WO2014088478A1 - An airbag arrangement comprising a gas guide - Google Patents

An airbag arrangement comprising a gas guide Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014088478A1
WO2014088478A1 PCT/SE2012/051337 SE2012051337W WO2014088478A1 WO 2014088478 A1 WO2014088478 A1 WO 2014088478A1 SE 2012051337 W SE2012051337 W SE 2012051337W WO 2014088478 A1 WO2014088478 A1 WO 2014088478A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
airbag
gas guide
gas
airbag arrangement
sleeve element
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2012/051337
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jan Mazanek
Ken Lindberg
Ulf Magnusson
Original Assignee
Autoliv Development Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Autoliv Development Ab filed Critical Autoliv Development Ab
Priority to PCT/SE2012/051337 priority Critical patent/WO2014088478A1/en
Publication of WO2014088478A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014088478A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/26—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow
    • B60R21/261—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/34—Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians
    • B60R21/36—Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians using airbags

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vehicle airbag arrangement comprising an airbag, an inflating device and a gas guide.
  • the airbag comprises an outer wall, enclosing a volume, and is arranged to be inflated by means of the inflating device via the gas guide.
  • the gas guide is at least partially positioned within the airbag.
  • JP 2008149785 discloses a pedestrian pillar air bag with cells that are arranged side by side or on top of each other in a symmetrical fashion. Airbag cells are connected with non-return valves.
  • Airbags of different types may use a rigid "gas guide, " such as made from metal or plastic, to direct gas from the inflator to the airbag cushion.
  • the gas guide is a tube or other gas channel that directs the flow of the gas.
  • the gas guide is manufactured separate from the airbag cushion.
  • Textile gas guides have also been developed, typically being in the form of a folded piece of material that is sewn along the edge to create a channel for the inflation gas.
  • US 2009295134 describes a textile gas guide that may have a "Y"-shaped channel with one opening connected to the inflator and two openings arranged for spreading the gases in the case of inflation.
  • This textile gas guide is here sewn in an overlap fashion to provide enhanced durability during inflation .
  • a textile gas guide which has many advantages, is thus not suitable for being sewn to a pedestrian protection airbag, since this creates an undesired non-pressurized section.
  • a vehicle airbag arrangement comprising an airbag, an inflating device and a gas guide.
  • the airbag comprises an outer wall, enclosing a volume, and is arranged to be inflated by means of the inflating device via the gas guide.
  • the gas guide is at least partially positioned within the airbag.
  • the airbag arrangement comprises a sleeve element that is encircling a part of the gas guide, providing a gas guide position maintaining support.
  • the airbag arrangement is constituted by a pedestrian protection airbag arrangement, the airbag being arranged to be inflated in the case of a collision with a pedestrian.
  • the sleeve element is fixed to the gas guide and/or fixed to the airbag.
  • At least a part of the sleeve element has a smaller circumference than at least a part of the portion of the gas guide it is encircling.
  • the sleeve element is made of a material having lower expansion characteristics than the material that the gas guide is made of.
  • a gas guide is provided, where the openings of the gas guide arranged for spreading inflation gases are directed and maintained in a desired manner during inflation, without adding any non-pressurized sections.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a vehicle
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of the front part of a vehicle
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the front part of a vehicle with an airbag according to the present invention inflated
  • Figure 4 shows a schematic detail view of a gas guide according to the present invention.
  • a vehicle 1 comprises a windscreen 2 and so-called A-pillars; a first A-pillar 3 at a right-hand side of the windscreen 2 and a second A-pillar 4 at a left-hand side of the windscreen 2.
  • the A-pillars are well-known in the field of vehicles, and run to a roof 5 of the vehicle 1.
  • the right-hand side and left-hand side are defined when viewing along the vehicle in its forward running direction D.
  • the airbag 6 is comprised in an airbag arrangement 11, where the airbag arrangement 11 further comprises a gas generator 12 and a textile gas guide 13.
  • the volume 8 is connected to the gas generator 12 which is arranged to fill the airbag 6 with gas during a pressurization process at the event of a collision.
