Side Airbag Partition Wall and Vent Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side airbag devices often result in higher injury levels for the chest compared to the waist due to uneven load distribution during deployment, as the chest ribs are narrower and contain vital organs, and increasing vent hole diameter to improve gas discharge can decrease energy absorption.
Innovation Solution
A side airbag device with a cushion structure featuring a smaller upper opening, a partition wall inclined downward, and a strategically placed vent hole to control gas flow and pressure, allowing for efficient gas discharge and reduced chest load while maintaining energy absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the diameter of the vent hole is increased to increase gas discharge amount, then gas discharge efficiency is improved, but the energy absorption amount of the cushion decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent hole is divided into multiple smaller holes instead of one large hole. The vent hole includes a first vent hole in the first region and a second vent hole in the second region, allowing gas to be discharged through multiple pathways while maintaining smaller individual hole diameters that preserve energy absorption capability
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cushion have different vent hole configurations tailored to their specific needs. The first vent hole is positioned in the first region with specific diameter constraints, while the second vent hole is positioned in the second region, creating localized gas discharge zones that optimize both discharge efficiency and energy absorption in different areas
2Strength
If the cushion stiffness is increased to improve occupant restraining force, then the restraining capability is improved, but the load on the chest increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion has different stiffness characteristics in different regions. The first region (with the first vent hole) and the second region (with the second vent hole) are configured to provide different levels of restraint force, allowing the cushion to be stronger where needed while softer in contact with the chest area
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion is functionally segmented into different regions with different vent hole configurations, creating zones with different mechanical properties. This segmentation allows the cushion to provide strong overall restraint while having softer local characteristics in the chest contact region
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 effectively suppresses the load on the chest by regulating gas flow and pressure, allowing for increased energy absorption without the need for a larger vent hole, thus reducing injury risk during side impacts.
Implementation Method 1
Airbags are safety devices that operate in an emergency situation such as vehicle crashes and are inflated and deployed with gas pressure
Implementation Method 2
a vent hole is formed in an upper portion. The vent hole is a structure for discharging gas outside the airbag, and International Patent Publication No. WO 2002/100691 describes that the stiffness of an airbag (cushion) is adjusted by the discharge of gas
Data Source
AI summary
A side airbag device is provided, which is capable of increasing an energy absorption amount while suppressing the load on an occupant. The side airbag device includes: a bag-shaped cushion; an inflator provided on a vehicle rear side inside the cushion; an inner tube that surrounds the inflator; an upper opening and a lower opening formed in the inner tube; a tether that extends toward a vehicle front side from the inner tube to partition the vehicle front side of the inside of the cushion into a chest restraining portion and a waist restraining portion; a void portion provided inside the cushion on the vehicle front side of the tether; and a vent hole formed near the void portion. The upper opening has a smaller opening area than the lower opening, and the tether is inclined downward toward the vehicle front side from the vehicle rear side.