Airbag device

• US 7,401,809 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lube, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECK, KAREN JANE AMORES
• Application Number:
  US11/417,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20060267320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/736, 280/739, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7925 Piston-type valves

Abstract

An airbag module for a motor vehicle comprises an inflatable gas bag; a gas generator for inflating the gas bag; a valve for letting gas out of the gas bag; a moveable actuating element for the valve, which can be actuated in order to open the valve; and a trigger mechanism which is used to actuate the actuating element by producing pressure. The trigger mechanism releases a compressed gas in order to actuate the actuating element, the gas directly acting upon a pressure attach surface of the actuating element.

Claims

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

an inflatable gas bag;

a gas generator for inflating the gas bag;

a valve through which gas is released out of the bag, wherein the valve includes a basic body and a moveable actuating element that can be actuated in order to open the valve; and

a triggering mechanism for actuating the actuating element by generating pressure, wherein the triggering mechanism includes a sensor-controlled, pyrotechnic unit that releases a gas in order to actuate the actuating element;

wherein the airbag device is configured so that the released gas passes into a pressure space of the valve to act directly on a pressure application surface of the actuating element;

wherein the pressure space is located in an interruption of the actuating element, the interruption being bounded on one side by an actuating-element stop and on the other side by the pressure application surface, so that the actuating element moves in response to the action of the triggering mechanism, wherein the airbag device is configured so that the movement is ended by the actuating-element stop striking against a basic-body stop.

2. The airbag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure space is closed on all sides in a gastight manner.

3. The airbag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic body and the actuating element are each provided with through openings, and the actuating element can be positioned, by actuation of the triggering mechanism, relative to the basic body so that the through openings of the basic body and of the actuating element at least partially cover each other and the valve is opened in order to release gas from the bag.

4. The airbag device as claimed in claim 3, wherein before actuation of the actuating element by the triggering mechanism, the through openings of the basic body are covered by the actuating element, so that the valve is closed.

5. The airbag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic body and the actuating element are disk-shaped.

6. The airbag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic body and the actuating element have mutually assigned projections and indentations which serve as an installation aid during the assembly of the valve from basic body and actuating element.

7. The airbag device as claimed in claim 6, wherein projections of the basic body serve to guide the actuating element on the basic body.

8. The airbag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a deformation element is arranged in front of one of the stops of the basic body and activating element in order to brake the actuating element before the actuating element meets the stops, wherein the deformation element is configured to deform during braking of the actuating element.

9. The airbag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure application surface of the actuating element extends essentially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the actuating element under the action of the gases released by the triggering mechanism.