Gas flow distributor for a lateral airbag module

• US 20050029784A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Petri Ulm GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Siegel, Wolfgang, Weyrich, Christian, Sendelbach, Hans-Peter, Aulbach, Alexander, Heuschmid, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 7,364,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas flow distributor for a lateral airbag module. Said distributor is used to distribute a gas ON flow leaving a gas generator by the outflow openings thereof, in a targeted manner, in a gas bag which is to be inflated by the gas generator. According to the invention, the gas flow distributor is formed by a dimensionally stable receiving element (1) surrounding the gas generator, at least in the region of the outflow openings.

Claims

1-40. -40. (Canceled)

41. A gas flow distributor for a lateral airbag module, comprising:

a holder configured to surround outflow openings of a gas generator,

wherein the holder includes an impact element and a gas-guiding duct,

wherein the gas-guiding duct is configured to guide gas flowing between the impact element and the gas generator,

wherein the impact element is configured so that a gas flow emerging from the outflow openings of the gas generator impacts against the impact element and is thereby deflected and divided into a first gas flow and a second gas flow,

wherein the first gas flow is deflected in a first direction along a circumferential surface of the gas flow distributor toward a first gas outlet region and the second gas flow is deflected in a second direction along the circumferential surface of the gas flow distributor toward a second gas outlet region,

wherein the first and second gas flows emerge from the gas outlet regions along a tube axis of the gas generator, and

wherein the first and second gas outlet regions are opposite one another.

42. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas-guiding duct runs essentially between an outside of the gas generator and an inside of the impact element.

43. The gas flow distributor of claim 42, wherein the gas-guiding duct runs essentially between an outside of a region of the holder that surrounds the gas generator and an inside of the impact element.

44. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the impact element has an essentially circular cross section.

45. The gas flow distributor of claim 44, wherein the gas generator comprises a tubular gas generator and the tube axis of the gas generator and a cross-sectional axis of the impact element are spaced apart from each other.

46. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the impact element is formed as a single piece with an end portion of the holder.

47. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas-guiding duct essentially has a circular ring-shaped cross section and/or a crescent-shaped cross section.

48. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas outlet regions of the gas-guiding duct and/or the outlet openings of the holder lead into at least one gas bag.

49. The gas flow distributor of claim 48, wherein the gas outlet regions of the gas-guiding duct and/or the outlet openings of the holder lead in each case into different chambers of the gas bag and/or into different gas bags.

50. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the impact element and/or the holder serve to separate two gas bag chambers.

51. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein at least two gas bags are attached to the impact element and/or the holder and in each case at least one gas-guiding duct and/or at least one outlet opening leads into one gas bag in each case.

52. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the holder comprises a dimensionally stable material so that the holder is not deformed by the gas flow emerging from the gas generator.

53. The gas flow distributor of claim 52, wherein the holder comprises metal or a die casting.

54. The gas flow distributor of claim 53, where the holder is configured to hold a tubular gas generator.

55. The gas flow distributor of claim 54, wherein the holder includes a holding region for surrounding a tubular gas generator.

56. The gas flow distributor of claim 55, wherein the holding region comprises a tubular shape.

57. The gas flow distributor of claim 56, wherein a cross section of the holding region comprises a continuous curve.

58. The gas flow distributor of claim 57, wherein the continuous curve comprises a a circular shape or a polygonal shape.

59. The gas flow distributor of claim 56, wherein the holding region comprises an essentially hollow, cylindrical shape.

60. The gas flow distributor of claim 55, where the holder is configured to allow gas flowing along a circumferential surface of the holding region in a direction of extent of the tubular gas generator into a gas bag.

61. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the holder includes holder outlet openings through which gas which has flowed into an interior of the holder can emerge from the gas generator and can flow into a gas bag to thereby inflate the gas bag.

62. The gas flow distributor of claim 61, wherein at least one holder outlet opening is provided in a casing of the holding region.

63. The gas flow distributor of claim 61, wherein a size of the holder outlet opening can be set.

64. The gas flow distributor of claim 61, wherein the holder outlet opening is at least partially closed by a covering which is opened by the gas flow emerging from the gas generator.

65. The gas flow distributor of claim 61, wherein at least one holder outlet opening is configured to conduct the gas flow emerging from the gas generator along a circumferential surface of the holding region in a direction of extent of the gas generator.

66. The gas flow distributor of claim 55, wherein the holder is configured so that the gas flow emerging from the gas generator is held in the holding region and is at least in part initially reflected against an inner wall of the holding region before the gas flow emerges from the holder.

67. The gas flow distributor of claim 55, wherein the inner wall of the holding region is spaced apart from the gas generator at least in a rejoin of the gas generator outflow openings.

68. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the holder is configured to be connected directly to a supporting part of a motor vehicle.

69. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the holder is configured to be connected to a supporting part of a motor vehicle indirectly via a further assembly.

70. The gas flow distributor of claim 69, wherein the further assembly comprises a subassembly of an airbag module.

71. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas flow distributor is configured to serve as a generator support and includes a connecting region for connecting the generator support to a supporting part of a motor vehicle.

72. The gas flow distributor of claim 71, wherein the connecting region includes fastening points for fastening the generator support to a further subassembly.

73. The gas flow distributor of claim 72, where the connecting region includes a flange.

74. The gas flow distributor of claim 73, wherein the flange protrudes from a holding region of the generator support.

75. The gas flow distributor of claim 74, wherein the holding region and the connecting region of the generator support comprise a single-piece design.

76. The gas flow distributor of claim 51, wherein a separating gap running between two gas bags runs in a region of the impact element and/or the holder.

77. The gas flow distributor of claim 76, wherein the separating gap is configured to be braced in a gastight manner via the impact element.

78. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein a function of the impact element and/or of the holder is maintained during plastic deformation.

79. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas flow distributor is included in a lateral airbag module.

80. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the first and second gas outlet regions are the sole gas outlet regions.

81. A lateral airbag module, comprising:

a gas generator for inflating a gas bag; and

a gas flow distributor including a holder configured to surround outflow openings of the gas generator,

wherein the holder includes an impact element and a gas-guiding duct,

wherein the gas-guiding duct is configured to guide gas flowing between the impact element and the gas generator,

wherein the impact element is configured so that a gas flow emerging from the outflow openings of the gas generator impacts against the impact element and is thereby deflected and divided into a first gas flow and a second gas flow,

wherein the first gas flow is deflected in a first direction along a circumferential surface of the gas flow distributor toward a first gas outlet region and the second gas flow is deflected in a second direction along the circumferential surface of the gas flow distributor toward a second gas outlet region,

wherein the first and second gas flows emerge from the gas outlet regions along a tube axis of the gas generator, and

wherein the first and second gas outlet regions are opposite one another.

82. The lateral airbag module of claim 81, further comprising a gas bag configured to be inflated by the gas generator, wherein a holding region of the gas flow distributor is arranged within the gas bag.