Aspirating airbag assemblies

• US 10,124,759 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Bradley W., Williams, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US15/271,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20180079384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 280738, 280739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/346 means outside vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/02 by decompressing compressed, liquefied or solidified gases
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/08 by reaction of two or more liquids

Abstract

Airbag cushion assemblies for aspirating ambient air to enhance inflation. Some embodiments may comprise an inflation module comprising an inflator and a plurality of high-velocity nozzles fluidly coupled with the inflator and configured to deliver inflation gas from the inflator into an airbag cushion. A housing coupled to the airbag cushion, may comprise an aspiration inlet configured to allow for receipt of ambient air into the airbag cushion during inflation of the airbag cushion. The plurality of high-velocity nozzles may be configured to, upon actuation of the inflator, draw ambient air into the airbag cushion along with the inflation gas from the inflator. In some embodiments, a valve assembly may be provided that is configured to open upon actuation of the inflator and to close following inflation of the airbag cushion to prevent air and inflation gas from exiting through the aspiration inlet.

Claims

1. An airbag cushion assembly, comprising:

an airbag cushion;

an inflation module, comprising;

an inflator;

a plurality of high-velocity nozzles fluidly coupled with the inflator, wherein the plurality of high-velocity nozzles is configured to deliver inflation gas from the inflator into the airbag cushion;

an inflator conduit, wherein the inflator conduit is fluidly coupled with the inflator and fluidly coupled with the plurality of high-velocity nozzles; and

a housing coupled to the airbag cushion, wherein the housing comprises an aspiration inlet configured to allow for receipt of ambient air into the airbag cushion during inflation of the airbag cushion, and wherein the plurality of high-velocity nozzles is configured to, upon actuation of the inflator, draw ambient air into the airbag cushion along with the inflation gas from the inflator; and

a valve configured to open upon actuation of the inflator, wherein the valve is configured to close during inflation of the airbag cushion to prevent air and inflation gas from exiting through the aspiration inlet.

2. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to automatically close at a predetermined stage during inflation of the airbag cushion.

3. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 2, wherein the valve is biased towards a closed position.

4. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflator conduit comprises a cross-sectional dimension that decreases in size as the inflator conduit extends away from a portion of the inflator through which inflation gas is delivered.

5. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second inflator conduit fluidly coupled with the inflator, wherein the second inflator conduit comprises a second plurality of high-velocity nozzles configured to deliver inflation gas from the inflator into the airbag cushion.

6. An airbag cushion assembly, comprising:

an airbag cushion;

an inflation module, comprising;

an inflator;

a housing coupled to the airbag cushion, wherein the housing comprises an aspiration inlet configured to allow for receipt of ambient air into the airbag cushion during inflation of the airbag cushion;

an inflator conduit coupled with the housing and fluidly coupled with the inflator; and

a plurality of high-velocity nozzles fluidly coupled with the inflator conduit, wherein each of the plurality of high-velocity nozzles is configured to deliver inflation gas from the inflator into the airbag cushion, and wherein each of the plurality of high-velocity nozzles is configured to, upon actuation of the inflator, draw ambient air into the airbag cushion along with the inflation gas from the inflator; and

a valve comprising;

a flap comprising a plurality of openings;

wherein each of the plurality of high-velocity nozzles extends through a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings formed in the flap; and

a support member coupled to the flap, wherein the support member is biased towards a closed position in which the flap blocks the aspiration inlet, wherein the flap is configured to open upon actuation of the inflator, and wherein the valve is configured to close during inflation of the airbag cushion to prevent air and inflation gas from exiting through the aspiration inlet following inflation of the airbag cushion.

7. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 6, wherein the valve further comprises a hinge configured to bias the support member towards the closed position.

8. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 6, wherein the flap is formed from a portion of the airbag cushion.

9. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 6, wherein the inflator conduit comprises a cross-sectional dimension that decreases in size as the inflator conduit extends away from a portion of the inflator through which inflation gas is delivered.

10. An airbag cushion assembly, comprising:

an airbag cushion;

an inflation module, comprising;

a compressed gas chamber fluidly coupled with the airbag cushion, wherein the compressed gas chamber comprises a gas mixture comprising a flammable gas and an inert gas; and

a housing coupled to the airbag cushion, wherein the housing comprises an aspiration inlet configured to allow for receipt of ambient air into the airbag cushion during inflation of the airbag cushion, and wherein, upon actuation, the compressed gas chamber is configured to force the gas mixture into the airbag cushion, and wherein the gas mixture is configured to draw ambient air into the airbag cushion while being forced into the airbag cushion; and

an initiator extending into the airbag cushion, wherein the initiator is configured to ignite a flammable gas inside the airbag cushion upon actuation, and wherein the flammable gas comprises the gas mixture and ambient air.

11. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 10, wherein the inflation module further comprises at least one nozzle fluidly coupled with the compressed gas chamber, wherein the at least one nozzle is configured to deliver the gas mixture from the compressed gas chamber into the airbag cushion.

12. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one nozzle comprises a plurality of high-velocity nozzles, wherein the plurality of high-velocity nozzles are configured to draw ambient air into the airbag cushion along with the gas mixture from the compressed gas chamber.

13. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 10, wherein the airbag cushion comprises a pedestrian airbag cushion configured to be deployed from an exterior surface of a vehicle during an impact so as to cushion a pedestrian during the impact.

14. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 10, wherein the compressed gas chamber lacks an oxidizing gas, and wherein the airbag cushion assembly is configured such that oxygen obtained from the ambient air is used as an oxidizing gas during ignition of the flammable gas.

15. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 14, wherein the flammable gas comprises at least one of hydrogen and methane, and wherein the inert gas comprises at least one of nitrogen and argon.

16. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 15, wherein the gas mixture comprises hydrogen in an amount between about 30 mol % and about 40 mol %, and wherein the gas mixture further comprises argon in an amount between about 60 mol % and about 70 mol %.

17. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 10, further comprising a second initiator coupled with the compressed gas chamber, wherein the second initiator is configured to, upon actuation, force the gas mixture into the airbag cushion with sufficient force to draw ambient air into the airbag cushion with the gas mixture.

18. The airbag cushion assembly of claim 10, further comprising a valve configured to open upon actuation of the inflator, wherein the valve is configured to close during inflation of the airbag cushion.

19. An airbag inflation module, comprising:

a housing configured to be coupled with an airbag cushion, wherein the housing comprises an aspiration inlet configured to allow for receipt of ambient air into the airbag cushion during inflation of the airbag cushion;

an inflator configured to generate an inflation gas to facilitate inflation of the airbag cushion;

an inflator conduit coupled with the housing and fluidly coupled with the inflator;

a valve assembly comprising;

a first panel; and

a second panel, wherein the valve assembly is configured to be positioned in an open position in which ambient air is allowed to pass through the aspiration inlet and a closed position in which the first panel and the second panel block the aspiration inlet; and

a plurality of high-velocity nozzles fluidly coupled with the inflator conduit, wherein each of the plurality of high-velocity nozzles is configured to deliver inflation gas from the inflator, and wherein each of the plurality of high-velocity nozzles is configured to, upon actuation of the inflator, draw ambient air though the aspiration inlet along with the inflation gas from the inflator.

20. The airbag inflation module of claim 19, wherein the first panel is configured to at least partially overlap with the second panel in the closed position.

21. The airbag inflation module of claim 20, wherein the first panel comprises a lower panel, wherein the second panel comprises an upper panel, wherein the lower panel is configured to be positioned below the upper panel in the closed position, and wherein the valve assembly is configured such that, following actuation of the inflator, the valve assembly is configured to return to the closed position with the lower panel positioned below the upper panel.

22. The airbag inflation module of claim 21, wherein the lower panel is biased towards a closed position in which the lower panel at least partially blocks the aspiration inlet, wherein the upper panel is biased towards a closed position in which the upper panel at least partially blocks the aspiration inlet, and wherein the lower panel is biased towards the closed position with a greater force than a force with which the upper panel is biased towards the closed position.

23. The airbag inflation module of claim 19, wherein the first panel comprises a plurality of openings configured to receive at least a subset of the plurality of high-velocity nozzles therethrough.

24. The airbag inflation module of claim 23, wherein the second panel comprises a plurality of openings configured to receive at least a subset of the plurality of high velocity nozzles therethrough.

25. The airbag inflation module of claim 24, wherein at least some of the plurality of openings of the first panel overlap with at least some of the plurality of openings of the second panel such that at least some of the plurality of high velocity nozzles are configured to extend through an opening of the first panel and an opening of the second panel in the closed position.

26. The airbag inflation module of claim 19, wherein the valve assembly further comprises means for biasing at least one of the first panel and the second panel towards the closed position.

27. The airbag inflation module of claim 26, wherein the means for biasing comprises:

a first hinge configured to bias the first panel towards the closed position; and

a second hinge configured to bias the second panel towards the closed position.

28. The airbag inflation module of claim 26, wherein the means for biasing comprises a coupling member configured to couple at least one of the first panel and the second panel to the housing at a first end of the at least one of the first panel and the second panel, wherein the coupling member is configured to allow the at least one of the first panel and the second panel to pivot between the open position and the closed position.

29. The airbag inflation module of claim 28, wherein the coupling member comprises a coupling band extending along a perimeter of the at least one of the first panel and the second panel at the first end, and wherein the coupling band is configured to sandwich the perimeter of the at least one of the first panel and the second panel between the housing and the coupling band.