Airbag safety system with inflation control

• US 6,050,601 A
• Filed: 05/22/1997
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schels, Markus, Carter, Damian, Pantke, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/861,449
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 280/742, 280/736, 280/738
• US Class Current: 280/742
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/165 reusable, e.g. in case of multiple collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01508 detecting forces or pressure in bags or modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• 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

An airbag safety system has at least one airbag with inlets and a gas generator for generating a gas with which the at least one airbag is to be filled. An intermediate housing is connected between the gas generator and the at least one airbag. The gas is guided as a gas stream from the gas generator to the at least one airbag through the intermediate housing. The intermediate housing has outflow openings communicating with the inlets of the at least one airbag. A slide, positioned in the intermediate housing, is provided for controlling flow of the gas generated by the gas generator into the at least one airbag. The slide is displaceable relative to the inlets of the at least one airbag. An actuating member, mounted in the intermediate housing and positioned in the gas stream, is provided for generating a gas pressure force for displacing the slide. Controllably releasable securing elements for securing the slide at the intermediate housing in a rest position are provided. In the rest position, the cross-sectional area of the at least one outflow opening is unobstructed by the slide.

Claims

1. An airbag safety system comprising:

at least one air bag having inlets;

a gas generator for generating a gas with which said at least one airbag is to be filled;

an intermediate housing connected between said gas generator and said at least one airbag and having outflow openings communicating with said inlets of said at least one air bag;

wherein the gas is guided as a gas stream from said gas generator through said intermediate housing and said outflow openings into said at least one air bag;

a slide, positioned in said intermediate housing, for controlling flow of the gas generated by said gas generator into said outflow openings;

said slide displaceable relative to said outflow openings to thereby open and close different ones of said outflow openings depending on a position of said slide;

an actuating member, mounted in said intermediate housing such that the entire gas stream generated by said gas generator is guided through said actuating member before reaching said outflow openings to thereby generate a dynamic gas pressure acting as a displacement force on said slide;

controllably releasable securing elements for securing said slide at said intermediate housing in a rest position in which a cross-sectional area of at least one of said outflow openings is unobstructed by said slide.

2. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, wherein said slide has through openings and wherein, in said rest position, said through openings open different cross-sectional areas of said outflow openings.

3. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, wherein said actuating member is a perforated plate connected to said slide.

4. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, wherein said actuating member is a diffusor cone connected to said slide and guiding said gas stream from said gas generator to said outflow openings.

5. An airbag safety system according to claim 4, wherein said intermediate housing comprises a receiving element matching a shape of said diffusor cone and providing a stop for a movement of said diffusor cone.

6. An airbag safety system according to claim 5, further comprising a spring supported at said intermediate housing and acting on said slide for biasing said diffusor cone toward said receiving element.

7. An airbag safety system according to claim 2, wherein said slide comprises conically widened portions connected to said through openings at a side of said slide opposite said outflow openings and widening in a direction away from said through openings.

8. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, wherein said securing elements are released by said at least one airbag when being filled with the gas.

9. An airbag safety system according to claim 8, wherein said securing elements are rip cords acting as a rated break point and wherein said rip cords are destroyed by said at least one airbag when being filled with the gas.

10. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, further comprising a device for severing explosively said securing elements wherein said securing elements are bolts.

11. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, wherein said slide is secured by a plurality of said securing elements arranged with a stepped spacing to one another at said intermediate housing, wherein said slide can assume different positions relative to said outflow openings of said intermediate housing in a time sequence.

12. An airbag safety system according to claim 11, wherein two of said outflow openings communicate with one of said airbags and wherein said two outflow openings are arranged such that in different laterally staggered positions of said slide a sequential multiple filling of said airbag to different degrees is possible.

13. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate housing has an auxiliary outflow opening communicating with a surrounding atmosphere and wherein said slide comprises an auxiliary opening for communicating with said auxiliary outflow opening.

14. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said airbags are connected to said intermediate housing and are supplied with the gas via coordinated ones of said outflow openings and coordinated ones of said through openings in said slide.

15. An airbag safety system according to claim 14, wherein at least two of said airbags communicate with one another for venting one of said airbags into another one of said airbags by selecting said outflow openings and said through openings appropriately.

16. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one airbag has multiple chambers and wherein said multiple chambers are connected to said intermediate housing via separate ones of said outflow openings controlled by said slide.

17. An airbag safety system according to claim 16, wherein said chambers are embodied as lateral airbag members of a vehicle seat, a thorax airbag member, and a head airbag member.

18. An airbag safety system according to claim 1, further comprising a gas reservoir, wherein said intermediate housing has a connecting opening for connecting said intermediate housing to said gas reservoir.