Side Airbag Webbing and Dual-Chamber Deployment Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing side airbag devices face challenges in compactification and improving occupant protection performance, particularly in stabilizing deployment behavior and speed, due to restricted installation regions and the need for enhanced deployment speed and shape stability.

Innovation Solution

The side airbag device incorporates a dual-chamber design with a first chamber deployed towards the vehicle front and a second chamber positioned at the occupant's seating side, featuring an inflator housed within the second chamber and connected via vent holes for gas flow, along with webbing that surrounds the airbag module and pad to control deployment behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the installation region is largely restricted, then the device must be compactified, but the deployment behavior and shape stability become difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice volumeVSAvoiddeployment shape stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber and second chamber) with different deployment directions. The first chamber deploys toward the front of the vehicle while the second chamber deploys toward the occupant's seating side. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized for its specific deployment path, improving overall shape stability despite compact packaging constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Webbing is introduced as an intermediary component that surrounds the airbag module along with the pad. The webbing controls and guides the deployment behavior of the airbag, ensuring stable deployment shape even when the device is compactified to fit restricted installation regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the installation region is largely restricted, then the device must be compactified, but the deployment speed may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice volumeVSAvoiddeployment speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The dual-chamber design enables parallel deployment paths that can be inflated simultaneously or in controlled sequence, maintaining high deployment speed while fitting compact packaging requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inflator supplies inflation gas to both chambers through optimized gas flow paths with vent holes at the partition. The pneumatic system is designed to deliver sufficient pressure and flow rate to achieve rapid deployment despite the compact size of the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Device complexity

If a single chamber design is used, then the device is simpler, but the occupant protection performance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairbag structure complexityVSAvoidoccupant protection performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag is segmented into two chambers with different deployment directions: the first chamber toward the front and the second chamber toward the occupant's seating side. This segmentation allows the airbag to provide comprehensive protection against different types of side impacts, improving reliability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each chamber is designed with specific local characteristics optimized for its deployment direction. The first chamber is optimized for frontward deployment while the second chamber is optimized for inward deployment toward the occupant, ensuring optimal protection performance for each impact scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If the webbing does not surround the airbag module, then the device is simpler to manufacture, but the deployment behavior cannot be controlled certainly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddeployment behavior control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The webbing acts as an intermediary component that connects and surrounds the airbag module along with the pad. It provides mechanical guidance and control for the deployment behavior, ensuring reliable and predictable airbag expansion while maintaining manufacturability through a relatively simple webbing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enhances occupant restraint by stabilizing deployment behavior, improving protection performance through controlled deployment and efficient gas distribution, while also contributing to the compactification of the device.

Implementation Method 1

an inflator for supplying an inflation gas to the airbag

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas expansion:

Implementation Method 2

The inflation gas flows from the second chamber to the first chamber through the inner vent hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3584122B1Side airbag device

Publication Date: 2021.11.17 AUTOLIV DEV AB

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AI summary

A side airbag device (20) stored in a side support (12) of a vehicle seat includes an airbag module having an airbag and an inflator (30) and a webbing (40,140) partially covering the airbag module. The webbing extends from a rear side of the airbag module and passes through a pad (16) of the side support.