Airbag sensor deactivator suitable for use in smart airbag system

• US 6,431,591 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wacker Silicones Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wacker Silicones Corporation
• Inventors: Vick, Toby R., Schuett, Wolfgang, Ray, Benjamin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/259,091
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 737/00, 737/31, 738/620-1-8, 180/271, 180/273, 524/863, 297/217.2
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

Smart airbag systems employ a sensor bag containing an organopolysiloxane gel pressure transmission medium, transmitting pressure to one or more associated pressure sensor devices. The organopolysiloxane gel efficiently transmits pressure without leaking or extruding from the sensor bag when the latter is punctured or ruptured.

Claims

1. In a smart airbag system employing a weight-sensitive pressure detection device comprising a pressure sensor associated with a bag containing a pressure transmission medium, the improvement comprising employing as said pressure transmission medium an organopolysiloxane gel having a stiffness which allows said smart airbag system to differentiate between a no-load condition and a loaded condition caused by a 1.5 Kg mass bearing on said bag remote from said sensor.

2. The smart airbag system of claim 1 wherein said organopolysiloxane gel has a stiffness expressed as texture analysis value of less than 40 g.

3. The smart airbag system of claim 1 wherein said organopolysiloxane gel has a stiffness such that said gel does not substantially extrude from a 0.5 mm hole in said bag subjected to pressure generated by a mass of 10 kg.

4. The smart airbag system of claim 2 wherein said organopolysiloxane gel has a stiffness such that said gel does not substantially extrude from a 0.5 mm hole in said bag subjected to pressure generated by a mass of 10 kg.

5. The smart airbag system of claim 1 wherein said organopolysiloxane gel has a stiffness expressed as texture analysis value of less than 20 g.

6. The smart airbag system of claim 2, wherein said organopolysiloxane gel has a stiffness expressed as texture analysis value of less than 10 g.

7. The smart airbag system of claim 3, wherein said organopolysiloxane gel has a stiffness expressed as texture analysis value of less than 10 g.

8. A sensor bag suitable for monitoring pressure, said sensor bag comprising a flexible bag containing a organopolysiloxane gel as a pressure transmission medium, and a pressure sensing device contained in said bag or outside of said bag and communication with said gel, said pressure sensing device responsive to pressure transmitted to said sensor through said pressure transmission medium.

9. A sensor bag of claim 8 wherein said organopolysiloxane gel has a stiffness expressed as a texture analysis value of less than 40 g.

10. A sensor bag of claim 8 wherein said organopolysiloxane gel has a stiffness expressed as a texture analysis value of less than 20 g.

11. A sensor bag of claim 8 wherein said organopolysiloxane gel has a stiffness expressed as a texture analysis value of less than 10 g.

12. The sensor bag of claim 8 wherein said gel has a stiffness such that said gel does not substantially extrude from an unobstructed 0.5 mm diameter hole in said bag under the pressure generated by a 10 kg mass resting on said bag.

13. The sensor bag of claim 9 wherein said gel has a stiffness such that said gel does not substantially extrude from an unobstructed 0.5 mm diameter hole in said bag under the pressure generated by a 10 kg mass resting on said bag.

14. The sensor bag of claim 10 wherein said gel has a stiffness such that said gel does not substantially extrude from an unobstructed 0.5 mm diameter hole in said bag under the pressure generated by a 10 kg mass resting on said bag.

15. The sensor bag of claim 8 wherein said gel has a stiffness such that said gel does not substantially extrude from an unobstructed 1.0 mm diameter hole in said bag under the pressure generated by a 10 kg mass resting on said bag.

16. The sensor bag of claim 9 wherein said gel has a stiffness such that said gel does not extrude from an unobstructed 1.0 mm diameter hole in said bag under the pressure generated by a 10 kg mass resting on said bag.

17. The sensor bag of claim 8, wherein said organopolysiloxane gel comprises an addition-crosslinked gel.

18. The sensor bag of claim 8, wherein said organopolysiloxane gel comprises an condensation-crosslinked gel.

19. The sensor bag of claim 8 wherein said organopolysiloxane gel comprises 60 weight percent or more of a non-functional polydiorganosiloxane.

20. The sensor bag of claim 19, wherein said organopolysiloxane gel comprises 80 weight percent or more of a non-functional organopolysiloxane, and from 1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of crosslinked organosilicon compounds.