Airbag device and triggering process therefore

• US 20050017485A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: INOVA GmbH (Innovationszentrum Lörrach GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: INOVA GmbH (Innovationszentrum Lörrach GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Muller, Olaf
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2173 the module or part thereof being movably mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2155 with complex motion of the cover; Retraction under the lining during opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• 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 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

An airbag system including an airbag and gas generating device provided with deployment control devices that enable the air bag to be at least partially deployed before it is inflated with gas from the gas generating device, and to a method of operating such an airbag.

Claims

1. Airbag system as a module with airbag and its gas generating device in a layout with deployment techniques which start to deploy the airbag in a predetermined direction and to a predetermined deployment base before gas moves into the airbag.

2. Airbag system according to claim 1 with deployment technique which in most cases pulls, the airbag folding perpendicular to its usual deployment.

3. Airbag system according to claim 1 with deployment technique defold the airbag in a perpendicular direction to increase the size of its deployment base.

4. Airbag system according to claim 1 with a larger deployment base to bypass OOP-occupants and decrease the aggressiveness (out of position=to close to the airbag deployment base=risk of high injuries of death).

5. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the defolding technique as well pre-open covers, trim moldings etc. before the final airbag deploys.

6. Airbag system according to claim 5 characterized that the defolding technique pre-opens covers etc. in a predetermined direction and on an exactly predetermined location.

7. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the airbag gas supply is on a predetermined location, usually on its periphery.

8. Airbag system according to claim 7 where the gas supply is in a predetermined direction, usually perpendicular to its usual deployment direction.

9. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the gas blowing system with some measures pre-opens the trim covering the airbag in time before gas enters the final protecting airbag.

10. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the airbag textile will be lifted by some measures only, and will be pulled perpendicular to the usual deployment direction to the side to increase the deployment base. We call this ACTIVE DEFOLDING.

11. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the ACTIVE DEFOLDING technique consist of hoses which point to predetermined directions and shoot their corks, projectiles, bullets against the textile of the airbag in a sideways direction.

12. Airbag system according to claim 11 characterized that these hoses are supplied by the gas before the gas enters the airbag.

13. Airbag system according to claim 11 characterized that these hoses are tilted up to the level of the outer instrument panel when the airbag system is a passenger airbag system.

14. Airbag system according to claim 11 where the hoses are closed by corks, sewings etc. to build up pressure. And the pressure times area builds up force.

15. Airbag system according to claim 11 where these hoses are opened by exceeding a predetermined gas pressure level after the ACTIVE DEFOLDING has taken place a time base.

16. Airbag system according to claim 13 characterized that the hoses are lifted by their inner pressure.

17. Airbag system according to claim 16 characterized that the hoses are lifted by pistons in cylinders driven by the gas pressure.

18. Airbag system according to claim 11 where the hoses are closed on their ends by sewing and tilted inwards.

19. Airbag system according to claim 18 where the hoses are elongated by tilting out by the gas pressure and pulling the airbag textile sideways.

20. Airbag system according to claim 18 where the sewing of the hose cracks after the gas has reached a predetermined pressure level and the gas flows lateral in a transverse direction into the airbag.

21. Airbag system according to claim 11 where the ACTIVE DEFOLDING is achieved by tubes.

22. Airbag system according to claim 21 where the tubes are equipped with joints to be able to be tilt in the predetermined direction and to be bent down in case of a head impact.

23. Airbag system according to claim 21 characterized that the tubes are telescope tubes to be elongated to pull the airbag textile to its predetermined location.

24. Airbag system according to claim 21 characterized that the tubes are packaged in a short telescope condition and are elongated by telescope to move their ends to the upper surface of the instrument panel.

25. Airbag system according to claim 21 characterized that the tubes are tilted by pistons in cylinders driven by gas pressure.

26. Airbag system according to claim 23 characterized that the telescope move of the tubes opens holes to let the gas through pass in to the airbag textile. (System of the gas flow control of a 2-stroke-petrol engine.)

27. Airbag system according to claim 1 where a telescope chimney, where hoses or tubes are connected to lift up the system for a better pull angle, move parallel to the surface of the instrument panel and to lift the airbag out of the module on to the instrument panel as a prerequisite for the ACTIVE DEPLOYMENT in a tangential direction.

28. Airbag system according to claim 11 characterized that a pin etc. avoids the push out of the cork, bullet, projectile, tilt out of the hose before the tube/hose system is lifted up by cylinders or the described telescopic system to its predetermined starting location.

29. Airbag system according to claim 28 where the release pin or release mechanic is travel controlled.

30. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the ACTIVE DEFOLDING mechanism is like an air mattress layout.

31. Airbag system according to claim 30 characterized that the mattress consists out of multiple separate cells built up in line into the direction of the ACTIVE DEPLOYMENT.

