Airbag deployment rate sensor with spool brake
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag device a motor vehicle comprising:
- an airbag housing;
an airbag cushion mounted to the airbag housing, and defining a bag interior surface;
a cartridge mounted fixed with respect to the airbag housing and containing a quantity of line stored within the cartridge and wound about a spool, the spool being mounted for rotation about an axis within the cartridge, the line passing through the cartridge and extending through an outlet and being attached to the interior surface of the airbag cushion; and
a sensor positioned within the cartridge for detecting the string or tape being withdrawn from the cartridge, by detecting rotation of the spool.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag deployment rate sensor employs a tape or string that is wound on a spool and connected to the fabric of an airbag cushion so that as the airbag deploys, tape or string is pulled from the spool causing it to rotate. A brake is applied to the spool to prevent the buildup of momentum and so the tape and the spool will come to a rapid stop when the tape is no longer being withdrawn from the spool because the portion of the airbag to which the tape is connected has collided with an object. A sensor is positioned to detect rotation of the spool and so to monitor the rate at which tape or string is being withdrawn.
17 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An airbag device a motor vehicle comprising:
-
an airbag housing;
an airbag cushion mounted to the airbag housing, and defining a bag interior surface;
a cartridge mounted fixed with respect to the airbag housing and containing a quantity of line stored within the cartridge and wound about a spool, the spool being mounted for rotation about an axis within the cartridge, the line passing through the cartridge and extending through an outlet and being attached to the interior surface of the airbag cushion; and
a sensor positioned within the cartridge for detecting the string or tape being withdrawn from the cartridge, by detecting rotation of the spool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An airbag device for a motor vehicle comprising:
-
an airbag housing;
an airbag cushion mounted to the airbag housing, and having portions defining a bag interior surface;
a spool mounted for rotation on the airbag housing;
a string or tape wound about the spool and having a first end attached to the bag interior surface, so that as the airbag cushion is inflated, a portion of the string or tape is withdrawn from the spool, thereby causing the spool to rotate and so unwind the string or tape from the spool;
a brake, and a biasing member mounted with respect to the brake to bias the brake into frictional engagement with the spool, so that when the string or tape is no longer being withdrawn from the spool, the spool will stop rotating; and
a sensor fixedly mounted with respect to the airbag housing to detect rotation of the spool. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An airbag device for a motor vehicle comprising:
-
an airbag housing;
an airbag cushion mounted to the airbag housing, and defining a bag interior surface;
a spool mounted for rotation on the airbag housing;
a string wound about the spool having a first end attached to the bag interior surface, so that as the airbag cushion is inflated, a portion of the string is withdrawn from the spool, thereby causing the spool to rotate and so unwind the string from the spool;
a coil spring having a first end fixedly mounted with respect to the airbag housing and a second end mounted to the spool to rotate with the spool, the coil spring opposing the rotation of the spool, and so opposing the portion of the string being withdrawn from the spool; and
a sensor fixedly mounted with respect to the airbag housing to detect rotation of the spool. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
-
Specification