Side Airbag Sub-Chamber Interference for Occupant Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side airbag devices installed on the far side of a vehicle, without a side door to prevent cushion movement, fail to sufficiently suppress occupant movement towards the impact site due to limited interference with the center console box, especially when the occupant is seated only in the driver's seat.
Innovation Solution
A side airbag device configuration with a main chamber and a sub-chamber, where the sub-chamber expands to interfere with the seat back of the other seat, providing a reaction force to the main chamber, effectively suppressing occupant movement by positioning the sub-chamber to abut the side support part in the vertical direction, ensuring the shoulder of the occupant is restrained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the side airbag device is installed on the far side without a side door, then the device can be installed in vehicles with only driver's seat, but the cushion movement toward the impact site cannot be sufficiently suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag cushion is divided into multiple independent chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) with different deployment functions. The first chamber deploys toward the impact site to directly protect the occupant, the second chamber deploys to interfere with the center console box for movement suppression, and the third chamber provides additional support. This segmentation allows each chamber to perform its specific function optimally, resolving the contradiction between installation versatility and protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extends the protection mechanism from a single-plane deployment to multi-dimensional deployment by positioning chambers at different locations (front, rear, side) and orienting them to deploy in different directions. The second chamber's deployment toward the center console box creates a three-dimensional restraint system that suppresses cushion movement toward the impact site, thereby improving occupant protection effectiveness while maintaining installation adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the center console box height is limited, then the device can be installed in various vehicle configurations, but the cushion movement suppression is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The suppression force is segmented and distributed across multiple chambers instead of relying on a single chamber or the center console box alone. The second chamber specifically targets the center console box interference, while the first and third chambers provide additional restraint forces from different directions. This distributed force system compensates for the limited height of the center console box while maintaining adaptability to various vehicle configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the suppression functions of multiple chambers into a unified restraint system. The first, second, and third chambers work together to suppress cushion movement through combined forces, where the second chamber's interference with the center console box is augmented by the deployment actions of the other chambers. This merged system achieves sufficient suppression force even when the center console box height is limited.
3Device complexity
If a single chamber configuration is used, then the device structure is simple, but the occupant movement suppression in the vertical direction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag cushion is segmented into multiple chambers (first, second, third chambers) with distinct deployment directions and functions. This segmentation enables the system to provide comprehensive occupant restraint in multiple directions including the vertical direction, thereby improving reliability without requiring excessive structural complexity. Each chamber's specific orientation contributes to the overall restraint effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple chambers are designed to deploy dynamically in response to collision forces from different directions. The chambers inflate and interact with various vehicle structures (seat back, center console box, etc.) to adaptively suppress occupant movement. This dynamic deployment pattern enhances restraint effectiveness while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through coordinated chamber activation.
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 configuration effectively suppresses occupant movement towards the impact site even when seated only in the driver's seat, reducing unnecessary damage by distributing gas flow to ensure proper deployment pressure and positioning of the main chamber.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator is provided within the cushion that, upon receipt of an output signal from a sensor that detects an impact, generates gas to expand the cushion
Data Source
AI summary
Problem: To effectively suppress movement toward a collision site of an occupant even when the occupant is seated only in the driver's seat.Resolution Means: a side airbag device 1 provided on a side surface portion on the center side in the width direction of the backrest SB of the seat s of one of the driver's seat Sd and the passenger seat Sn, and is provided with a cushion 2 that constrains movement of the occupant p toward a site where an impact is applied during a collision event. A portion of the inflator 3 is inserted into the cushion 2. The cushion 2 comprises a main chamber 2a and a sub-chamber 2b disposed on the base panel 4b opposite the occupant side base panel 4a of the main chamber 2a that is seated by the occupant p seated in the driver seat Sd. Upon collision, when the occupant p seated in the driver's seat Sd moves toward the passenger seat side, the expanded sub-chamber 2b interferes with the side support SS on the driver side of the passenger seat Sn, and the expanded main chamber 2a is provided with the reaction force from the passenger seat Sn.