Airbag module

• US 7,434,836 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Einsiedel, Heinrich, Karlbauer, Ulrich, Frank, Richard, Leiffheit, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US11/709,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/740, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/262 Elongated tubular diffusers, e.g. curtain-type
• 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 comprises a gas generator, a gas bag, and a gas guiding device which is connected to the gas bag and the gas generator. The gas guiding device comprises at least one outflow opening, through which the gas of the gas generator in the gas bag is guided. The airbag module will not be damaged or only slightly damaged if the airbag module is externally heated, for example, in a fire. The airbag module is configured such that if the gas generator is undesirably released, if the generator is externally heated, the airbag module is thrust-neutral.

Claims

1. An airbag module, comprising:

a gas generator;

an airbag; and

a gas-conducting device connecting the airbag and the gas generator, the gas-conducting device including at least one outflow opening through which gas of the gas generator is conducted into the airbag,

wherein the airbag module being configured such that, in an event of undesired triggering of the gas generator due to external heating, the airbag module behaves in a thrust-neutral manner, or at least approximately in a thrust-neutral manner,

wherein the gas-conducting device is in the form of a gas lance and projects into the airbag,

wherein both at least one outflow opening and at least one additional gas outlet opening are located in the gas lance, and

wherein the at least one additional gas outlet opening is provided in such a manner that, only in the event of undesired external heating, thrust action of the gas emerging from the at least one additional gas outlet opening at least approximately neutralizes the thrust action of the gas emerging from the at least one outflow opening.

2. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one additional gas outlet opening is closed during normal operation and, during external heating, melts open and additionally allows gas of the gas generator to discharge.

3. The airbag module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one additional gas outlet opening has a gas discharging direction which is opposed to the gas discharging direction of the at least one outflow opening.

4. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein, during normal operation, the at least one additional gas outlet opening is closed by a thermally unstable tube which, during external heating, melts open.

5. The airbag module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tube is held by at least one clip.

6. The airbag module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tube is formed by a heat-shrinking tube.

7. The airbag module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the heat-shrinking tube is shrunk onto the at least one additional gas outlet opening of the gas-conducting device and closes said opening, and during external heating, the heat-shrinking tube melts open and additionally allows the gas of the gas generator to discharge.

8. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas generator is configured in a thrust-neutral manner.

9. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second additional gas outlet opening spatially opposite the at least one additional gas outlet.

10. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag melts during the undesired external heating.

11. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag covers the at least one additional gas outlet prior to the undesired external heating.

12. An airbag module, comprising:

a gas generator;

an airbag; and

a gas-conducting device connecting the airbag and the gas generator, the gas-conducting device including at least one outflow opening through which gas from the gas generator passes into the airbag and an additional outflow opening,

wherein the additional outflow opening is initially covered by a closure element, the closure element melts only due to undesired external heating to uncover the additional outflow opening, and

wherein the airbag module is configured such that in an event of an undesired triggering of the gas generator due to external heating, the airbag module behaves in a thrust-neutral manner.

13. The airbag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gas-conducting device is in the form of a gas lance and projects into the airbag.

14. The airbag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one additional gas outlet opening is provided in such a manner that, in the event of external heating, thrust action of the gas emerging from the at least one additional gas outlet opening at least approximately neutralizes the thrust action of the gas emerging from the at least one outflow opening.

15. The airbag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one additional gas outlet opening has a gas discharging direction which is opposed to the gas discharging direction of the at least one outflow opening.

16. The airbag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the closure element is a thermally unstable tube which, during external heating, melts open.

17. The airbag module as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tube is held by at least one clip.

18. The airbag module as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tube is formed by a heat-shrinking tube.

19. The airbag module as claimed in claim 18, wherein the heat-shrinking tube is shrunk onto the at least one additional gas outlet opening of the gas-conducting device and closes said opening, and during external heating, the heat-shrinking tube melts open and additionally allows the gas of the gas generator to discharge.