ACTIVE AIRBAG VENT SYSTEM

• US 20160297396A1
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Moeller, Trenton Dirk, Foubert, Daniel Nick, Humbert, Todd Joseph, Settles, Peter Anthony, Shields, Ronald A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,925,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01231 control of expansion timing or sequence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• 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 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/263 using a variable source, e.g. plural stage or controlled output hybrid inflators B60R21/272
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C

Abstract

Active airbag vent systems and associated systems and methods are described herein. An airbag system having an active vent configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, a first inflator operably coupled to a first hose for inflating an airbag in response to a rapid deceleration event. The airbag system can further include a second inflator operably coupled to a second hose configured to release a vent or seam on the airbag to rapidly deflate the airbag after initial deployment of the airbag.

Claims

1. An active vent airbag system, comprising:

an airbag having an active vent;

a first inflator;

a second inflator;

a first hose operably coupling the first inflator to the airbag, wherein initiation of the first inflator releases gas into the airbag from the first inflator via the first hose to inflate the airbag; and

a second hose operably coupling the second inflator to the active vent, wherein the active vent remains closed during initial inflation of the airbag via the first hose, and wherein initiation of the second inflator after initial inflation of the airbag releases gas into the second hose to open the active vent and reduce pressure within the airbag.

2. The active vent airbag system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronics assembly communicatively coupled to the first and second inflators,

wherein—

the electronics assembly is configured to transmit a first signal to the first inflator to initiate deployment of the airbag,

the electronics assembly is further configured to transmit a second signal to the second inflator to initiate the second inflator, and

the second signal is transmitted after a predetermined time period after the first signal, initiation of the first inflator, a rapid deceleration event, or deployment of the airbag.

3. The active vent airbag system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronics assembly communicatively coupled to the first and second inflators,

wherein—

the electronics assembly is configured to transmit a first signal to the first inflator to initiate deployment of the airbag,

the electronics assembly is further configured to transmit a second signal to the second inflator to initiate the second inflator, and

the second signal is transmitted in response to a position of a seat occupant relative to at least one of the airbag, a seat, or a monument surrounding the seat occupant.

4. The active vent airbag system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronics assembly communicatively coupled to the first and second inflators,

wherein—

the electronics assembly is configured to transmit a first signal to the first inflator to initiate deployment of the airbag, and

the electronics assembly is further configured to transmit a second signal to the second inflator to initiate the second inflator; and

a pressure sensor configured to detect internal pressure of the airbag, wherein the electronics module assembly is configured to transmit the second signal when the internal pressure reaches a predetermined level.

5. The active vent airbag system of claim 1 wherein the airbag is a first airbag, and wherein the active vent airbag system further comprises:

a second airbag within the first airbag, wherein the second hose connects the second inflator to the second airbag to deliver gas from the second inflator to the second airbag when the second inflator is initiated, and wherein the second inflator is configured to overinflate the second airbag; and

a seam sealing a portion of the first airbag and a portion of the second during initial inflation of the first airbag, wherein the seam is configured to rupture upon inflation of the second airbag.

6. The active vent airbag system of claim 1 wherein the airbag is a first airbag, and wherein the active vent airbag system further comprises:

a second airbag at least partially within the first airbag, wherein the second hose connects the second inflator to the second airbag to deliver gas from the second inflator to the second airbag when the second inflator is initiated; and

a seam connecting the first airbag to the second airbag, wherein—

the seam seals a portion of the first airbag closed during initial inflation of the first airbag,

the seam is configured to rupture upon inflation of the second airbag, and

the second airbag is configured to remain sealed after rupture of the seam.

7. The active vent airbag system of claim 6 wherein the second airbag includes an interior portion disposed within the first airbag and an exterior portion disposed outside of the first airbag.

8. The active vent airbag system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first seam portion securing the second hose to an interior of the airbag; and

a second seam portion attaching panels of the airbag together, wherein the second seam portion is configured to seal the panels of the airbag together after initiation of the first and second inflators, and

wherein the first seam portion comprises a first stitching type configured to seal the airbag during inflation of the airbag via the first inflator and configured to rupture upon inflation of the second hose, wherein rupture of the first seam portion releases gas from the airbag.

9. The active vent airbag system of claim 8 wherein:

the second hose has an end portion within the airbag; and

the first seam portion comprises a first stitching type; and

the active vent airbag system further comprises a third seam portion made of the first stitching type, wherein the third seam portion extends from the first seam portion, beyond the end portion of the second hose, to the second seam portion.

10. The active vent airbag system of claim 9, further comprising a stopper at a transition between the second and third seam portions, wherein the stopper is configured to limit rupture beyond the third seam portion.

11. The active vent airbag system of claim 8 wherein:

the second hose comprises a plurality of diffusor holes at an end portion of the second hose; and

the active vent airbag system further comprises a stitching before at least one of the diffusor holes, wherein the stitching is configured to partially close the second hose and cause the second hose to inflate more rapidly to rupture the first seam portion.

