Temperature-Compensated Airbag Inflator

• US 20080284145A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23504 characterised by material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23519 Resin for coating fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite coated fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2636 The volume of gas being continuously adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2032 the inflator or inflatable member not being rotatable with the steering wheel; Arrangements using the steering column or steering wheel rim for storing, supplying or evacuating the inflation gas or for storing the inflatable member
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 : in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 : Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 : comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 : characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 : characterised by their venting means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 : using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 : with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid

Abstract

Airbag inflator system includes an inflatable airbag, a housing and a gas generating system arranged in the housing for generating gas. The gas generating system provides variable amounts of gas to the airbag as a function of temperature. A nozzle may be arranged between the gas generating system and an interior of the airbag, the nozzle being varied as a function of temperature. The housing may be movably arranged relative to a fixed base and mounted to vary its relation to the base. To this end, elastic or temperature-deformable supports may be used to support the housing on the base. When the housing defines a chamber containing generated gas, the properties of a conduit between the chamber and the interior of the airbag can be varied as function of the pressure in the chamber.

Claims

1. An airbag inflator system, comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

a housing; and

a gas generating system arranged in said housing for generating gas, said gas generating system being arranged to provide variable amounts of gas to said airbag as a function of temperature.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle between said gas generating system and an interior of said airbag, said nozzle being varied as a function of temperature.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said housing is movably arranged relative to a fixed base and mounted to vary its relation to said base.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising elastic supports for supporting said housing on said base.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising temperature-deformable supports for supporting said housing on said base.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said housing defines a chamber containing generated gas, the properties of a conduit between said chamber and the interior of said airbag being varied as function of the pressure in said chamber.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said inflator further comprises:

cover means for covering said at least one airbag prior to the production of the pressurized gas; and

removal means for removing said cover means to permit the deployment of said at least one airbag.

7. A method for inflating an airbag, comprising:

generating gas;

directing the gas through a conduit into the airbag; and

varying the conduit as a function of temperature to thereby provide variable amounts of gas to the airbag as a function of temperature.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the varying of the conduit is automatic.

9. In a vehicle having a passenger compartment with locations suitable for mounting of an airbag module, an airbag module adapted for mounting in the passenger compartment to protect an occupant in the event of a crash of the vehicle, comprising:

at least one airbag;

an inflator for producing pressurized gas to inflate said at least one airbag, said inflator comprising;

a housing;

a gas generator arranged within said housing;

a variable exit opening in said housing through which gas from said gas generator flows to inflate said at least one airbag, said variable exit opening having a plurality of different sizes such that the size of said variable exit opening is controlled by the pressure within said housing; and

initiation means for initiating production of the pressurized gas in response to a crash of the vehicle.