Gas flow distributor for an airbag module

• US 20100164209A1
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Magnin, Carlo, Schneider, Nico, Rist, Holger
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23123 Heat protection panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2358 Bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2359 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

A gas flow distributor for an airbag module for the specific distribution of a gas flow through which the released gas flows during inflation of the airbag is provided. The gas flow distributor comprises at least two sleeve parts which are made of a flexible material and are connected to one another by a seam. The seam absorbs the forces which are exerted on the sleeve by the gas flowing through it. An additional releasable connection of both sleeve parts is provided in at least some sections in order to absorb the forces exerted by the gas on the sleeve, wherein the additional connection cooperates with the sleeve for limiting the forces to be absorbed by the seam in such a manner that said connection is released when gas passes through the sleeve.

Claims

1. A gas flow distributor for an airbag module for the specific distribution of gas released from a gas generator into an airbag upon inflation of the airbag, said gas flow distributor comprising a flexible sleeve through which the released gas flows upon inflation of the airbag and which comprises at least two sleeve parts out of a flexible material connected to each other by means of a seam, wherein the seam takes up forces which are exerted on the sleeve by the gas flowing through the sleeve, wherein

an additional releasable connection of the two sleeve parts is provided at least in sections for taking up the forces exerted by the gas on the sleeve,

the additional connection cooperates with the sleeve for limiting the forces to be taken up by the seam in a way, that said connection is released when gas flows through the sleeve,

the sleeve comprises a first section and a second section connected thereto in a gas conducting manner,

the first section of the sleeve runs under an acute angle into the second section of the sleeve, and

the additional releasable connection connects the two sleeve parts to each other in a transition region of the sleeve at which the first section of the sleeve runs into the second section of the sleeve.

2. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the additional connection extends at least in sections along the seam.

3. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve surrounds an internal space of the gas flow distributor.

4. The gas flow distributor according to claim 3, wherein the additional connection of the two sleeve parts when viewed from the internal space of the gas flow distributor is arranged in front of the seam.

5. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the first section is designed to receive the gas generator so that gas outlet ports of the gas generator are arranged in a part of the internal space of the gas flow distributor, which part is surrounded by the first section.

6. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the first section comprises an insertion opening for receiving the gas generator through which the gas generator can be inserted into the first section.

7. The gas flow distributor according to claim 6, wherein the insertion opening is formed by an interruption of the seam.

8. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the second section is adapted and provided for being arranged in an internal space of an airbag that can be filled with gas.

9. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the second section comprises two opposing exhaust ports through which gas can get into an airbag.

10. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the second section is formed longitudinally extending along an extension direction.

11. The gas flow distributor according to claim 9, wherein the two exhaust ports face each other along the extension direction.

12. The gas flow distributor according to claim 9, wherein the exhausts ports are formed by interruptions of the seam, respectively.

13. The gas flow distributor according to claim 9, wherein the releasable connection connects the two sleeve parts in a way that the majority of the gas flowing through the sleeve exits the gas flow distributor through one of the two exhaust ports before a release of said connection.

14. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the releasable connection is formed by a tear seam.

15. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the seam is formed as one of the following seams:

a sewn seam,

a glue line, or

a welded seam.

16. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein each sleeve part comprises four layers lying on top of each other, so that the sleeve parts are formed four-ply at least in the region of the gas outlet ports of the gas generator.

17. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein each sleeve part comprises five layers lying on top of each other, so that the sleeve parts are formed five-ply at least in the region of the gas outlet ports of the gas generator.

18. The gas flow distributor according to claim 16, wherein the layers comprise a through-opening, respectively, for positioning the layers during production of the gas flow distributor, which through-openings lie congruently on top of each other when the layers take their intended positions with respect to each other.

19. The gas flow distributor according to claim 18, wherein the through-openings are arranged in the sleeve in a way, that they are covered in a state of the gas flow distributor in which the latter is arranged in an airbag as intended by an airbag layer of the airbag, so that no gas can escape through said through-openings out of the gas flow distributor upon inflation of the airbag.

20. The gas flow distributor according to claim 1, wherein the gas flow distributor comprises two exhaust ports, which face each other along an extension direction.