supplying the gas ejected from the inflator to the air cushion, and having a discharge hole formed across a direction in which the air cushion is unfolded by the supplied gas.