Apparatus and method for filling an airbag

• US 5,820,161 A
• Filed: 02/10/1997
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AGA AB (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: AGA AB (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Svensson, Ovar
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/798,500
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 280/737, 280/741, 280/743.1, 222/3
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/335 Connections between collision detecting means and inflators using pyrothechnic transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for filling an empty flexible container such as an airbag with gas essentially instantaneously when the system or vehicle utilizing such system is subjected to sufficient deceleration forces, such as experienced during a collision. The gas-filled container functions as a force absorbing cushion which protects occupants in the vehicle against injuries. The system includes pressure vessels filled with gas under high pressure, one or more conduits connecting the pressure vessels with the flexible container, provisions for opening the connection between the pressure vessels and the flexible container upon sensing retardation or deceleration forces that exceed some threshold value, a container holding or mixing device, and a retardation meter. The pressure vessels are each sealed by a closure device and each has a respective connection conduit which joins the pressure vessels to the flexible container. One pressure vessel contains oxygen and an inert gas. The other pressure vessel contains inert gas and hydrogen. The inert gas is helium, argon and/or nitrogen.

Claims

1. Apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a flexible container;

a first receptacle containing a first gas mixture comprising oxygen and one or more inert gases;

a second receptacle containing a second gas mixture comprising hydrogen and one or more inert gases;

a first conduit providing a flow path from said first receptacle to said flexible container;

a second conduit providing a flow path from said second receptacle to said flexible container;

at least one closure device enabling flow of gas from said first and second receptacles to said flexible container, said closure device comprising a sliding duct assembly having;

a receiving chamber having a first end wall, a second end wall, and a housing extending between said first and second end walls, said housing defining at least one opening in communication with said first receptacle and at least one opening in communication with said second receptacle;

a first slidable member defining a first aperture; and

a second slidable member defining a second aperture;

an explosive charge for positioning said first slidable member and said second slidable member; and

a priming wire having a first end in electrical association with said explosive charge and a second end in communication with the interior of said flexible container;

wherein upon actuation of said closure device, said first slidable member is positioned so that said first aperture is aligned with said at least one opening defined in said housing and in communication with said first receptacle, and said second slidable member is positioned so that said second aperture is aligned with said at least one opening defined in said housing and in communication with said second receptacle; and

a deceleration sensor in communication with said closure device wherein upon sensing sufficient deceleration, said sensor actuates said closure device to enable flow of gas from said first and second receptacles to said flexible container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inert gas in said first gas mixture is selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first gas mixture comprises oxygen, helium, and up to 50% by volume argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inert gas in said second gas mixture is selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second gas mixture comprises hydrogen, helium, and up to 50% by volume argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second gas mixture comprises hydrogen in an amount corresponding to 3 to 15% by volume of the total gas volume in said first receptacle and said second receptacle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first gas mixture comprises oxygen in an amount corresponding to 2.5 to 20% by volume of the total gas volume in said first receptacle and said second receptacle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a common conduit disposed between and providing a flow path between said first conduit, said second conduit, and said flexible container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the priming wire ignites the gas from said first and second receptacles.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible container includes a multilayer wall, said wall comprising:

an inner layer comprising a heat reflecting material;

a medial layer comprising a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity and a relatively low thermal capacity; and

an outer layer comprising a force absorbing material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said heat reflecting material is aluminum.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said material utilized in said medial layer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene and polyester.

13. An arrangement for inflating a flexible and expandable container with gas essentially instantaneously upon application of sufficient retardation force applied to said arrangement, wherein said container upon inflation forms an injury reducing, force absorbing container, said arrangement comprising:

a first vessel comprising oxygen, helium, and up to 50% by volume of at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof;

a second vessel comprising hydrogen, helium, and up to 50% by volume of at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof;

first and second connecting conduits respectively providing communication to said first and second vessels;

a main conduit for providing communication to said container;

a branch providing communication between said first connecting conduit, said second connecting conduit, and said main conduit;

a mixing chamber disposed between said container and said main conduit;

a retardation sensor for sensing retardation forces applied to said arrangement and having provisions for generating an output signal upon sensing retardation forces that exceed a threshold value;

rupture provisions in communication with said output signal of said retardation sensor, said rupture provisions for providing flow connections between said first and said second vessels and said container upon receiving said output signal; and

an ignition device for igniting gas from said first and second vessels, said ignition device being disposed in said container.

14. The arrangement according to claim 13 wherein the volume of oxygen present in said first vessel corresponds to 2.5 to 20% by volume of the total volume of gas present in said first vessel and said second vessel.

15. The arrangement according to claim 13 wherein the amount of hydrogen present in said second vessel corresponds to 3 to 15% by volume of the total volume of gas present in said first vessel and said second vessel.

16. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein said rupture provisions include a sliding duct assembly.

17. The arrangement of claim 16 wherein said sliding duct assembly includes:

a receiving chamber having a first end wall, a second end wall, and a housing extending therebetween, said housing defining a plurality of openings for transferring gas from said first vessel, and a plurality of openings for transferring gas from said second vessel;

a first slidable member defining a first aperture, said first slidable member disposed within said receiving chamber and proximate said first end wall; and

a second slidable member defining a second aperture, said second slidable member disposed within said receiving chamber and proximate said second end wall.

