Side Airbag Vertical Partition Gas Flow Restrictor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side airbag apparatuses are limited in effectively restraining occupants and preventing pressure on obstacles due to the restrictive nature of the vertical partition, which restricts the inflation thickness and deployment direction of the airbag main body.
Innovation Solution
The side airbag apparatus incorporates a vertical partition with a gas flow restrictor that divides the airbag main body into upstream and downstream inflation portions, with the partition's widthwise dimension set equal to the airbag's inflated dimension, allowing for maximum inflation thickness and controlled deployment to effectively restrain occupants and prevent obstacle pushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag main body is deployed and inflated forward by a large amount to restrain the occupant, then the occupant protection performance is improved, but the airbag may push obstacles hard
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag main body is divided into a first inflation portion and a second inflation portion by a partition. The first inflation portion inflates first to contact and restrain the occupant, while the second inflation portion inflates afterward. This segmentation ensures that the airbag provides effective occupant protection through the first portion without pushing obstacles hard, as the second portion's inflation is delayed until the occupant is already restrained.
2Reliability
If the inflation thickness of the airbag main body is increased to improve occupant restraint, then the occupant protection is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag main body is divided into a first inflation portion and a second inflation portion by a partition. The first inflation portion provides the necessary inflation thickness for effective occupant restraint, while the second inflation portion extends the overall airbag length without significantly increasing the inflation thickness. This segmentation allows the airbag to achieve effective occupant restraint with controlled device complexity.
3Reliability
If the airbag main body is divided into multiple inflation portions with sequential inflation, then the occupant protection and obstacle protection are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag main body is divided into a first inflation portion and a second inflation portion by a simple partition structure. The first inflation portion receives inflating gas first and inflates to restrain the occupant, while the second inflation portion receives inflating gas afterward. This segmentation provides both occupant and obstacle protection without significantly increasing device complexity, as the partition is a straightforward structural element.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag system employs dynamic sequential inflation where the first inflation portion inflates first and the second inflation portion inflates afterward. This dynamic inflation sequence allows the airbag to adapt to different scenarios: when an occupant is present, the first portion provides immediate restraint; when no occupant is present, the second portion can still provide obstacle protection. The dynamic nature of the inflation process improves protection effectiveness without requiring complex control mechanisms.
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 enhances the airbag's ability to restrain occupants and prevent obstacle pushing by allowing maximum inflation thickness and controlled deployment, improving protection and reducing the risk of pushing obstacles during side impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a vertical partition including a gas flow restrictor at least into an upstream inflation portion, which is located rearward of the vertical partition and receives inflating gas, and a downstream inflation portion, which is located forward of the vertical partition and receives the inflating gas that has passed through the upstream inflation portion and the gas flow restrictor
Data Source
AI summary
A side airbag apparatus includes an airbag main body. The inside of the airbag main body is divided by a vertical partition including a gas flow restrictor at least into an upstream inflation portion, which is located rearward of the vertical partition and receives inflating gas, and a downstream inflation portion, which is located forward of the vertical partition and receives the inflating gas that has passed through the upstream inflation portion and the gas flow restrictor. The dimension of the vertical partition in the widthwise direction of the automobile seat is set to a dimension that is equal or approximate to the dimension of the airbag main body in the widthwise direction in a case in which the airbag main body is inflated without the vertical partition.