Side Airbag Support Tether Rotation for Variable Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of autonomous vehicles has led to variable seating positions, reducing the supporting force of conventional side airbags during side collisions, as they are not designed to accommodate sliding or swiveling seats.
Innovation Solution
A side airbag apparatus with an airbag cushion secured to a seat's side surface, featuring a support tether system that rotates and extends longitudinally to stabilize the airbag deployment, preventing lateral rotation and enhancing passenger restraint, utilizing a rigid support tether and flexible outer tether for effective deployment and folding mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat position is made variable (sliding or swivelable) for autonomous driving, then the adaptability of the vehicle is improved, but the supporting force of the side airbag is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support tether is designed to rotate about a rotating shaft, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position according to the seat's movement. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the airbag to maintain proper orientation and supporting force regardless of whether the seat is in a fixed position or has been moved for autonomous driving modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The support tether serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the airbag, enables rotation to accommodate different seat positions, and maintains the airbag's supporting force across various operating conditions. This multi-functionality allows the same component to serve both traditional safety requirements and new autonomous driving requirements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support tether is made rigid to prevent rotation, then the airbag deployment stability is improved, but the adaptability to variable seat positions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support tether incorporates a rotating mechanism that allows it to adapt its position dynamically. The tether can rotate about the rotating shaft to accommodate seat movement while maintaining deployment stability through its structured connection to the airbag cushion and seat frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The support tether's orientation parameter can change through rotation about the rotating shaft, allowing it to adapt to different seat positions. This parameter change enables the system to maintain both stability during deployment and adaptability to variable seating arrangements.
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 apparatus ensures stable deployment and effective passenger restraint by preventing lateral rotation of the airbag, maintaining supporting force even with variable seating positions, thereby enhancing safety in side collisions.
Implementation Method 1
when gas is injected into the airbag cushion
Data Source
AI summary
A side airbag apparatus includes: an airbag cushion having a rear end configured to be secured to a side surface of a seat and a front end configured to move forwards while the airbag cushion is deployed forwards when gas is injected into the airbag cushion; at least one support tether having a first side coupled to a side surface of the seat to be rotatable about a rotating shaft extending in a direction parallel to a side of the seat, and extending in a longitudinal direction; and at least one outer tether having a first end coupled to a second side of the support tether, and a second end extending in the longitudinal direction and coupled to the front end of the airbag cushion.