18. The arrangement of claim 17 wherein said sliding duct assembly further includes:

an explosive charge disposed within said receiving chamber and disposed between said first and second slidable members.

19. The arrangement of claim 18 wherein said sliding duct assembly further includes:

a priming wire in electrical association with said explosive charge and said provisions of said retardation meter.

20. The arrangement of claim 19 wherein said priming wire has a first end in said electrical association with said explosive charge and a second end in communication with said container.

21. A method of filling an empty flexible container with gas essentially instantaneously when subjected to powerful retardation forces, wherein the gas-filled container functions as a force absorbing cushion for protection against injury, wherein the method comprises:

providing an apparatus which includes a first and a second pressure receptacle which are sealed with the aid of a closure means and which contain gas under high pressure, a first conduit which extends from said first receptacle to said container, a second conduit which extends from said second receptacle to said container, and an ignition device, wherein said first receptacle comprises hydrogen and one or more inert gases selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, and nitrogen, and said second receptacle comprises oxygen and one or more inert gases selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, and nitrogen;

passing said gases from said first and said second receptacle into said container; and

igniting said gases when at least 10% of the total gas volume in said first and said second receptacle has passed into said container.

23. The method according to claim 21 whereby said gases are ignited when at least 75% of the total gas volume in said first and said second receptacle has passed into said container.

24. A method according to claim 21 whereby said gases are ignited when at least 90% of the total gas volume in said first and second receptacle has passed into said container.

25. An arrangement for inflating a flexible and expandable container with gas essentially instantaneously upon application of sufficient retardation force applied to said arrangement, wherein said container upon inflation forms an injury reducing, force absorbing container, said arrangement comprising:

a first vessel comprising oxygen, helium, and up to 50% by volume of at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof;

a second vessel comprising hydrogen, helium, and up to 50% by volume of at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof;

at least one conduit for connecting said first and second vessels to said container;

a retardation sensor for sensing retardation forces applied to said arrangement and having provisions for generating an output signal upon sensing retardation forces that exceed a threshold value; and

rupture provisions in communication with said output signal of said retardation sensor, said rupture provisions for providing flow connections between said first and said second vessels and said container upon receiving said output signal, said rupture provisions comprising a sliding duct assembly having;

a receiving chamber having a first end wall, a second end wall, and a housing extending between said first and second end walls, said housing defining a plurality of openings for transferring gas from said first vessel, and a plurality of openings for transferring gas from said second vessel;

a first slidable member defining a first aperture, said first slidable member disposed within said receiving chamber and proximate said first end wall;

a second slidable member defining a second aperture, said second slidable member disposed within said receiving chamber and proximate said second end wall;

an explosive charge disposed within said receiving chamber and disposed between said first and second slidable members; and

a priming wire in electrical association with said explosive charge and said provisions of said retardation sensor.

26. The arrangement of claim 25 wherein said priming wire has a first end in said electrical association with said explosive charge and a second end in communication with said container.

27. Apparatus for filling a vehicle-mounted flexible container with gas, said apparatus comprising:

a first receptacle containing a first gas mixture comprising oxygen and an inert gas;

a second receptacle containing a second gas mixture comprising hydrogen and an inert gas;

a main conduit for connection to the flexible container;

a first conduit connected between the first receptacle and the main conduit;

a second conduit connected between the second receptacle and the main conduit;

a closure assembly having a closed state, wherein the closure assembly prevents the first and second gas mixtures from flowing through the first and second conduits, and an open state, wherein the closure assembly permits the first and second gas mixtures to flow through the first and second conduits and into the main conduit;

an explosive device that, when ignited, places the closure assembly in the open state and ignites the first and second gas mixtures; and

a deceleration sensor in communication with the explosive device, wherein upon sensing sufficient deceleration, said deceleration sensor ignites the explosive device, thereby causing the first and second gas mixtures to flow into the main conduit and ignite.

22. The method according to claim 27, whereby said gases are ignited when at least 30% of the total gas volume in said first and said second receptacle has passed into said container.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said closure assembly comprises a first burster plate disposed between the first receptacle and the main conduit, and a second burster plate disposed between the second receptacle and the main conduit;

and

wherein the explosive device comprises an explosive charge that ignites when the explosive device is ignited so as to rupture the first and second burster plates, thereby placing the closure assembly in the open state.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said closure assembly includes a sliding duct assembly comprising:

a housing having first and second passages extending therethrough, said first passage being in communication with said first receptacle, and said second passage being in communication with said second receptacle;

a first member disposed in the housing and defining a first aperture, said first member being movable between a closed position, wherein the first member blocks the first passage, and an open position, wherein the first aperture is aligned with the first passage; and

a second member disposed in the housing and defining a second aperture, said second member being movable between a closed position, wherein the second member blocks the second passage, and an open position, wherein the second aperture is aligned with the second passage.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the explosive device comprises an explosive charge that ignites when the explosive device is ignited so as to move the first and second slidable members to the open positions, thereby placing the closure assembly in the open state.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the explosive device further comprises:

a priming wire having a first end in electrical association with the explosive charge and a second end for placement inside the flexible container; and

wherein the ignition of the explosive charge ignites the priming wire, which ignites the first and second gas mixtures.