32. Airbag system according to claim 30 characterized that the first cells are connected directly to the gas pressure.

33. Airbag system according to claim 30 characterized that the first cells blow up, move the airbag in the predetermined transverse direction.

34. Airbag system according to claim 30 characterized that the sewing or gluing between the first and the next cell and so forth cracks at a predetermined pressure level and the pull of the mattress moves accordingly cell by cell.

35. Airbag system according to claim 30 characterized that the mattress by different length of the upper and lower layer is moved around a corner to pull in a transverse direction.

36. Airbag system according to claim 30 characterized that mattresses are mounted in the periphery of the module to pressure chimneys.

37. Airbag system according to claim 30 characterized that the pressure chimney is located in the middle of the module.

38. Airbag system according to claim 36 characterized that the pressure chimney is lay out solid or as a telescope moving up during pressurizing.

39. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that a predetermined portion of the gas flow enters directly into the airbag by gas through pass holes besides the ACTIVE DEFOLDING mechanism.

40. Airbag systems according to claim 1 characterized that the ACTIVE DOOR technique is combined with the ACTIVE DEFOLDING mechanism for minimum aggressiveness during airbag deployment. (The ACTIVE DOOR technique is described in several patents and patent applications from same inventor. This technique pre-opens the airbag moldings by a piston driven by the gas pressure.)

41. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the ACTIVE DEFOLDING mechanism is an integrated part of the airbag module.

43. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized as an alternative to be equipped with shaped guide sheets to guide the textile of the bag very quick and with low resistance.

44. Airbag system according to claim 1 in that tubes, hoses etc. move the gas exhaust on outside on the outer surface of the instrument panel to avoid gas pressure and damage inside the instrument panel.

45. Airbag system according to claim 44 characterized that airbag module and instrument panel are not damaged after crash and the module can be reinstalled with little effort.

46. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that they are located in the defroster channel of the windshield.

47. Airbag system according to claim 46 characterized that the normal use the air flow passes through or besides the airbag module.

48. Airbag system according to claim 45 characterized that all kinds of existing locations like trays, styling moldings, side window defogging etc. can be used to cover an airbag outlet parallel to its normal use.

49. Airbag system to claim 45 characterized that the airbag lifts these moldings without damage and deploys.

50. Airbag system according to claim 48 characterized that the ACTIVE DEFOLDING mechanism directs the airbag defolding towards a direction and or to a deployment base which is predetermined for optimum deployment.

51. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that first the active deployment mechanism and there after opening of the gas flow the airbag textile is pulled not pushed like a paper tissue through its small slot. This is a prerequisite for airbag modules behind a defroster slot.

52. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that corks, bullets, projectiles on the end closed hoses or “

tilt out”

hoses move the airbag from a multipurpose hole exit to a predetermined location.

53. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that their diameter, shape and “

two side”

gas outlet is tailored to the requirement of the defroster channel size shape and location.

54. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the gas generator is covered with the guide bag equipped with sewn on hoses segments for the lifting up of covers and the gas exhaust outside the instrument panel into the airbag.

55. Airbag system according to claim 54 characterized that the sewn in hoses contain corks, bullets and the like.

56. Airbag system according to claim 54 characterized that the sewn in hoses are tilt in during normal use and tilt out during crash to elongate themselves and apply a “

move”

to lift the grid and move out the airbag.

57. Airbag system according to claim 54 characterized that the sewn in hoses are reinforced that they can not fold bag during pressurizing.

58. Airbag system according to claim 54 characterized by measures to keep the hoses on the outside of the instrument panel during gas flow—

by blocking pins etc.

59. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the passenger has two airbags simultaneously one upper and a lower one.

60. Airbag system according to claim 59 characterized that the upper airbag is an airbag out of the defroster channel as described in preceding claims.

61. Airbag system according to claim 59 characterized that the upper airbag is a top mounted airbag out of the shell of the instrument panel.

62. Airbag system according to claim 59 characterized that the lower airbag deploy out of an outlet behind a styling molding pulled bag into the instrument panel according the ACTIVE DOOR technique (patents of same owner before.).

63. Airbag system according to claim 62 characterized that the gas flow moves into a guide bag first, the guide bag deploys, the sewn hoses tilt out and the final bag is pulled out to a fraction.

64. Airbag system according to claim 62 characterized that the sewing of the tilt-out-hoses crack and the gas flows perpendicular to the occupant into the final bag as predetermined.

65. Airbag system according to claim 62 characterized that the airbag system with guide bag and gas flow is tailored that the rear most corner of the instrument panel is protected by the upper part of the lower airbag.

66. Airbag system according to claim 65 characterized that in addition to claim 64 the lower part of the lower airbag protect the knees of the occupant.

67. Airbag system according to claim 59 characterized that both airbags are supplied by one gas generator connected by gas flow channels to both airbag intakes.

