Automotive Trim Netlike Layer for Airbag Deployment Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive interior trims suffer material damage and particle ejection during airbag deployment, leading to potential harm to passengers due to insufficient energy absorption and excessive energy release.
Innovation Solution
An automotive interior trim featuring a framework with an airbag deployment opening, a foaming interlayer, and a netlike additional layer integrated with the foaming material, which absorbs excess energy and prevents crumb and particle ejection by fixing foam within dense meshes during airbag burst.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If airbag covers and instrument panel are integrally disposed with pre-weakened surface layers, then airbag deployment is enabled, but material damage and particle ejection occur during high-energy deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining the foaming interlayer with a netlike additional layer made of thermoplastic resin. This composite structure allows the netlike layer to reinforce the foaming interlayer, containing the foam material and preventing crumb and particle ejection during high-energy airbag deployment, while still allowing the airbag to deploy effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and mechanical parameters of the interior trim structure by adding a netlike additional layer with specific tensile strength and elasticity. This layer modifies the energy absorption characteristics of the overall structure, enabling it to handle high-energy deployments without fragmenting the foam material.
2Ease of operation
If interior trims have weak points for airbag opening, then airbag can burst open, but excess energy causes material damage and structural harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by incorporating a foaming interlayer that absorbs deployment energy. The netlike additional layer further reinforces this cushioning effect, allowing the structure to withstand high-energy impacts while still permitting controlled opening at the pre-defined weak points.
Solution Approach 2:
The netlike additional layer acts as an intermediary between the airbag deployment force and the instrument panel structure. It distributes the impact forces and prevents concentrated stresses that would cause structural damage, while allowing the airbag to open through the pre-defined weak points.
3Loss of energy
If foam material is used in interior trim, then energy absorption is improved, but foam fragmentation occurs during high-energy deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system where the netlike additional layer (thermoplastic resin mesh) is integrated with the foaming interlayer. The netlike layer provides structural stability to the foam, preventing fragmentation while allowing the foam to maintain its energy absorption properties during deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by having the netlike additional layer specifically positioned within the foaming interlayer region. This localized reinforcement provides structural support exactly where the foam material needs containment, while leaving other regions of the interior trim with their original properties for energy absorption and deformation.
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
Enhances deployment safety by preventing material damage and particle ejection, ensuring safe and effective airbag deployment without harming passengers or causing structural harm.
Implementation Method 1
Under the effect of the netlike additional layer, the foam in the foaming interlayer is fixed by dense meshes, thereby avoiding crumb and hard particle production
Implementation Method 2
a foaming interlayer and a surface layer... When the airbag bursts, the airbag cover is opened outwards and the surface layer of the instrument panel is torn, and the foaming interlayer is torn thereupon too
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive interior trim for improving deployment safety of seamless passenger airbags for instrument panel is disclosed. The interior trim, mounted on an deployment opening of an airbag module of a framework for a instrument panel, includes a framework with an airbag deployment opening for a instrument panel, an airbag cover covering the airbag deployment opening, a foaming interlayer, a surface layer, and a netlike additional layer which is integrally combined with the foaming interlayer after penetrated by a foam material. When the airbag bursts, the airbag cover is opened outwards and the surface layer of the instrument panel is torn, and the foaming interlayer is torn thereupon too. Under the effect of the netlike additional layer, the foam in the foaming interlayer is fixed by the additional layer, thereby avoiding crumb and hard particle production and improving the deployment safety of the airbag greatly.