12. The active vent airbag system of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the diffusor holes are positioned outwardly away from an interior of the airbag.

13. The active vent airbag system of claim 11 wherein the second inflator is smaller than the first inflator.

14. The active vent airbag system of claim 1, further comprising:

a vent slit in the airbag;

a patch over the vent slit, wherein the patch is configured to seal the airbag during initial inflation of the airbag via the first inflator; and

a seam connecting the patch to the second hose and material of the airbag, wherein the second hose is positioned between the patch and the material of the airbag, and wherein at least a portion of the seam is configured to rupture upon inflation of the second hose to release gas from the airbag via the vent slit.

15. The active vent airbag system of claim 14 wherein the second hose is at least partially disposed within the airbag, and wherein the portion of the second hose disposed within the airbag includes a plurality of induced bends before deployment of the airbag.

16. The active vent airbag system of claim 1, further comprising:

a vent seam in the airbag; and

a stitching sewn over the vent seam and over an end portion of the second hose, wherein the stitching terminates or begins at the end portion of the second hose, and wherein the stitching is configured to rupture upon inflation of the second hose and release gas from the vent seam.

17. The active vent airbag system of claim 1, further comprising:

a vent in the airbag;

a patch over the vent; and

a stitching configured to close the patch over the vent and having an end at an end portion of the second hose, wherein the stitching is configured to rupture upon inflation of the second hose to release a portion of the patch and allow gas to release from the vent seam.

18. An active vent airbag system, comprising:

an airbag;

an inflator;

a hose connecting the inflator to the airbag, wherein the hose is configured to deliver gas from the inflator to the airbag to inflate the airbag when the inflator is initiated, and wherein the inflated airbag is configured to absorb an impact of a seat occupant;

a vent on the airbag;

stitching sealably closing the vent during initial inflation of the airbag; and

a release mechanism operably coupled to the stitching, wherein the release mechanism is configured to rupture the stitching after initial inflation of the airbag to reduce pressure within the airbag.

19. The active vent airbag system of claim 18 wherein the stitching is sewn over the vent to seal the vent closed.

20. The active vent airbag system of claim 18, further comprising a patch over the vent, wherein the stitching is sewn across a portion of the patch to seal the patch over the vent.

21. The active vent airbag system of claim 18 wherein the release mechanism is at least one of a pull cord or a spring-loaded mechanism operably coupled to an end portion of the stitching, wherein initiation of the release mechanism unravels the stitching.

22. The active vent airbag system of claim 21, further comprising:

an electronics assembly communicatively coupled to the inflator and the release mechanism, wherein—

the electronics assembly is configured to transmit a first signal to the inflator to initiate deployment of the airbag,

the electronics assembly is further configured to transmit a second signal to the release mechanism to initiate the release mechanism, and

the second signal is transmitted after a predetermined time period after the first signal, initiation of the inflator, a rapid deceleration event, or deployment of the airbag.

23. The active vent system of claim 18 wherein:

the airbag includes a sealed opening; and

the stitching is made of a thread that extends away from the vent, through the sealed opening, and across an interior face of the airbag directed towards the seat occupant, wherein the thread defines the release mechanism, and

wherein impact by the seat occupant on the airbag pulls the thread within the airbag in tension and causes the stitching to unravel and release gas from the vent.

24. A method for venting an airbag, the method comprising:

detecting a crash event with an electronics assembly of an airbag system;

sending a first signal from the electronics assembly to initiate a first inflator, wherein initiation of the first inflator inflates an airbag; and

sending a second signal from the electronics assembly to initiate a second inflator, wherein the second signal is transmitted after the first signal, wherein initiation of the second inflator inflates a hose, and wherein inflation of the hose opens a vent to reduce pressure within the airbag.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the second signal is transmitted after a predetermined time period after the first signal, initiation of the first inflator, the crash event, or deployment of the airbag.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the second signal is transmitted after detection of a position of a seat occupant relative to at least one of the airbag, a seat, or a monument surrounding the seat occupant.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the second signal is transmitted after detection of an internal pressure within the airbag above a predetermined level.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the airbag is a first airbag and the method further comprises:

inflating, via the second inflator, a second airbag within the first airbag, wherein inflating the second airbag causes a seam sealing the first and second airbags to rupture.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the airbag is a first airbag and the method further comprises:

inflating, via the second inflator, a second airbag disposed at least partially within the first airbag, wherein inflating the second airbag causes a seam sealing a portion of the first airbag closed to rupture, and wherein the second airbag remains sealed after rupture of the seam.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein a first seam portion secures the hose to an interior of the airbag and a second seam portion seals a remaining portion of the airbag together, and wherein inflating the hose ruptures the first seam portion to form the vent and release gas from the airbag.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the vent comprises a vent slit covered by a patch, wherein inflating the hose ruptures a seam connecting the patch with the hose and the airbag.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the vent comprises a vent seam closed by a stitching, wherein the stitching is attached to an end portion of the hose, and wherein inflating the hose ruptures stitching to release the stitching from the vent seam.