Airbag module using active venting membrane

• US 6,752,420 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: DePottey, Timothy A., Ziolo, Melissa S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/210,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20040021307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/739, 280/740, 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 airbag module capable of providing varying degrees of inflation to an airbag is disclosed. The airbag module has a housing with an interior and an exterior. A number of venting holes are located in the walls of the housing to allow gas to pass between the interior and exterior of the housing. These venting holes are sealed with a thin membrane to which an initiator is attached. The initiator is designed to create a hole in the membrane according to an input from sensors positioned within the automobile. Once the hole is created in the membrane, the gas pressure inside the housing forces the entire membrane to open and allows gas to flow out of the venting holes. The amount of gas emitted from the venting holes thus reduces the inflation of the airbag.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controllably venting gas produced by an airbag inflator comprising:

a housing having a wall defining an interior and an exterior;

a plurality of venting holes located in the housing wall;

at least one membrane sealing the venting holes, the membrane preventing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the housing; and

a plurality of initiators located at positions corresponding to the venting holes and relative to the at least one membrane, such that each initiator is activatable independent of each other to selectively produce a hole in the membrane.

2. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the membrane is a foil.

3. The apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein the foil is aluminum.

4. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the membrane thickness is of a range from about 0.004 inches to about 0.007 inches.

5. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the membrane thickness is of a range from about 0.001 inches to about 0.004 inches.

6. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the membrane is plastic.

7. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the venting holes are generally circular.

8. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the venting holes are of different sizes.

9. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the number of initiators corresponding to the number of venting holes.

10. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one membrane is a single membrane that seals the plurality of venting holes.

11. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the membrane is adhered to an internal surface of the housing.

12. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the initiators are attached to the membrane.

13. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the hole in the membrane produced by each initiator is a propagation hole.

14. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the initiators are small point charges.

15. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the initiators are rectangular strips.

16. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the initiators are deflagration devices.

17. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the initiators are electro-chemical devices.

18. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the initiators are pyrotechnic devices.

19. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further comprising an impact management system communicatively coupled to the initiators.

20. An apparatus to controllably vent a gas produced by an airbag inflator comprising:

a housing having a wall defining an interior and an exterior;

an airbag in fluid communication with the interior of the housing;

a plurality of venting holes located in the housing wall;

at least one membrane attached to the housing to seal the venting holes, the membrane preventing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the housing; and

a plurality of initiators attached to the membrane corresponding to the number of venting holes, each initiator activatable independent of each other to selectively produce a propagation hole in the membrane.

21. The apparatus, as recited in claim 20, wherein the initiators are deflagration devices.

22. The apparatus, as recited in claim 20, wherein the initiators are electro-chemical devices.

23. The apparatus, as recited in claim 20, wherein the initiators are pyrotechnic devices.

24. The apparatus, as recited in claim 20, wherein the membrane is a foil.

25. The apparatus, as recited in claim 24, wherein the foil is aluminum.

26. The apparatus, as recited in claim 20, wherein the membrane is a plastic material.

27. The apparatus, as recited in claim 20, further comprising an impact management system communicatively coupled to the initiators.

28. The apparatus, as recited in claim 27, further comprising a plurality of sensors located within an automobile, wherein the sensors are communicatively coupled to the impact management system.

29. The apparatus, as recited in claim 20, wherein the area of the propagation hole is smaller than half of the size of each corresponding venting hole.

30. A system for controllably deploying an airbag within a vehicle comprising:

a housing having a plurality of walls, wherein the walls define an interior and an exterior;

a plurality of venting holes disposed in a housing wall, such that the venting holes provide fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the housing;

at least one membrane positioned over the venting holes for preventing fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the housing;

an inflator fluidly coupled to the housing;

an airbag fluidly coupled to the housing;

a plurality of initiators corresponding to the number of venting holes positioned, such that upon activation each initiator produces a hole in the membrane, the initiators selectively activatable independent of each other; and

an impact management system communicatively coupled to at least one sensor positioned within the vehicle, wherein in response to an input from the at least one sensor, the impact management system initiates the initiators.

31. The system, as recited in claim 30, wherein individual venting holes are sealed by individual membranes.

32. The system, as recited in claim 30, wherein the initiators are located adjacent to the venting holes.

33. The system, as recited in claim 30, wherein the at least one sensors provides input corresponding to an automobile occupant'"'"'s characteristics.

34. The system, as recited in claim 30, wherein the inflator is positioned within the housing.

35. The system, as recited in claim 30, wherein the initiators are directly attached to the membrane.

36. The system, as recited in claim 30, wherein the impact management system further initiates the inflator.