Method for the asssembly of an airbag generator carrier with an associated gas sack

• US 5,823,568 A
• Filed: 03/13/1997
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata (Europe) Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
• Original Assignee: Takata (Europe) Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
• Inventors: Muller, Frank, Wittmann, Robert, Settele, Matin, Niederkorn, Serge, Wahlers, Helmut, Frueth, Hans-Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/816,716
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 112/10, 112/470.05
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material

Abstract

A method for the assembly of an airbag generator carrier (11) with an associated airbag (12) consists in first sewing together the gas sack (12) until it is finished apart from a short slit (15) and subsequently checking for the presence of metal parts. Provided no metal parts are found in or on the gas sack (12) the generator carrier (11) is introduced through the short slit (15) into the interior of the gas sack (12), the sewing together of the short slit (15) then takes place subsequently while being monitored by video.

Claims

1. Method of assembling an airbag generator carrier (11) with an associated gas sack (12) which has an opening (13) for the introduction of the generator (14) into the generator carrier (11), characterized in that

the gas sack (12) is completely sewn together apart from a short slit (15) for the introduction of the generator carrier (11),

the gas sack (12) is exposed in this state to a metal seeking apparatus,

in the case that no metal is found at the or in the gas sack (12), the generator carrier (11) is introduced through the narrow slit (15) into the gas sack (12) and is brought to its intended location within the gas sack (12);

and in that

the slit (15) is subsequently sewn together while monitoring for damage to the needle and/or needle breakage.

2. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the generator (14) is introduced from the outside through the openings (13) into the generator carrier (11) after the sewing up of the gas sack (12).

3. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that after the introduction of the generator carrier (11) into the gas sack (12) into its desired position, a carrier part connected to a holder (16) and corresponding in shape to the generator (14) is introduced into the generator carrier (11), in that

the gas sack (12) is moved up to a sewing machine by means of the holder (16) for the sewing up of the slit (15);

and in that

after the sewing up operation, the carrier part (17) is removed from the generator carrier (11) and replaced by the generator (14).

4. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring for damage to the needle or needle breakage during the sewing up takes place by a video camera.

5. Method in accordance with claim 1, for the assembling of a cylindrical generator carrier (11) having holding lugs (18) with a cylindrical and pocket-like gas sack (12) having a cylinder-like curved peripheral surface (12'"'"') and two approximately planar, preferably elongate end faces (12"), wherein openings for the passage of the holding lugs (18) are provided at the flat side (12'"'"'") remote from the arched peripheral surface (12'"'"') and wherein the opening (13) for the generator (14) is provided at one end face (12"), characterized in that the slit (15) is arranged in the arched peripheral wall (12'"'"') close to the flat side (12'"'"'") and preferably parallel to the latter.

6. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the generator carrier (11) assembled together with the gas sack (12) and the generator (14) is arranged in a housing (21) consisting of a plurality of housing parts which can be clipped together, with the clipped together housing parts being separable on ignition of the generator carrier (14) for the purpose of release of the inflating gas sack (12).

7. Method in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that after the introduction of the generator carrier into the gas sack into its desired position, a carrier part connected to a holder and corresponding in shape to the generator is introduced into the generator carrier;

in that--gas sack is moved up to a sewing machine by means of the holder for the sewing up of the slit; and

in that--after the sewing up operation, the carrier part is removed from the generator carrier and replaced by the generator.