Motor vehicle air bag system with a cable-type gas generator

• US 6,702,320 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lang, Rüdiger, Herrmann, Günter
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEDMAN, LAURA
• Application Number:
  US10/069,497
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/731, 280/732, 280/736, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742, 553/415
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2646 the reacting substances being supported by the inflatable member walls, or by a flexible support within it
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence

Abstract

An airbag system for a motor vehicle, characterized in that a separate cable-type gas generator (5) is associated with the individual chambers (3) of said air bag system extending in the form of a harness from a central initiator (23) to the respective inflatable chamber (3) of said airbag system.

Claims

1. An airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable chambers; and

for each of said inflatable chambers, a separate cord-type gas generator, wherein said gas generators extend from a central initiator in the form of a strand and then are individually guided into a respective one of said inflatable chambers.

2. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said airbag arrangement is in the form of a passenger airbag having a plurality of individual inflatable chambers, wherein said initiator is disposed in a dashboard of said motor vehicle, wherein said separate cord-type gas generators are held together by connecting means to form a common strand in a region leading from said initiator toward said inflatable chambers, and wherein individual ones of said cord-type gas generators branch off from said strand and are guided into a respective one of said inflatable chambers.

3. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said airbag arrangement is in the form of an airbag curtain that unfolds over at least a portion of a side of said vehicle out of a module disposed in a roof beam of said vehicle, wherein said airbag curtain comprises said plurality of individual inflatable chambers, which are connected to a gas supply channel in which said gas generator strand is disposed, wherein said separate cord-type gas generators are joined together by connecting means to form a common strand in a region leading from said initiator and extending in said gas supply channel, and wherein where said individual inflatable chambers are connected to said gas supply channel, individual ones of said cord-type gas generators branch off from said common strand and are guided into a respective one of said inflatable chambers.

4. An airbag arrangement according to claim 3, wherein a cold gas generator is provided that is comprised of a pressure tank that is provided with an opening device and has a supply of gas stored therein, wherein said pressure tank is adapted to release gas with a time delay relative to a burning-off of said cord-type gas generator.

5. An airbag arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a time-control device is provided for activating said opening device of said pressure tank.

6. An airbag arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said opening device of said pressure tank is connected to said airbag curtain in such a way that when said airbag curtain is inflated it activates said opening device.

7. An airbag arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a lower free edge of said airbag curtain, when viewed in an unfolding state of said airbag curtain, is connected with said opening device via a release cord.

8. An airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said airbag arrangement is in the form of an airbag curtain that unfolds over at least a portion of a side of said vehicle out of a module disposed in a roof beam of said vehicle, wherein said airbag curtain comprises said plurality of individual inflatable chambers, which are connected to a gas supply channel in which said gas generator strand is disposed, wherein said gas generator strand is a cord-type gas generator that extends centrally in said gas supply channel, and wherein cord-type gas generator sections are connected to said cord-type gas generator via branching means and extend into respective ones of said inflatable chambers.

9. An airbag arrangement according to claim 8, wherein respective T-shaped sleeves are disposed at said branching means, wherein said sleeves have two aligned legs that are placed over said centrally extending cord-type gas generator, and wherein each of said sleeves has a T-connector into which is introduced a respective one of said cord-type gas generator sections, which are fixed in position in said sleeve.

10. An airbag arrangement according to claim 8, wherein a cold gas generator is provided that is comprised of a pressure tank that is provided with an opening device and has a supply of gas stored therein, wherein said pressure tank is adapted to release gas with a time delay relative to a burning-off of said cord-type gas generator.

11. An airbag arrangement according to claim 10, wherein a time-control device is provided for activating said opening device of said pressure tank.

12. An airbag arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said opening device of said pressure tank is connected to said airbag curtain in such a way that when said airbag curtain is inflated it activates said opening device.

13. An airbag arrangement according to claim 12, wherein a lower free edge of said airbag curtain, when viewed in an unfolding state of said airbag curtain, is connected with said opening device via a release cord.

14. An airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable chambers; and

for each of said inflatable chambers, a separate cord-type gas generator, wherein said gas generators extend from a central initiator in the form of a strand and then are individually guided into a respective one of said inflatable chambers, wherein said airbag arrangement is in the form of a passenger airbag having said plurality of individual inflatable chambers, wherein said initiator is disposed in a dashboard of said motor vehicle, wherein said separate cord-type gas generators are held together by connecting means to form a common strand in a region leading from said initiator toward said inflatable chambers, and wherein individual ones of said cord-type gas generators branch off from said strand and are guided into a respective one of said inflatable chambers.

15. An airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable chambers; and

for each of said inflatable chambers, a separate cord-type gas generator, wherein said gas generators extend from a central initiator in the form of a strand and then are individually guided into a respective one of said inflatable chambers, wherein said airbag arrangement is in the form of an airbag curtain that unfolds over at least a portion of a side of said vehicle out of a module disposed in a roof beam of said vehicle, wherein said airbag curtain comprises said plurality of individual inflatable chambers, which are connected to a gas supply channel in which said gas generator strand is disposed, wherein said separate cord-type gas generators are joined together by connecting means to form a common strand in a region leading from said initiator and extending.in said gas supply channel, and wherein where said individual inflatable chambers are connected to said gas supply channel, individual ones of said cord-type gas generators branch off from said common strand and are guided into a respective one of said inflatable chambers.

16. An airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable chambers; and

for each of said inflatable chambers, a separate cord-type gas generator, wherein said gas generators extend from a central initiator in the form of a strand and then are individually guided into a respective one of said inflatable chambers, wherein said airbag arrangement is in the form of an airbag curtain that unfolds over at least a portion of a side of said vehicle out of a module disposed in a roof beam of said vehicle, wherein said airbag curtain comprises said plurality of individual inflatable chambers, which are connected to a gas supply channel in which said gas generator strand is disposed, wherein said gas generator strand is a cord-type gas generator that extends centrally in said gas supply channel, and wherein cord-type gas generator sections are connected to said cord-type gas generator via branching means and extend into respective ones of said inflatable chambers.