Airbag module

• US 20080007035A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zischka, Gerd, Loos, Andreas, Acker, Dominique
• Application Number:
  US11/820,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20080007035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/742
• 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 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• 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

In an airbag module having an airbag with at least one wall, and a gas guiding element which is rigid at least in sections and is made of plastic, the gas guiding element has a gas guiding portion in which several inside lying gas guiding channels are defined so as to lie side by side, which conduct gas from a gas generator in axially opposite directions to a first and a second opening.

Claims

1. An airbag module comprising:

an airbag (12) having at least one wall (13),

a gas generator (14) and

a gas guiding element (16;

116) which is rigid at least in sections, is made of plastic and has a gas guiding portion (24;

124) which circumferentially surrounds the gas generator (14) at least in sections,

several gas guiding channels (50) being defined in the gas guiding portion (24;

124) so as to lie side by side in circumferential direction (U), said channels (50) conducting gas from the gas generator (14) in axially opposite directions to a first and a second opening (36, 38).

2. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the gas guiding channels (50) are formed by the interspaces of ribs (37) which radially protrude from an inner side (51) of the gas guiding portion (24;

124).

3. The airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of the first and/or second openings (36, 38) is defined by the ribs (37) in the area of the openings (36, 38).

4. The airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the gas guiding channels (50) are delimited in radial direction (r) by an outer surface of the gas generator (14).

5. The airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the ribs (37) are distributed over the entire circumference of the gas generator (14).

6. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the outer circumference of the gas guiding portion (24;

124) is substantially cylindrical.

7. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag (12) has a first and a second inflatable chamber (18, 20) and gas is conducted to the first inflatable chamber (18) through a first opening (36) and to the second inflatable chamber (20) through the second opening (38).

8. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the gas guiding element (16;

116) has a fastening portion (26′

;

126) which is connected with the gas guiding portion (24) and fixed to the gas generator (14).

9. The airbag module according to claim 8, wherein the fastening portion (26′

;

126) is designed so as to be flexible in radial direction.

10. The airbag module according to claim 8, wherein the fastening portion (26;

26′

;

126) has a wall thickness which is reduced compared with the gas guiding portion (24) of the gas guiding element (16).

11. The airbag module according to claim 8, wherein the fastening portion (26′

;

126) axially extends in prolongation of the gas guiding portion (24).

12. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the gas guiding element (16) has a predetermined breaking point (40) that opens under predetermined conditions.

13. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the gas guiding element (16) is fastened to the airbag (12) by sewing.