Airbag module

• US 20080150265A1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Meissner, Dirk, Lube, Thomas, Winkler, Andreas, Hofmann, Heiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,635,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• 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

An airbag module for a motor vehicle, including a cover. The airbag may be deployed through an openable region of the cover into the outside space of the airbag module. When the airbag is inflated, the outflow orifice is arranged in the inside space of the airbag module such that gas emerging from the first outflow orifice passes through the openable region of the cover. The gas generator includes at least one gas outlet orifice fluidly connected to the airbag. The airbag module further includes a second openable outflow orifice, which is formed on a chamber surrounding the gas generator and is in fluid communication with the gas outlet orifice of the gas generator so that the gas flowing out through the gas outlet orifice is conducted at least partially into the outside space.

Claims

1. An airbag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a cover for receiving an airbag, said cover separating an outside space of the airbag module from an inside space of the airbag module,

an airbag that may be inflated with gas through an injection orifice in order to protect an occupant, and may be deployed through an openable region of the cover into the outside space of the airbag module, wherein the airbag includes a first outflow orifice arranged in the inside space of the airbag module when the airbag is inflated so that gas emerging from the first outflow orifice passes through the openable region of the cover into the outside space, and

a gas generator for inflating the airbag, that emerges from at least one gas outlet orifice of the gas generator and passing through the injection orifice into the airbag,

wherein the airbag module includes a second openable outflow orifice, that is formed on a chamber surrounding the gas generator and is in fluid communication with the gas outlet orifice of the gas generator so that the gas flowing out through the gas outlet orifice is conducted at least partially into the outside space, the second outflow orifice being arranged so that gas emerging from the second outflow orifice passes into the inside space and from there through the openable region into the outside space.

2. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag module has a second outlet orifice which is assigned an element which is movable at least between two different positions and as a result of whose movement between the two positions the second outflow orifice is connectable in a gas-conducting manner to the gas outlet orifice of the gas generator such that the gas flowing out through the gas outlet orifice is conducted at least partially into the outside space.

3. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas outlet orifice of the gas generator is in fluid communication with the second outflow orifice such that the gas flowing out through the gas outlet orifice is conducted completely into the outside space.

4. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second outflow orifice is arranged such that gas emerging from the second outflow orifice passes directly into the inside space outside the airbag and from there through the openable region into the outside space.

5. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for the discharge of gas, the airbag has a third outflow orifice which, with an airbag deployed, is arranged in the outside space of the airbag module.

6. The airbag module as claimed in claim 5, wherein, in the inflated state of the airbag, the third outflow orifice is arranged on a side of the airbag which faces the airbag module.

7. The airbag module as claimed in claim 5, wherein, for the discharge of gas, the airbag has a further third outflow orifice which, with an airbag deployed, is arranged in the outside space of the airbag module.

8. The airbag module as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in the inflated state of the airbag the further third outflow orifice lies opposite the third outflow orifice transversely with respect to a main deployment direction of the airbag.

9. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable element is displaceable in a movement direction running parallel to a main deployment direction of the airbag.

10. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable element is displaceable and/or rotatable in a movement direction running parallel to the injection orifice.

11. The airbag module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the movable element comprises the gas generator.

12. The airbag module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gas generator is connected to the chamber such that the second outflow orifice is released as a result of a movement of the gas generator in the movement direction.

13. The airbag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the movement of the gas generator in the movement direction is facilitated by pressure generated during the outflow of the gas.

14. The airbag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the chamber is formed from at least a first and a second chamber element which are mounted movably with respect to one another in the movement direction.

15. The airbag module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the two chamber elements are mounted movably with respect to one another via guide elements extending longitudinally in the movement direction.

16. The airbag module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the airbag is secured to the first chamber element.

17. The airbag module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the gas generator is connected to the second chamber element.

18. The airbag module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the gas generator is connected to the second chamber element such that the second chamber element is spaced apart from the first chamber element as a result of a movement of the gas generator in the movement direction, so that the second outflow orifice is formed between the two chamber elements in the movement direction.

19. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a releasable locking element for securing the gas generator.

20. The airbag module as claimed in claim 19, wherein the locking may be brought into engagement with the guide elements in order to secure the gas generator.

21. The airbag module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the locking element may be brought at least partially out of engagement with the guide elements by linear movement in an unlocking direction running transversely with respect to the movement direction.

22. The airbag module as claimed in claim 21, wherein the locking element has long holes which extend longitudinally in the unlocking direction and into which the guide elements engage in order to secure the gas generator with respect to the injection orifice.

23. The airbag module as claimed in claim 21, wherein the airbag module includes a movement generation device for generating the linear movement of the locking element.

24. The airbag module as claimed in claim 23, wherein the movement generation device has a piston which presses against the locking element in the unlocking direction in order to release the locking element.

25. The airbag module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the movable element is mounted movably on the chamber such that the second outflow orifice may be closed by the movable element.

26. The airbag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the chamber has a cylindrical wall in which the second outflow orifice is arranged.

27. The airbag module as claimed in claim 26, wherein the movable element has a cylindrical ring with a clearance, the ring being arranged displaceably on the wall of the chamber such that the clearance may be brought into congruence with the second outflow orifice as a result of a displacement of the ring along the wall.

28. The airbag module as claimed in claim 27, wherein, to displace the ring in the movement direction, the ring has a recess with a margin oriented transversely with respect to the movement direction.

29. The airbag module as claimed in claim 28, wherein the recess is a gap which interrupts the ring and which extends transversely with respect to the movement direction.

30. The airbag module as claimed in claim 28, wherein a further recess in the form of a gap interrupting the ring extends along the margin of the recess.

31. The airbag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the movable element may be moved by a movement generation device.

32. The airbag module as claimed in claim 31, wherein the movement generation device has a piston which presses against the margin of the recess in order to displace the ring in the movement direction.

33. The airbag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the chamber has a closable flow-out orifice through which gas may pass into the airbag in order to inflate the airbag.

34. The airbag module as claimed in claim 33, wherein the flow-out orifice is arranged on a flow-out region, facing the airbag, of the chamber.

35. The airbag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the movable element has a valve plate with an orifice, the valve plate being arranged displaceably on the wall of the chamber such that the orifice may be brought into congruence with the flow-out orifice as a result of a displacement of the valve plate along the flow-out region.

36. The airbag module as claimed claim 35, wherein the valve plate is secured to a continuous margin, facing the airbag, of the ring.

37. The airbag module as claimed in claim 36, wherein the orifice of the valve plate is arranged with respect to the clearance of the ring such that the flow-out orifice is closed by the valve plate when the second outflow orifice is open, and in that the flow-out orifice is open when the second outflow orifice is closed by the ring.