Airbag module for motor vehicle

• US 7,963,555 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Abe, Kazuhiro, Kalliske, Ingo, Schreiber, Christian, Hänsel, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US12/656,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/732, 280/736, 280/738, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26017 a cooling agent being added to the inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

An airbag module for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag module comprising a first subassembly which may be arranged on a motor vehicle, an airbag of the first subassembly which may be inflated for protecting a person, which comprises an interior which may be filled with gas for inflating the airbag, a housing of the first subassembly, for receiving the airbag, a gas generator of the first subassembly for inflating the airbag with gas, an additional second subassembly and a reservoir of the second subassembly (for storing a coolant which is designed and provided for cooling gases located in the interior of the airbag. The additional second subassembly is separate from the first subassembly and is designed and provided to be arranged at a distance from the first subassembly on the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. An airbag module for a motor vehicle, comprising

a first subassembly which is configured to be arranged on a motor vehicle,

an airbag of the first subassembly which is inflated for protecting a person, which comprises an interior which is filled with gas for inflating the airbag,

a housing of the first subassembly, for receiving the airbag,

a gas generator of the first subassembly for inflating the airbag with gas,

an additional second subassembly, and

a reservoir of the second subassembly for storing a coolant which is designed and provided for cooling gases located in the interior of the airbag,

wherein the additional second subassembly is separate from the first subassembly and is designed and provided to be arranged at a distance from the first subassembly.

2. The airbag module of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle provided on the reservoir for delivering the coolant into the interior of the airbag.

3. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a through-opening communicating with the interior of the airbag.

4. The airbag module of claim 2, wherein the nozzle is configured to deliver the coolant in a discharge direction through at least one discharge opening of the nozzle into the interior of the airbag.

5. The airbag module of claim 2, wherein the nozzle is associated with the second subassembly.

6. The airbag module of claim 2, wherein the nozzle is associated with the first subassembly.

7. The airbag module of claim 2, wherein the reservoir is connected to the nozzle so as to convey coolant by means of a line, in particular in the form of a hose pipe.

8. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the first subassembly for fastening to a steering wheel of a motor vehicle has at least one fastening means via which the first subassembly may be secured to a part of the steering wheel.

9. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the first subassembly is designed and provided for arranging on a dashboard of a motor vehicle.

10. The airbag module of claim 1, further comprising a device for generating movement associated with the second subassembly, which is configured to subject the coolant to a pressure for delivering the coolant.

11. The airbag module of claim 10, wherein the device for generating movement is configured on the reservoir.

12. The airbag module of claim 10, wherein the device for generating movement is configured to deliver gas, in particular to generate gas pyrotechnically, for subjecting the reservoir to pressure.

13. The airbag module of claim 10, wherein the device for generating movement cooperates with an electronic control unit, which triggers the device for generating movement at a predeterminable time for subjecting the reservoir to a pressure depending on at least one parameter which may be detected by a sensor unit.

14. The airbag module of claim 13, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to calculate the time, depending on at least one parameter which may be detected by the sensor unit.

15. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is set up and provided for atomizing the coolant during the release of the coolant.