Active venting of an airbag module

• US 20030025309A1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schenck, Michael A., Griever, Charles D. Jr., Vendely, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,692,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

A dynamically adjustable automotive air bag gas venting system including an inflatable cushion stored in a non-inflated configuration; an inflator receptive of a first command signal for initiating the inflator; a retainer plate; a base plate; a rotatable ring positioned between the base plate and the retainer plate and a pyrotechnic actuator receptive of a second command signal for initiating the pyrotechnic actuator so as to at least partially vent inflation gas from an air bag.

Claims

1. A dynamically adjustable automotive air bag gas venting system comprising:

an inflatable cushion stored in a non-inflated configuration;

an inflator receptive of a first command signal for initiating the inflator;

wherein the inflator is in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion and operative in response to the first command signal to generate a prescribed quantity of inflation gas so as to deploy the inflatable cushion to an inflated configuration;

a retainer plate including;

a first aperture receptive of the inflator; and

a first set of vent slots peripheral to the first aperture;

a base plate including;

a second aperture aligned with the first aperture and receptive of the inflator;

and a second set of vent slots aligned with the first set of vent slots and peripheral to the second aperture;

a rotatable ring positioned between the base plate and the retainer plate and including;

a third aperture aligned with the first and second apertures and receptive of the inflator; and

a third set of vent slots peripheral to the third aperture; and

a pyrotechnic actuator receptive of a second command signal for initiating the pyrotechnic actuator;

wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is positioned proximate to the rotatable ring and operative in response to the second command signal to rotate the rotatable ring so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots.

2. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a retaining ring for securing the inflatable cushion, the retainer plate, the base plate, the rotatable ring and the actuator to the inflator.

3. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotatable ring is rotated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots during deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

4. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotatable ring is rotated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots prior to deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

5. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotatable ring is rotated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots after deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

6. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

an array of sensors for detecting a set of dynamical properties of an automobile, generating thereby a set of sensor signals indicative of the dynamical properties; and

a controller receptive of the sensor signals and operative thereby to generate the first and second command signals.

7. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the array of sensors include at least one of a seat position sensor, an optical scanner, a load sensor, a seat recline sensor, and a seat belt use detection sensor.

8. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rotatable ring comprises a self lubricating plastic.

26. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base plate or the retainer plate includes a recessed chamber receptive of the rotatable ring.

27. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base plate or the retainer plate includes a receptacle receptive of the actuator.

9. A method of dynamically adjusting venting of a portion of inflation gas from an automotive air bag gas venting system including an inflator for generating a prescribed quantity of inflation gas so as to deploy an inflatable cushion to an inflated configuration and a pyrotechnic actuator for rotating a rotatable ring so as to at least partially vent a portion of the inflation gas, the method comprising:

detecting a set of dynamical properties of an automobile including at least one of automotive seat position, automotive seat load, automotive seat configuration, automotive seat belt use and an air bag activation event;

responsive to the detected set of dynamical properties of an automobile, generating a set of sensor signals indicative of the dynamical properties;

responsive to the sensor signals, generating a set of command signals including;

a first command signal initiating the inflator thereby deploying the inflatable cushion; and

a second command signal initiating the pyrotechnic actuator;

wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is initiated at any time before, during or after deployment of the inflatable cushion.

10. A dynamically adjustable automotive air bag gas venting system comprising:

an inflatable cushion stored in a non-inflated configuration;

an inflator receptive of a first command signal for initiating the inflator;

wherein the inflator is in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion and operative in response to the first command signal to generate a prescribed quantity of inflation gas so as to deploy the inflatable cushion to an inflated configuration;

the inflator including;

a flange peripheral to the inflator;

a first recessed portion in the flange; and

a first set of vent slots;

a base plate including;

a first aperture receptive of the inflator;

and a second set of vent slots aligned with the first set of vent slots and peripheral to the first aperture;

a rotatable ring positioned within the first recessed portion between the base plate and the flange and including;

a second aperture aligned with the first aperture and receptive of the inflator; and

a third set of vent slots peripheral to the second aperture;

a pyrotechnic actuator receptive of the command signal for initiating the pyrotechnic actuator;

wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is positioned proximate to the rotatable ring and operative in response to the command signal to rotate the rotatable ring so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots.

11. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a retaining ring for securing the inflatable cushion, the base plate, the rotatable ring and the actuator to the flange.

12. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the rotatable ring is rotated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots during deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

13. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the rotatable ring is rotated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots prior to deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

14. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the rotatable ring is rotated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots after deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

15. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising:

an array of sensors for detecting a set of dynamical properties of an automobile, generating thereby a set of sensor signals indicative of the dynamical properties; and

a controller receptive of the sensor signals and operative thereby to generate the first and second command signals.

16. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the array of sensors include at least one of a seat position sensor, an optical scanner, a load sensor, a seat recline sensor, and a seat belt use detection sensor.

17. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the rotatable ring comprises a self lubricating plastic.

28. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the base plate or the retainer plate includes a recessed chamber receptive of the rotatable ring.

29. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the base plate or the retainer plate includes a receptacle receptive of the actuator.

18. A dynamically adjustable automotive air bag gas venting system comprising:

an inflatable cushion stored in a non-inflated configuration;

an inflator receptive of a first command signal for initiating the inflator;

wherein the inflator is in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion and operative in response to the first command signal to generate a prescribed quantity of inflation gas so as to deploy the inflatable cushion to an inflated configuration;

a retainer plate including;

a first aperture receptive of the inflator; and

a first set of vent slots peripheral to the first aperture;

a base plate including;

a second aperture aligned with the first aperture and receptive of the inflator;

and a second set of vent slots aligned with the first set of vent slots and peripheral to the second aperture;

a rectilinearly slidable plate positioned between the base plate and the retainer plate and including;

a third aperture aligned with the first and second apertures and receptive of the inflator; and

a third set of vent slots peripheral to the third aperture; and

a pyrotechnic actuator receptive of a second command signal for initiating the pyrotechnic actuator;

wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is positioned proximate to the slidable plate and operative in response to the second command signal to translate the slidable plate rectilinearly so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots.

19. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 18 further comprising a retaining ring for securing the inflatable cushion, the retainer plate, the base plate, the rectilinearly slidable plate and the actuator to the inflator.

20. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the rectilinearly slidable plate is translated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots during deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

21. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the rectilinearly slidable plate is translated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots prior to deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

22. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the rectilinearly slidable plate is translated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots after deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

23. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 18 further comprising:

an array of sensors for detecting a set of dynamical properties of an automobile, generating thereby a set of sensor signals indicative of the dynamical properties; and

a controller receptive of the sensor signals and operative thereby to generate the first and second command signals.

24. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 23 wherein the array of sensors include at least one of a seat position sensor, an optical scanner, a load sensor, a seat recline sensor, and a seat belt use detection sensor.

25. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the rectilinearly slidable plate comprises a self lubricating plastic.

30. A dynamically adjustable automotive air bag gas venting system comprising:

an inflatable cushion stored in a non-inflated configuration;

an inflator receptive of a first command signal for initiating the inflator;

wherein the inflator is in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion and operative in response to the first command signal to generate a prescribed quantity of inflation gas so as to deploy the inflatable cushion to an inflated configuration;

the inflator including;

a flange peripheral to the inflator; and

a first set of vent slots;

a base plate including;

a first aperture receptive of the inflator;

a first recessed portion in the base plate; and

a second set of vent slots aligned with the first set of vent slots and peripheral to the first aperture;

a rotatable ring positioned within the first recessed portion between the base plate and the flange and including;

a second aperture aligned with the first aperture and receptive of the inflator; and

a third set of vent slots peripheral to the second aperture;

a pyrotechnic actuator receptive of the command signal for initiating the pyrotechnic actuator;

wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is positioned proximate to the rotatable ring and operative in response to the command signal to rotate the rotatable ring so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots.

31. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 30 further comprising a retaining ring for securing the inflatable cushion, the base plate, the rotatable ring and the actuator to the flange.

32. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 30 wherein the rotatable ring is rotated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots during deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

33. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 30 wherein the rotatable ring is rotated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots prior to deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

34. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 30 wherein the rotatable ring is rotated so as to at least partially align the third set of vent slots with the first and second set of vent slots after deployment of the inflatable cushion to the inflated configuration.

35. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 30 further comprising:

an array of sensors for detecting a set of dynamical properties of an automobile, generating thereby a set of sensor signals indicative of the dynamical properties; and

a controller receptive of the sensor signals and operative thereby to generate the first and second command signals.

36. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 35 wherein the array of sensors include at least one of a seat position sensor, an optical scanner, a load sensor, a seat recline sensor, and a seat belt use detection sensor.

37. The gas venting system as set forth in claim 30 wherein the rotatable ring comprises a self lubricating plastic.