Airbag module for a motor vehicle

• US 20080150267A1
• 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: Lube, Thomas, Pradel, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 7,478,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/742
• 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 includes an airbag, an inflow orifice, a continuously running marginal region, a gas generator, a generator carrier having a base and emerging from an output orifice, a surface defined by the marginal region, and a continuous running wall protruding from the base. The wall has at least one first outflow orifice through which gas emerging from the gas outlet orifice of the gas generator can pass into the outside space of the airbag module. A cylindrical ring with a clearance is arranged displaceably on the wall in a movement direction running around the wall. The clearance is able to be brought into congruence with the outflow orifice as a result of a displacement of the cylindrical ring in the movement direction to open the first outflow orifice.

Claims

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

an airbag that can be inflated with gas in order to restrain an occupant and upon inflation move in a main deployment direction toward the occupant;

an inflow orifice of the airbag through which the airbag can be inflated with gas;

a continuously running marginal region that defines a plane;

a gas generator that generates the gas for inflating the airbag, wherein the gas emerges from at least one gas outlet orifice of the gas generator and passes through the inflow orifice into the airbag;

a generator carrier for carrying the gas generator, the generator carrier having a base that extends along the surface defined by the marginal region of the inflow orifice and to which the gas generator is fastened, the base separating an inside space of the airbag module away from the main deployment direction from an outside space surrounding the airbag module;

a surface defined by the marginal region of the inflow orifice spaced apart in the main deployment direction from the base of the generator carrier;

a continuously running wall protruding from the base along the main deployment direction, wherein the wall has at least one first outflow orifice through which gas emerging from the gas outlet orifice of the gas generator can pass into the outside space of the airbag module; and

a cylindrical ring with a clearance being arranged displaceably on the wall in a movement direction running around the wall, wherein the clearance is able to be brought into congruence with the first outflow orifice as a result of a displacement of the cylindrical ring in the movement direction to open the first outflow orifice.

2. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall has a marginal region facing the marginal region of the inflow orifice in the main deployment direction.

3. The airbag module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the marginal region of the wall is designed to bear in a sheet-like manner against the marginal region of the inflow orifice.

4. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface forms a plane.

5. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag is fixed on a component of the airbag module via the marginal region of the inflow orifice.

6. The airbag module as claimed in claims 1, wherein the base has a gas generator clearance for receiving the gas generator.

7. The airbag module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wall runs continuously around the gas generator clearance transversely with respect to the main deployment direction.

8. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall is designed in the form of a hollow cylinder.

9. The airbag module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the marginal region of the wall is of sheet-like and annular design.

10. The airbag module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the marginal region of the inflow orifice is fixed on the marginal region of the wall.

11. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a covering for covering the airbag, said covering separating the outside space of the airbag module from the inside space of the airbag module.

12. The airbag module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the airbag can be deployed through an openable region of the covering into the outside space of the airbag module.

13. The airbag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first outflow orifice is arranged in the inside space of the airbag module so that gas emerging from the first outflow orifice can pass through the openable region into the outside space.

14. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clearance can be brought out of congruence with the first outflow orifice as a result of a displacement of the movable element in the movement direction, in order to close the first outflow orifice.

15. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable element is designed as a cylindrical ring running continuously in the movement direction.

16. The airbag module as claimed in claim 15, 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.

17. The airbag module as claimed in claim 16, wherein the recess is designed as a gap which interrupts the ring and which extends transversely with respect to the movement direction.

18. The airbag module as claimed in claim 16, wherein a further recess in the form of a gap interrupting the ring extends along the margin of the recess.

19. The airbag module as claimed claim 1, wherein the movable element can be moved by means of a movement generation device.

20. The airbag module as claimed in claim 19, 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.

21. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall is of gas-impermeable design.

22. The airbag module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the marginal region of the inflow orifice of the airbag is secured on the marginal region of the wall by means of a clamping ring.

23. The airbag module as claimed in claim 22, wherein the clamping ring has at least one fastening element protruding in the main deployment direction.

24. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall is formed integrally with the generator carrier.

25. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall can be fixed releaseably as part of a lower module on the generator carrier.

26. The airbag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the lower module comprises the movement generation device.

27. The airbag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the lower module comprises the movable element.

28. The airbag module as claimed in claim 23, wherein the wall is fixed on the base of the generator carrier by means of the fastening element.

29. The airbag module as claimed in claim 23, wherein the gas generator is fixed on the base of the generator carrier by means of the fastening element.

30. The airbag module as claimed in claim 23, wherein in order to fix the airbag on the marginal region of the wall, the fastening element is guided in the main deployment direction through a clearance of the marginal region of the inflow orifice and through a passage hole aligned with said clearance of the wall.

31. The airbag module as claimed in claim 30, wherein the passage hole is aligned with a hole formed in the base.

32. The airbag module as claimed in claim 31, wherein the fastening element is guided through the hole such that a free end section of the fastening element protrudes from the base on a side facing away from the airbag.

33. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas generator has a flange for fastening the gas generator to the base of the generator carrier.

34. The airbag module as claimed in claim 33, wherein the flange continuously runs around the gas generator in cross section.

35. The airbag module as claimed in claim 33, wherein the flange is designed for bearing in a sheet-like manner against a continuously running marginal region of the gas generator clearance of the base.

36. The airbag module as claimed in claim 32, wherein in order to fix the gas generator on the base of the generator carrier, the free end section of the fastening element is guided in the main deployment direction by a clearance formed on the flange.

37. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second outflow orifice of the airbag is arranged, in an inflated state of the airbag, in the inside space of the airbag module so that gas emerging from the second outflow orifice can pass into the outside space.

38. The airbag module as claimed in claim 37, wherein the second outflow orifice is arranged in the inside space so that gas emerging from the second outflow orifice can pass through the openable region into the outside space.

39. The airbag module as claimed in claim 37, wherein gas emerging from the first and the second outflow orifices is prevented from flowing in a direction oriented opposite to the main deployment direction.

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

41. The airbag module as claimed in claim 40, wherein in the inflated state of the airbag the third outflow orifice is arranged on a side of the airbag that faces the airbag module.

42. The airbag module as claimed in claim 40, wherein for the discharge of gas the airbag has a further third outflow orifice that, with an airbag deployed, is arranged in the outside space of the airbag module.

43. The airbag module as claimed in claim 42, wherein in the inflated state of the airbag the further third outflow orifice lies opposite the third outflow orifice transversely with respect to the main deployment direction of the airbag.