  • the airbag 6 is connected to the gas generator 12 via the textile gas guide 13, shown in detail in Figure 4, having a first opening 14, a second opening 15 and a third opening 16.
  • the first opening 14 is positioned outside the airbag 6, and is connected to the gas generator 12.
  • the second opening 15 and the third opening 16 are positioned inside the airbag 6 such that gas generated by the gas generator 12 is inserted into the volume 7 via the second opening 15 and the third opening 16.
  • the gas guide 13 is thus slightly Y-shaped, such that an inserted gas is led from the first opening 14 via a first branch 17 which is divided into a second branch 18, leading to the second opening 15, and into a third branch 19, leading to the third opening 16.
  • the second branch 18 is arranged to guide gas mainly in a first direction 20 and the third branch 19 is guiding gas in arranged to guide gas mainly in a second direction 21, here the first direction 20 and the second direction are shown to be opposite each other 21, although this only is an example. However, it is desired that the first direction 20 and the second direction 21, as they are determined by means of the positioning of the gas guide 13 before inflation, mainly is maintained during inflation of the airbag 6.
  • the airbag arrangement comprises a sleeve element 22 that is encircling a part of the gas guide 13, such that a gas guide position maintaining support is provided during inflation.
  • the gas guide 13 distributes the gas in the airbag 6 in a desired manner, while no non-pressurized sections are added.
  • the sleeve element 22 may be arranged around the gas guide 13 in any convenient manner, and at least a part of the gas guide 13 is encircled by the sleeve element 22.
  • the sleeve element 22 may be fixed to the gas guide 13, for example by means of a seam.
  • the sleeve element 22 may be fixed to the airbag 6, for example by means of a seam.
  • the sleeve element 6 may be designed such that at least a part of the sleeve element 22 has a smaller circumference than at least a part of the portion of the gas guide 13 it is encircling. In this way, the sleeve element 22 is held in place around the gas guide 13 during inflation.
  • the gas generator is generally constituted by an inflating device 12, which may be of any suitable design.
  • an inflating device 12 comprises at least one pyrotechnical charge.
  • the gas inflating the airbag 6 is thus generated by means of a detonation 23 of the pyrotechnical charge, as schematically indicated in figure 4.
  • the inner walls 9, 10 of the airbag 6 are not necessary, but are advantageous in order to acquire a suitable shape, rigidity and inflation properties.
  • the airbag When the airbag is not inflated, it is folded and stored in the vicinity of the gas generator 14.
  • the gas guide 13 may be made of a textile material, or some other suitable material which is flexible.
  • the sleeve element 22 may be made of a textile material, or some other suitable material.
  • the sleeve element 22 may be made of a material having lower expansion characteristics than the material that the gas guide 13 is made of.
  • the inflating device 12 is preferably at least partially positioned within the gas guide 13, and the gas guide 13 is at least partially positioned within the airbag 6.
  • the sleeve element 22 may be made in one piece, or as a sheet with edges that are attached to each other by means of a seam.
  • the gas guide 22 and the sleeve element 22 may be comprised in an airbag arrangement of another type than one described, for example an internal airbag arrangement where non-pressurized sections are not desired, or where, for some other reason, the sleeve element 22 of the present invention is desired.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention related to a vehicle airbag arrangement (1 1 ) comprising an airbag (6), an inflating device (12) and a gas guide (13). The airbag (6) comprises an outer wall (7), enclosing a volume (8), and is arranged to be inflated by means of the inflating device (12) via the gas guide (13). The gas guide (13) is at least partially positioned within the airbag (6). The airbag arrangement (1 1 ) comprises a sleeve element (22) that is encircling a portion of the gas guide (13), providing a gas guide position maintaining support.

Description

TITLE
An airbag arrangement comprising a gas guide DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag arrangement comprising an airbag, an inflating device and a gas guide. The airbag comprises an outer wall, enclosing a volume, and is arranged to be inflated by means of the inflating device via the gas guide. The gas guide is at least partially positioned within the airbag.
Today, many vehicles are constructed to comprise at least one exterior airbag, intended to be inflated in the case of a collision with a pedestrian and to alleviate the collision force that the pedestrian is subject to.
