Rollover air bag system

• US 6,502,856 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Shaklik, Brian M., Vallette, Ronald A., Vandermolen, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner, Avraham
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROYAL, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/503,101
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/741, 280/737
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0074 Utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence

Abstract

An airbag inflation system for a vehicle utilizes a truck'"'"'s an ambient air compression system including a holding tank for providing compressed air to vehicle systems and an air pump. An outlet is added to the holding tank with a frangible seal closing the outlet until discharge of the air is required to inflate the airbag. An air line connecting the outlet to the airbag is filled upon activation of a squib for breaking the frangible seal upon detection of a rollover related event.

Claims

1. An airbag inflation system for protecting a vehicle occupant positioned in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

an ambient air compression system including a holding and storage tank for providing compressed air to a plurality of vehicle systems;

vehicle interior sides defining the passenger compartment;

a passenger seat situated along one vehicle interior side in the passenger compartment;

a track positioned on the vehicle interior side adjacent the passenger seat;

an airbag mounted to deploy along the track between the vehicle occupant seated on the passenger seat and the vehicle interior side;

a pump for compressing ambient air;

the general purpose air storage tank connected to the pump to receive compressed air from the pump;

an air line connected between the tank and the airbag;

means for releasing compressed air from the tank to the air line; and

means responsive to a vehicle rollover event for actuating the means for releasing.

2. The airbag inflation system of claim 1, and flirter comprising:

a vehicle brake system actuable by compressed air; and

a valve for discharging compressed air from the tank to the vehicle brake system.

3. The airbag inflation system of claim 2, wherein the means for releasing includes:

an opening to the tank;

a frangible seat closing the opening; and

a squib responsive to the means for actuating disposed to open the frangible seal.

4. The airbag inflation system of claim 2, wherein the means for releasing includes a valve responsive to the means for actuating.

5. An airbag inflation system for a passenger compartment defined within interior sides of a vehicle, the airbag inflation system comprising:

a plurality of compressed air actuated systems including a brake system;

an ambient air compression system including a holding tank for providing compressed air to the plurality of vehicle systems;

an outlet from the holding tank;

a frangible seal closing the outlet;

a track running along at least one interior side of the passenger compartment;

an airbag partly mounted in the track to expand upon inflation along the track;

an air line connecting the outlet to the airbag; and

a squib for breaking the frangible seal.

6. An airbag inflation system as set forth in claim 5, and further comprising:

means responsive to vehicle rollover conditions for actuating the squib.

7. An airbag inflation system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the ambient air compression system further includes a pump for delivering air to the holding tank through an inlet to the holding tank.

8. An airbag inflation system as set forth in claim 7, and further comprising a plurality of air driven vehicle vocations coupled to the holding tank.

9. An vehicle comprising:

a plurality of differentiated compressed air actuable systems;

an air compression system;

a compressed air reservoir fed by the air compression system and connected to actuate the plurality of differentiated compressed air actuable systems;

a passenger compartment defined by interior sides of the vehicle;

a track along at least one interior side;

an inflatable airbag mounted with respect to the track to expand along the track upon inflation;

a rollover detector responsive to a vehicle rollover event for generating an airbag inflation signal;

an outlet from the compressed air reservoir;

an air line connecting the outlet to the airbag;

a frangible seal closing the outlet; and

a squib responsive to the airbag inflation signal for breaking the frangible seal.