Swingable Sub-Bag Airbag Impact Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger protection systems, such as airbag apparatuses, can subject passengers to high impacts during deployment due to the convex portions hitting them in various types of collisions, which can lead to inadequate protection and increased risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
A passenger protection apparatus featuring an airbag with a main bag and sub-bags that are swingably coupled via connectors, allowing the sub-bags to absorb and distribute impact forces more effectively by deploying between the main bag and the passenger, thereby reducing the impact on the passenger during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional airbag apparatus with convex portions is used to protect passengers, then the airbag can deploy to provide protection, but the convex portions hit the passenger during deployment causing high impact and increased risk of injury
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into a main bag and multiple sub-bags that can deploy independently. The sub-bags are positioned at locations corresponding to convex portions in conventional airbags, but instead of fixed convex structures, they are separate deployable units that can adapt to different collision scenarios, reducing concentrated impact on the passenger.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-bags are swingably coupled to the main bag via connectors, allowing them to move dynamically during deployment and collision. This dynamic configuration enables the sub-bags to swing and closely contact the main bag based on impact forces, distributing impact more evenly rather than creating fixed high-impact convex portions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extending portions are added to equalize impact values in various collisions, then protection in multiple collision types improves, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-bags serve multiple functions: they can deploy independently to protect in side collisions, swing to contact the main bag in oblique collisions, and distribute impact forces in various collision scenarios. This single sub-bag structure with swingable connectors provides universal protection across multiple collision types without requiring separate specialized structures for each collision scenario.
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 apparatus improves passenger protection by effectively absorbing and distributing impact forces across a wider area, enhancing safety in various types of collisions, including oblique and side impacts, by allowing the sub-bags to swing and closely contact the main bag, thus reducing the overall impact on the passenger.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator configured to supply gas to expand the airbag
Implementation Method 2
connectors configured to swingably couple the sub bags to the main bag at positions out of a center of the seat in a vehicle width direction, so that the sub bags can swing when a force is applied to the sub bags in the vehicle width direction
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger protection apparatus includes an airbag and an inflator. The airbag is configured to hold a passenger sitting on a seat of a vehicle when the airbag deploys, and the inflator is configured to supply gas to expand the airbag. The airbag includes: a main bag configured to hold a head and an upper body of the passenger; sub bags configured to protrude to the passenger to deploy between the main bag and the passenger; and connectors configured to swingably couple the sub bags to the main bag at positions out of a center of the seat in a vehicle width direction, so that the sub bags can swing when a force is applied to the sub bags in the vehicle width direction.