Air bag module with variable inflation

• US 6,431,596 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Webber, James Lloyd, Ryan, Shawn Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US09/650,179
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/739, 280/738, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• 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

An air bag module includes an air bag and an inflator being activatable to discharge inflator gas for inflating the air bag. The inflator has at least one discharge port through which inflator gas is discharged. A housing includes at least one inflator vent opening aligned with the discharge port. A variable inflation device is mounted on the inflator and includes a movable member alignable with the vent opening. The movable member is movable relative to the vent opening for opening and closing the vent opening at a predetermined time during inflator activation to control the amount of inflator gas discharged into the air bag and the amount of inflator gas expelled out through the vent opening of the housing. Preferably, the variable inflation device includes an initiator device being activatable during activation of the inflator to move the movable member relative to the vent opening at the predetermined time during inflator activation.

Claims

1. An air bag module for restraint of an occupant in a vehicle, the air bag module comprising:

an air bag;

an inflator being activatable to discharge inflator gas for inflating the air bag, the inflator having at least one discharge port through which inflator gas is discharged;

a housing including at least one inflator vent opening aligned with the discharge port; and

a variable inflation device mounted on the inflator, the variable inflation device including a movable member alignable with the vent opening, the movable member being movable relative to the vent opening for opening and closing the vent opening at a predetermined time during inflator activation to control the amount of inflator gas discharged into the air bag and the amount of inflator gas expelled out through the vent opening of the housing.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein the variable inflation device extends between the inflator and housing and mounts an end of the inflator to the housing.

3. The air bag module of claim 2 wherein the variable inflation device includes a moveable member slidably mounted on a support member.

4. The air bag module of claim 1 wherein the variable inflation device includes a support member extending between the inflator and housing, the support member mounting an end of the inflator to the housing.

5. The air bag module of claim 4 wherein the variable inflation device includes a moveable member slidably mounted on the support member.

6. The air bag module of claim 5 wherein the movable member is positioned in a first position for opening the vent opening such that at least a portion of the inflator gas is normally expelled out through the vent opening and wherein the movable member is movable to a second position for closing the vent opening at a predetermined time during activation of the inflator to increase the amount of inflator gas discharged into the air bag.

7. A variable inflation device for use with an air bag module having a housing and an inflatable cushion, comprising:

an inflator having at least one discharge port through which an inflator gas is dischargable, said inflator being mountable in the housing such that said at least one discharge port is alignable with at least one vent opening of the housing;

means for connecting said inflator to the housing, and defining a cavity;

a movable member being movably mounted within said cavity and being movable relative to said discharge port to direct an inflating amount of said inflation gas to the inflatable cushion and to direct a vented amount of said inflator gas away from the inflatable cushion through said vent opening; and

an initiator being disposed in said cavity and being activatable to move said movable member.

8. The variable inflation device of claim 7, wherein said movable member comprises:

a driving portion, said driving portion having a reaction surface being adapted to receive a pressure wave from said initiator; and

a driven portion, said driven portion being adapted to direct said inflating amount and said vented amount of said inflator gas.

9. The variable inflation device of claim 8, wherein said driving portion is integrally formed with said driven portion.

10. The variable inflation device of claim 7, wherein said movable member is movable from an initial open position to a second closed position to direct said inflating amount and said vented amount of said inflator gas.

11. A variable inflation device for use with an air bag module having a housing and an inflatable cushion, comprising:

an inflator having at least one discharge port through witch an inflator gas is dischargable, said inflator being mountable in the housing such that said at least one discharge port is alignable with at least one vent opening of the housing;

means for connecting said inflator to the housing, and defining a cavity, wherein said means for connecting comprises;

a support member depending outwardly from said inflator and having a support portion and a threaded portion, said support portion being adjacent said inflator and said threaded portion being distant from said inflator; and

a nut, said nut being adapted to threadably engage said threaded portion,

said support portion including a shoulder, said shoulder being abutable with an interior surface of the housing such that said threaded portion extends from the housing for receiving said nut; and

a movable member being movably mounted within said cavity and being movable relative to said discharge port to direct an inflating amount of said inflation gas to the inflatable cushion and to direct a vented amount of said inflator gas away from the inflatable cushion through said vent opening; and

an initiator being disposed in said cavity and being activatable to move said moveable member.

