Dual flow gas guide apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A gas guide for conveying inflation gas from an inflator into a cushion of an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the gas guide comprising:
- a first end configured to receive the inflation gas from the inflator;
a second end configured to release a first portion of the inflation gas into the cushion; and
an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, the intermediate portion having a small-radius bend and an intermediate opening configured to release a second portion of the inflation gas into the cushion, wherein thrusts produced by the first portion and the second portion of the inflation gas are mutually negating;
wherein the intermediate portion is formed integrally with the first and second ends.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a gas guide for distributing inflation gas into a cushion for an airbag module such as an inflatable curtain module. The gas guide has a first end connected to an inflator, a second end disposed within the cushion, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The second end has a second opening and the intermediate portion has an intermediate opening. The intermediate portion has a small radius bend proximate the intermediate opening such that first and second portions of the inflation gas leave the second opening and the intermediate opening, respectively, to inflate different portions of the cushion. The second end may be constricted such that back pressure in the intermediate portion urges the second portion through the intermediate opening. In addition or in the alternative, a deflector may be used to channel the second portion through the intermediate opening.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A gas guide for conveying inflation gas from an inflator into a cushion of an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the gas guide comprising:
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a first end configured to receive the inflation gas from the inflator;
a second end configured to release a first portion of the inflation gas into the cushion; and
an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, the intermediate portion having a small-radius bend and an intermediate opening configured to release a second portion of the inflation gas into the cushion, wherein thrusts produced by the first portion and the second portion of the inflation gas are mutually negating;
wherein the intermediate portion is formed integrally with the first and second ends. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An inflation assembly for inflating a cushion of an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the inflation assembly comprising:
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an inflator configured to release inflation gas; and
a gas guide comprising a first end configured to receive the inflation gas from the inflator through a first opening, a second end configured to release a first portion of the inflation gas through a second opening, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, the intermediate portion having a small-radius bend and an intermediate opening, wherein the second opening has a cross sectional area smaller than a cross sectional area of the intermediate portion such that back pressure is created within the intermediate portion to induce a second portion of the inflation gas to be released through the intermediate opening, wherein the first portion exits the second opening along a first direction and the second portion exits the intermediate opening along a second direction generally opposite to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising:
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a cushion;
an inflator configured to release inflation gas; and
a gas guide comprising a tube having a first end configured to receive the inflation gas from the inflator, a second end configured to release a first portion of the inflation gas into the cushion, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, the intermediate portion having a first small-radius bend out of the cushion and a second small-radius bend within the cushion and an intermediate opening configured to release a second portion of the inflation gas into the cushion, wherein the intermediate portion is formed integrally with the first and second ends. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for inflating a cushion of an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising an inflator and a gas guide having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, the method comprising:
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releasing inflation gas from the inflator in response to detection of a collision of the vehicle;
conveying the inflation gas into the first end;
releasing a first portion of the inflation gas from the second end at a flow rate selected to create back pressure within the intermediate portion; and
urging a second portion of the inflation gas to exit the intermediate portion through an intermediate opening disposed in the intermediate portion, proximate a small-radius bend of the intermediate portion, via the back pressure, wherein the second portion of the inflation gas exits the intermediate portion along a direction generally opposite to a direction along which the first portion exits the second end. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for manufacturing a gas guide for conveying inflation gas from an inflator into a cushion of an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the method comprising:
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providing a metal tube having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion having a cross sectional area;
bending the metal tube to form a small-radius bend in the intermediate portion;
forming an intermediate opening in the intermediate portion; and
providing a second opening in communication with the second end, the second opening having a cross sectional area smaller than the cross sectional area of the intermediate portion, wherein thrusts produced by the first portion and the second portion of the inflation gas are mutually negating. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification