Slim Passenger Airbag Module for Low Risk Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional passenger airbag systems pose a risk of severe injury to out-of-position occupants due to downward or upward deployment forces during vehicle accidents, and existing low risk deployment systems face challenges in fitting two airbag modules within the limited space defined by instrument panels, particularly on curved surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A slim type passenger airbag module with a disk-type inflator and a box-shaped airbag housing, where the inflator and opening are perpendicular, reducing the module's height and length, and allowing for precise distance and angle adjustments between the top and mid airbags to ensure horizontal deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single top or mid airbag module is installed in the instrument panel, then the device complexity is reduced, but out-of-position occupants are at risk of severe neck injury due to downward or upward deployment forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairbag module configurationVSAvoidneck injury risk to out-of-position occupants

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag system is divided into two separate modules: a top airbag module mounted on the upper surface and a mid airbag module mounted on the front surface of the instrument panel. This segmentation allows each module to contribute to horizontal deployment, eliminating the harmful vertical deployment forces that cause neck injuries to out-of-position occupants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If two airbag modules (top and mid) are installed to achieve low risk deployment, then neck injury risk is reduced, but the module volume and installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneck injury risk to out-of-position occupantsVSAvoidinstrument panel installation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag modules are designed with optimized three-dimensional configurations that utilize the available space in the instrument panel more efficiently. The top airbag module extends upward from the upper surface while the mid airbag module extends forward from the front surface, allowing both modules to achieve horizontal deployment without requiring excessive volume within the constrained instrument panel space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the airbag modules are mounted on curved instrument panel surfaces, then adaptability to vehicle design is improved, but the manufacturing precision and positioning accuracy become more difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with curved instrument panel surfacesVSAvoiddistance and angle positioning between airbag modules

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag modules incorporate mounting structures with adjustable positioning capabilities that allow precise control of the distance and angle between the top and mid airbag modules. This enables accurate positioning even when mounted on curved instrument panel surfaces, maintaining the required geometric relationships for proper horizontal deployment while adapting to various vehicle dashboard designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables the installation of two airbag modules in limited space, ensuring horizontal deployment and reducing the risk of neck injuries to out-of-position occupants by meeting National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) criteria for low risk deployment.

Implementation Method 1

a disk type inflator, an upper end of which is inserted into the airbag housing through a circular insert hole formed through a rear surface of the airbag housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas generation and expansion:

Data Source

PatentUS7686326B2Low risk deployment passenger airbag system using slim type passenger airbag module

Publication Date: 2010.03.30 S&T DAEWOO

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a low risk deployment passenger airbag system using a slim type passenger airbag module which is minimized in height and/or length, such that a top airbag and a mid airbag can be installed in a limited space defined by an instrument panel. In the slim type passenger airbag module used in the low risk deployment passenger airbag system, a disk type inflator is used, unlike the conventional art using a cylindrical inflator, an upper end of the disk inflator is disposed in an airbag housing, and a retainer for supporting the cushion is brought into close contact with the bottom (or the rear surface) of the airbag housing in which the disk type inflator is provided, thus minimizing the height and/or length of the passenger airbag module. Thereby, the slim type passenger airbag module is suitable for the low risk deployment passenger airbag system. Furthermore, in the low risk deployment passenger airbag system, to deploy the cushions of the top and mid airbags substantially horizontally towards a passenger seat when a vehicle accident occurs, the distance between the top airbag and the mid airbag is within a range from 100 mm to 250 mm, the top airbag is inclined at an angle ranging from 60° to 75° with respect to the horizontal surface, and the mid airbag is inclined at 15° or less with respect to the horizontal surface.