68. Airbag system according to claim 67 characterized that gas flow to the airbag behind the molding at first is closed by a valve.

69. Airbag system according to claim 68 with a valve mechanic which tilts the molding into the module (ACTIVE DOOR) and by during this opens the gas flow to the “

lower”

airbag.

70. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that in the minimum one guide bag opens an integrated lid for example in the instrument panel to let the airbag move out with low aggressiveness.

71. Airbag system according to claim 70 characterized that the guide bag tilts it tilted in sewing section hoses to the outside and by doing this moves the final protection airbag to a larger deployment base in a direction perpendicular to the deployment towards the occupant.

72. Airbag system according to claim 70 characterized that the sewing on the end of the section hoses cracks and the gas flows into the protection airbag on its outer periphery to guarantee a “

bypass”

to OOP-occupant.

73. Airbag system according to claim 70 characterized that the guide bag is mounted on a pressure plate which is lifted up by the gas pressure by pistons or pressure in the gas supply tubes etc.

74. Airbag system according to claim 73 characterized that the pressure plate only can move towards the instrument panel shell, not back. It is blocked to “

no return”

by a linkage system etc.

75. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that the ACTIVE DOOR SYSTEM and the ACTIVE DEFOLDING SYSTEM are combined in one module.

76. Airbag system according to claim 75 characterized that the module housing is built up by two specifically layouts (aluminum) (magnesium) extruded profiles with connecting walls on its side.

77. Airbag system according claim 75 characterized that between the extruded profile housing a “

rolling piston”

can move.

78. Airbag system according to claim 77 characterized that the rolling piston is a tooth-rod guided along a tooth segment to only be able to roll straight and parallel to the housing.

79. Airbag system according to claim 75 characterized that the rolling piston is driven by the generators gas, roll up to its open the port for the gas into the gas pressure chimney.

80. Airbag system according to claim 75 characterized that the rolling piston pulls two ribbons connected to the molding. The molding is pulled into the module by these ribbons.

81. Airbag system according to claim 75 characterized that the gas pressure chimney is equipped with a guide bag or gas pressure hoses on its top.

82. Airbag system according to claim 1 characterized a detection against OOP child seat location rearwards against an instrument panel with an airbag behind it to switch the airbag ignition off at OOP (FIG. 28).

83. Airbag system according claim 82 characterized that the OOP airbag detection is a beam from a laser, infrared light, ultrasonic, magnetic field etc. between a source and a receiver.

84. Airbag system according claim 82 characterized when the beam etc. is disturbed by an OOP child seat etc. for a longer time an electronic circuit will switch off the airbag.

85. Roof airbag system according to claim 1 characterized that guide bags are included.

86. Roof airbag system according claim 85 characterized that the guide bag pre-opens all trim before the gas enters the main bag.

87. Roof airbag system according claim 85 characterized that the guide bag pull the main bag out of its packaged location into a pre-deployed condition before the gas enters the main airbag.

88. Roof airbag system according claim 85 characterized that the guide bag opens the gas flow into the main airbag exactly on a pre-determined location.

89. Roof airbag system according claim 85 between front and rear passengers where the guide bag pro-opens and tilt a formed headliner section to avoid the formed headliner shoot down.

90. Roof airbag system according to claim 1 installed inside the extruded profiles of the sunroof frame.

91. Roof airbag system according claim 85 characterized that the airbags are all around the sunroof frame, the side bags, the bags between front and rear passenger and the bag to close the sunroof opening.

92. Roof airbag system according claims 90 characterized that the base of the airbags is sled in into appropriate matches as shown in FIG. 64 etc.

93. Roof airbag system according claim 90 characterized that the gas channels between generator and airbag intake are integrated in the extruded profiles and connected by holes, with the ends plugged.

94. Roof airbag system according claim 90 characterized that the sliding measures of the sunroof opening airbag are included in the extruded profiles.

95. Roof airbag system according to claim 90 characterized that the sunroof opening airbag is located in the front of the extruded frame, in the rear of the extruded frame or in both locations.

96. Roof airbag system alternatively equipped with a guide bag system as described in claim 1.

97. Roof airbag system according claim 96 wherein the final airbag system is housed inside the extruded profiles.

98. Roof airbag system according the claim 96 wherein the guide bag preopens all trim before the gas enters the main bag.

99. Defroster slot airbag system according to claim 1 characterized in that the airbag system is packaged in an instrument panel as a module including pressure channel, telescope tubes, folding out hoses and is arranged for quick pull out like a paper tissue out of its box.

100. Defroster slot airbag system according to claim 99, characterized with telescope tube system to bring the gas exhaust outside the instrument panel and pull the airbag out like a tissue out of its box.

42. Airbag system according to preceding claims characterized that the ACTIVE DEFOLDING mechanism has on or more gas pressure channels, especially when telescope elongations are necessary to move the bag into predetermined directions.