Variable Vent Airbag Device for Passenger Injury Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In emergency braking scenarios, passengers are at risk of injury due to the deploying force of airbags, as they are moved closer to the airbag, leading to potential head or neck injuries from the inflation pressure.
Innovation Solution
An airbag device with variable vent units and tether units that adjust the deployment pressure based on the passenger's position by discharging gas through outward protruding vents during initial deployment and closing them later to maintain consistent deployment shape and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag cushion unit is inflated with high pressure to ensure effective protection, then the protective function is improved, but the risk of passenger injury increases when the passenger is positioned close to the airbag
Solution Approach 1:
The vent units are designed to dynamically change their state from open to closed based on the inflation pressure and passenger position. During early inflation, the vent units remain open to allow gas discharge and reduce pressure. As inflation progresses and pressure increases, the tether units tighten and close the vent units to maintain pressure for effective protection. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between high pressure protection and injury risk reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent units are pre-configured to be open during the initial inflation phase, allowing working gas to be discharged before the airbag reaches full inflation pressure. This preliminary gas discharge prevents excessive pressure buildup that could cause passenger injury, while still ensuring sufficient pressure is maintained for effective protection in the later phase when vent units close.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the airbag cushion unit maintains constant internal volume and deployment shape, then the deployment consistency is improved, but the ability to adapt deployment pressure to passenger position is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag device is segmented into the airbag cushion unit and separate vent units with tether units. This segmentation allows the vent units to independently control gas discharge without affecting the overall structure and deployment shape of the airbag cushion unit. The vent units can open or close based on pressure conditions while the main airbag maintains consistent deployment characteristics, resolving the contradiction between deployment consistency and pressure adaptability.
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 airbag device reduces passenger injury by varying deployment pressure according to the passenger's position, ensuring appropriate protection without altering the airbag's internal volume or intended deployment shape.
Implementation Method 1
an airbag cushion unit inflatable with working gas introduced thereto
Implementation Method 2
one or more tether units having one portion shaped to surround the variable vent unit and the other portion fixed to an outer portion of the airbag cushion unit, and configured to tighten and close the variable vent unit in response to the airbag cushion unit being inflated
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag device includes an airbag cushion unit inflatable with working gas introduced thereto, one or more variable vent units protruding outward from the airbag cushion unit and including a hollow portion communicating with an inner portion of the airbag cushion unit, and one or more tether units having one portion shaped to surround the variable vent unit and the other portion fixed to an outer portion of the airbag cushion unit, and configured to tighten and close the variable vent unit in response to the airbag cushion unit being inflated.