Web-Mounted Airbag Deploying Along Shoulder Belt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airbag systems in vehicles, particularly in aircraft, face challenges in providing effective protection for occupants in various seating arrangements and impact directions, as they are not universally adaptable and may not meet safety regulations such as the FAA's criteria for head injury prevention and strap tension loads.
Innovation Solution
The development of a compact, web-mounted airbag system that deploys along the shoulder belt during a crash, allowing the seat belt to pass through it, providing protection by inflating radially and extending downwardly across the occupant's chest, thus mitigating head excursion and Head Injury Criterion (HIC), while maintaining a small packaging size for easy stowage and reduced risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If airbags are deployed from specific locations in automobiles (e.g., steering column), then protection is provided for driver and passengers, but the system is not effective for other types of vehicles, different impact directions, or different seating arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system is designed to be universally applicable across different vehicle types (aircraft, automobiles, land vehicles) and seating arrangements (forward-facing, aft-facing, side-facing seats). The airbag can deploy from various locations including seat belts, panels, and overhead structures, providing multi-functional protection against different impact directions while maintaining a relatively simple system architecture.
2Reliability
If airbags are made larger to provide better protection, then head and torso coverage is improved, but packaging size increases and risk of damage from vehicle components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is designed with a compact, nested packaging structure that allows it to be stored in a small space within the vehicle interior. The airbag can be positioned within recesses, compartments, or integrated into seat belt assemblies, reducing its exposed surface area and minimizing the risk of damage from vehicle components while maintaining full deployment capability for effective head and torso coverage.
3Speed
If airbags deploy rapidly to protect occupants during collision, then protection response time is improved, but control and positioning precision becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates guide structures, channels, and positioning mechanisms that act as intermediaries between the airbag and the occupant. These intermediaries ensure that the airbag deploys along a predetermined path and reaches the correct position rapidly, maintaining both high deployment speed and accurate positioning. The guide structures prevent erratic movement and ensure consistent placement for optimal protection.
4Ease of operation
If seat belt tension loads are reduced to meet safety regulations, then occupant comfort is improved, but protection effectiveness during severe impacts may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system provides beforehand cushioning that works in conjunction with the seat belt. The airbag is positioned to cushion the head and torso before impact occurs, reducing the reliance on high seat belt tension loads. This complementary protection mechanism allows the seat belt to maintain lower, more comfortable tension levels while the airbag provides additional protection during severe impacts, meeting both comfort and effectiveness requirements.
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 solution effectively reduces head and chest injury risks during accidents by deploying along the shoulder belt, meeting safety regulations and facilitating easy installation and stowage, while minimizing the risk of airbag damage from vehicle components.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the seat belt to pass through it, providing protection by inflating radially and extending downwardly across the occupant's chest
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle occupant restraint systems that include a compact, web-mounted airbag that can be deployed during a crash event are described herein. In some embodiments, the web (e.g., a shoulder belt) passes through the stowed airbag during normal use and, when the airbag inflates and deploys, the airbag extends along the length of the web (for example, along the entire length, or at least most of the length, of the web) to protect the occupant. In some embodiments, the restraint systems include shoulder belts having first and second overlapping web portions, and when the airbag inflates and deploys, the airbag extends along the length of the first web portion between the first web portion and the second web portion.