Vehicle Side Airbag Folded Portion Arm Jerk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side airbags in vehicles can unintentionally jerk up occupants' arms during deployment, leading to unbalanced positions and inadequate restraint performance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design with a side airbag system that includes a folded portion and a superposed portion, where the folded portion is arranged between the seat frame and the superposed portion, allowing the superposed portion to be pushed toward vehicle components during deployment, reducing the likelihood of the airbag jerking up the occupant's arm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the side airbag is deployed and inflated swiftly upward, then the deployment speed is improved, but the arm of the occupant may be jerked up violently causing harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The side airbag is divided into multiple sections: a lower section that deploys first and an upper section that follows. The folded portion with folding lines creates distinct deployment zones that control the inflation sequence, allowing the lower part to expand before the upper part, thereby preventing sudden upward movement that would jerk the occupant's arm.
Solution Approach 2:
The folded portion is pre-configured with folding lines and abutment portions that guide the deployment sequence. Before full inflation occurs, the folded structure is already positioned to control the expansion path, ensuring that the airbag inflates in a controlled manner from lower to upper sections, preventing harmful arm jerking.
2Volume of moving object
If the side airbag is folded tightly for compact storage, then the storage space is reduced, but the deployment smoothness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The side airbag is folded into a compact nested structure where portions are rolled or folded into each other. The folded portion contains folding lines that allow the airbag to be condensed into a small storage volume while maintaining the structural integrity needed for smooth deployment when inflated.
Solution Approach 2:
The folded portion transitions from a static compact storage state to a dynamic deployment state. The folding lines and abutment portions are designed to facilitate smooth transition during inflation, allowing the airbag to expand controllably from its compact folded form without compromising deployment smoothness.
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 reduces the movement of the deployed airbag to jerk up the occupant's arm, enhancing occupant restraint performance by ensuring a more balanced and effective protection during side collisions.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator attachable to a seat frame of the seat and causing inflator gas to be introduced into the side airbag
Data Source
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AI summary
A side airbag (2), a seat frame (7) having a support surface (7a) facing a door or the like, and an inflator (6) are provided, the inflator is stored inside the side airbag near a rear end thereof in a deployment and inflation direction, the side airbag has, in series, a folded portion (X1) with a folding line (F1) and a superposed portion (S) sequentially from the side of the inflator to a front end thereof in the deployment and inflation direction, the folded portion is formed to have an abutment portion (Q) folded back to a vehicle rear side from a vehicle front side on a front side of the inflator in a vehicle front-back direction along the folding line and abutted against the support surface, the superposed portion is formed in a rolled and superposed state, and the folded portion is arranged between the support surface and the superposed portion in the vehicle-widthwise direction.