Airbag flow diversion walls for hot deployment performance levelling

• US 5,788,274 A
• Filed: 12/10/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gunn, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butts, Jonathan E.
• Application Number:
  US08/763,140
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/737, 280/740, 280/742, 280/741, 280/738, 280/739, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/736
• 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 21/276 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

A passenger side airbag module is provided with walls for diverting the excess portion of the gas generated by an inflator during an above normal temperature deployment of the air bag cushion so that over-pressurization of the air bag cushion does not occur.

Claims

1. A thrust neutral passenger side airbag cushion inflation device comprising:

an inflator including means for generating a gas to inflate an airbag cushion, said inflator having a casing pipe with a forward facing side and a rearward facing side;

a module housing said module housing having an external surface and an internal surface, said inflator casing pipe being supported within said module housing and spaced from said internal surface of said module housing by a space, said module housing only partially encircling said inflator casing pipe;

at least one forwardly facing port in said casing pipe and at least one rearwardly facing port in said inflator casing pipe;

and means on the internal surface of said module housing for separating the space between said inflator casing pipe and said module housing into a forwardly facing zone and a rearwardly facing zone said means comprising inwardly directed ribs at the ends of said module housing, extending inwardly from the interior of said housing toward said inflator casing pipe to act as diversion walls for a portion of the gas generated by said inflator, said rearwardly facing zone between said ribs constituting a hot vent port for said module housing.