Controlled deflation device for a gas bag

• US 6,811,183 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SARL, Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SARL, Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Serban, Bogdan, Meyer, Michael, Rudolf, Harald, Petri, Volker, Witte, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/088,716
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: B60/R 2.128, 280/739, 280/335
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01528 mounted on the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material includes at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated with the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge.

Claims

1. A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material, comprising at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated to the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge wherein said ignitable pyrotechnic charge is arranged in the textile material of said gas bag.

2. A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material, comprising at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated to the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge wherein the pyrotechnic charge is formed as an explosive thread, said explosive thread being introduced into the textile material of the gas bag or being applied onto the textile material of the gas bag.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said explosive thread comprises an electrically conductive stranded wire, which is surrounded by an explosive covering.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said explosive thread comprises an electrically conductive stranded wire having an explosive material introduced into an interweaving of individual strands.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein said explosive thread comprises a thread made of an electrically conductive explosive material.

6. A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material, comprising at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated to the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge wherein said pyrotechnic charge comprises a filament and an explosive coating, the filament being introduced into the gas bag or applied onto the gas bag and the explosive coating being applied onto the gas bag in the region of the filament.

7. A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material, comprising at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated to the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge wherein said pyrotechnic charge comprises an explosive coating made of an electrically conductive explosive and two connection lines, said coating being applied between said two connection lines onto the gas bag such that the explosive coating electrically contacts the two connection lines.

8. A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material, comprising at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated to the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge wherein the pyrotechnic charge is associated to the gas bag at an inner side of the gas bag.

9. A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material, comprising at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated to the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge wherein several ignitable pyrotechnic charges are arranged in a parallel connection with common connection lines.

10. A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material, comprising at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated to the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge wherein connection lines for the ignitable pyrotechnic charge are applied onto the textile material of said gas bag introduced into the textile material of said gas bag.

11. A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material, comprising at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated to the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge wherein a region of the gas bag, in which the pyrotechnic charge is associated to the gas bag, is circumscribed by at least one seam.

12. A passenger restraint system for a vehicle, comprising at least one airbag made of a textile material, said airbag having at least one pyrotechnic charge associated therewith in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge inflator means for inflating said airbag a control device for controlling the deployment of said airbag, and sensor means for detecting a pressure exerted by the airbag on the passenger, wherein said control device triggers the ignition of said pyrotechnic charge based on a pressure signal detected by the sensor means when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded.

13. The passenger restraint system according to claim 12, wherein the control device evaluates the pressure signal of the sensor means according to the pressure and/or time.

14. The passenger restraint system according to claim 12, wherein the pyrotechnic charge is arranged on the airbag in a region which faces away from the passenger when the airbag is deployed.

15. The passenger restraint system according to one of claim 12, wherein the pyrotechnic charge is designed such that the total area of ventilation openings in the airbag conditioned by the ignition of the pyrotechnic charge is larger than a total area of outlet openings of the airbag, which permit an escape of the gas after the complete defolding of the airbag.

16. The passenger restraint system according to claim 12, wherein several pyrotechnic charges are associated to the airbag in different regions thereof.

17. The passenger restraint system according to claim 16, wherein the sensor means further detects the position of an impact region on the airbag, where the airbag exerts a local pressure on the passenger, and wherein, based on a position signal detected by the sensor means, the control device triggers the ignition of a pyrotechnic charge, which is essentially opposite the impact region with respect to the airbag.

18. The passenger restraint system according to claim 12, wherein the sensor means comprises at least one sensor, which is arranged on the airbag in a region which faces the passenger when the airbag is released.

19. The passenger restraint system according to claim 18, wherein the sensor is a force sensor arranged on the airbag.

20. The passenger restraint system according to claim 19, wherein said force sensor comprises at least two electrode structures, which are applied onto a textile substrate at a predefined distance, and a layer of a semiconductor material which is applied over the electrode structures in an active region of the sensor in direct contact with the electrode structures, the layer made of a semiconductor material comprising an inner resistance being variable in response to a deformation of the layer.

21. The passenger restraint system according to claim 20, wherein the textile substrate comprises the airbag material, the electrode structures being directly applied onto the airbag.