12. A variable inflation device for use with an air bag module having a housing and an inflatable cushion, comprising:

an inflator having at least one discharge port through which an inflator gas is dischargable, said inflator being mountable in the housing such that said at least one discharge port is alignable with at least one vent opening of the housing;

means for connecting said inflator to the housing, and defining a cavity, wherein said means for connecting comprises;

a support member extending from said inflator, said support member being adapted to form a press fit connection with an opening of the housing such that a portion of said support member abuts an interior surface of the housing;

a movable member being movably mounted within said cavity and being movable relative to said discharge port to direct an inflating amount of said inflation gas to the inflatable cushion and to direct a vented amount of said inflator gas away from the inflatable cushion through said vent opening; and

an initiator being disposed in said cavity and being activatable to move said movable member.

13. An air bag module for use in a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable cushion;

an inflator being activatable to discharge an inflation gas for inflating said inflatable cushion, said inflator having at least one discharge port through which said inflation gas is discharged;

a housing including at least one inflator vent opening, said inflator vent opening being fluidly aligned with said at least one discharge port;

an initiator being activatable to discharge a pressure wave;

a driving member, said driving member having a reaction surface being adapted to receive said pressure wave from said initiator; and

a driven member being movable by said driving member to a position between said discharge port and said vent opening at a predetermined time during activation of said inflator to diffuse an inflating portion of said inflator gas into said inflatable cushion and to diffuse a vented portion of inflator gas out of said housing through said vent opening.

14. The air bag module of claim 13, wherein said driving member is a plunger and said driven member is a slide portion.

15. The air bag module of claim 14, wherein said plunger is integrally formed with said slide portion.

16. The air bag module of claim 13, further comprising:

means for connecting said inflator to said air bag housing, said means for connecting defining a cavity, said cavity being adapted to receive said initiator, said driving member and said driven member.

17. The air bag module of claim 13, wherein said driving member is integrally formed with said driven member.

18. An air bag module for use in a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable cushion;

an inflator being activatable to discharge an inflation gas for inflating said inflatable cushion, said inflator having at least one discharge port through which said inflation gas is discharged;

a housing including at least one inflator vent opening, said inflator vent opening being fluidly aligned with said at least one discharge port;

an initiator being activatable to discharge a pressure wave;

a driving member, said driving member having a reaction surface being adapted to receive said pressure wave from said initiator; and

a driven member being movable by said driving member to a position between said discharge port and said vent opening at a predetermined time during activation of said inflator to diffuse an inflating portion of said inflator gas into said inflatable cushion and to diffuse a vented portion of inflator gas out of said housing through said vent opening; and

means for connecting said inflator to said air bag housing, said means for connecting defining a cavity, said cavity being adapted to receive said initiator, said driving member and said driven member and said means for connecting comprises;

a support member having a support portion and a threaded portion, said support portion being adjacent said inflator and said threaded portion being distant from said inflator; and

a cap nut, said cap nut being adapted to threadably engage said threaded portion,

said support portion including a shoulder, said shoulder being abutable with an interior surface or said housing such that said threaded portion extends from said housing for receiving said cap nut.

19. An air bag module for use in a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable cushion;

an inflator being activatable to discharge an inflation gas for inflating said inflatable cushion, said inflator having at least one discharge port through which said inflation gas is discharged;

a housing including at least one inflator vent opening, said inflator vent opening being fluidly aligned with said at least one discharge port;

an initiator being activatable to discharge a pressure wave;

a driving member, said driving member having a reaction surface being adapted to receive said pressure wave from said initiator; and

a driven member being movable by said driving member to a position between said discharge port and said vent opening at a predetermined time during activation of said inflator to diffuse an inflating portion or said inflator gas into said inflatable cushion and to diffuse a vented portion of inflator gas out of said housing through said vent opening; and

means for connecting said inflator to said air bag housing, said means for connecting defining a cavity, said cavity being adapted to receive said initiator, said driving member and said driven member and said means for connecting comprises;

a support member extending from said inflator, said support member being adapted to form a press fit connection with an opening of said housing with a portion of said support member abutting with an interior surface of said housing.