Side Airbag Device with Segmented Chamber and Gas Distribution Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side airbag technologies face challenges in deploying the airbag in a normal position quickly and accurately, particularly due to limited clearance between the occupant and the vehicle door, leading to difficulties in inflating the lower portion of the airbag in a desired shape and controlling the direction of deployment.
Innovation Solution
A side airbag device with a separator that separates the airbag into a first chamber with a support inflation portion and a second chamber, where the support inflation portion gradually broadens from its lower end to its upper end, and the second chamber is deployable below the first chamber, with gas distribution holes to control gas flow and ensure accurate deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the lower end portion of the airbag is inflated widely at the initial stage, then the airbag can provide adequate protection volume, but it becomes difficult to inflate the lower portion in a desired shape due to limited clearance between occupant and door
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) separated by partitions. Each chamber can be inflated independently with controlled gas flow, allowing the lower portion to be deployed in a precise shape while still providing adequate overall protection volume. The segmentation enables differentiated inflation strategies for different regions of the airbag.
Solution Approach 2:
The support inflation portion is inflated first to provide structural support and establish the correct deployment shape before the main protection chambers are fully inflated. This preliminary action ensures that the airbag achieves its desired shape configuration early in the deployment sequence, preventing shape distortion even as volume increases.
2Speed
If the side airbag projects toward the outside of the vehicle at the initial stage, then it can gain deployment space, but it hits against the door or pillar and deploys toward the occupant in reaction, making it difficult to control deployment direction
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the airbag have different inflation characteristics and structural properties. The support inflation portion has specific local qualities (stiffer structure, controlled inflation rate) that guide the overall deployment direction, while other chambers have different qualities optimized for protection. This local differentiation enables precise control of deployment direction even at high speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The support inflation portion acts as an intermediary element between the inflator and the main protection chambers. It first receives the gas from the inflator and uses its structured design to channel the deployment force in the correct direction before the gas reaches the main chambers, thereby controlling the overall deployment direction.
3Productivity
If the gas flows directly from the inflator into the lower portion of the airbag, then the lower portion can be inflated quickly, but the deployment direction cannot be controlled accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is segmented into multiple chambers with controlled gas flow paths. Gas from the inflator is distributed to different chambers through controlled openings and partitions, allowing each chamber to inflate at optimized rates. This segmentation enables both rapid overall inflation and precise control of each region's deployment position and shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The support inflation portion is inflated in advance as a preliminary action before the main protection chambers reach full pressure. This preliminary inflation establishes the correct deployment position and shape early in the process, enabling subsequent chambers to inflate quickly without compromising positional precision.
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 side airbag device enables quick and accurate deployment of the entire airbag in a normal position, ensuring the second chamber is inflated in a desired shape, and provides enhanced protection by adjusting the firmness based on the occupant's position, improving the overall deployment and protection efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
a gas ejection part that ejects the gas generated by the inflator in a direction toward the upper end side of the support inflation portion
Implementation Method 2
The separator includes at least one gas distribution hole
Data Source
AI summary
A side airbag device includes an inflator and an airbag. The airbag includes a deployable bag and a separator that separates the bag into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber includes a support inflation portion and a protection inflation portion. The support inflation portion is deployable in such a shape that it gradually broadens from its lower end portion toward its upper end portion along a seat-side portion. The protection inflation portion is deployable at one end side of the support inflation portion. The inflator is disposed to supply a gas into the support inflation portion. The separator includes at least one gas distribution hole in a portion thereof that separates the support inflation portion of the first chamber and the second chamber from each other. The second chamber is provided below the first chamber.