For example, JP 2008149785 discloses a pedestrian pillar air bag with cells that are arranged side by side or on top of each other in a symmetrical fashion. Airbag cells are connected with non-return valves.
Airbags of different types may use a rigid "gas guide, " such as made from metal or plastic, to direct gas from the inflator to the airbag cushion. The gas guide is a tube or other gas channel that directs the flow of the gas. The gas guide is manufactured separate from the airbag cushion. Textile gas guides have also been developed, typically being in the form of a folded piece of material that is sewn along the edge to create a channel for the inflation gas.
US 2009295134 describes a textile gas guide that may have a "Y"-shaped channel with one opening connected to the inflator and two openings arranged for spreading the gases in the case of inflation. This textile gas guide is here sewn in an overlap fashion to provide enhanced durability during inflation .
Furthermore, it is desirable that the openings arranged for spreading the gases are directed and maintained in a desired manner during inflation. One way to achieve this is to provide a non-pressurized section in the airbag around the gas guide by means of one or more seams. Preferably, such a seam at least comprises sewing the gas guide to the airbag such that it is kept in a predetermined relation to the airbag. The non- pressurized section could also be used at other positions at the airbag where inflation is not needed in order to minimize the needed inflator capacity.
However, in the case of a pedestrian protection airbag, it is not desired to have non-pressurized section due to the fact that a pedestrian might strike the airbag at almost any place, and needs the protective gas pressure in order to acquire a sufficient impact protection. A textile gas guide, which has many advantages, is thus not suitable for being sewn to a pedestrian protection airbag, since this creates an undesired non-pressurized section.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pedestrian protection airbag which comprises a textile gas guide, where the openings arranged for spreading the gases are directed and maintained in a desired manner during inflation, without adding any non-pressurized sections.
Said object is achieved by means of a vehicle airbag arrangement comprising an airbag, an inflating device and a gas guide. The airbag comprises an outer wall, enclosing a volume, and is arranged to be inflated by means of the inflating device via the gas guide. The gas guide is at least partially positioned within the airbag. The airbag arrangement comprises a sleeve element that is encircling a part of the gas guide, providing a gas guide position maintaining support.
According to an example, the airbag arrangement is constituted by a pedestrian protection airbag arrangement, the airbag being arranged to be inflated in the case of a collision with a pedestrian.
According to another example, the sleeve element is fixed to the gas guide and/or fixed to the airbag.
According to another example, at least a part of the sleeve element has a smaller circumference than at least a part of the portion of the gas guide it is encircling.
According to another example, the sleeve element is made of a material having lower expansion characteristics than the material that the gas guide is made of.
Other examples are evident from the dependent claims.
A number of advantages are obtained by means of the present invention. Mainly, a gas guide is provided, where the openings of the gas guide arranged for spreading inflation gases are directed and maintained in a desired manner during inflation, without adding any non-pressurized sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described more in detail with reference to the appended drawings, where:
Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a vehicle;
Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of the front part of a vehicle ;
Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the front part of a vehicle with an airbag according to the present invention inflated; and
Figure 4 shows a schematic detail view of a gas guide according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2, a vehicle 1 comprises a windscreen 2 and so-called A-pillars; a first A-pillar 3 at a right-hand side of the windscreen 2 and a second A-pillar 4 at a left-hand side of the windscreen 2. The A-pillars are well-known in the field of vehicles, and run to a roof 5 of the vehicle 1. The right-hand side and left-hand side are defined when viewing along the vehicle in its forward running direction D.
In the event of a collision with a pedestrian, it is desirable that the pedestrian' s impact with the vehicle is alleviated, and therefore, with reference to Figure 3, an external airbag 6 is mounted in such a way that when inflated it at least partly covers the windscreen 2 and the A-pillars 3, 4, the windscreen 2 and the A-pillars 3, 4 constituting impact areas. In this way, the inflated airbag 6 relieves some of the impact force . The airbag 6 comprises an outer wall 7 made by a suitable fabric or other material, enclosing a volume 8, which volume 8 is divided by a first inner wall 9 and a second inner wall 10. The inner walls 9, 10 comprise openings that allow gas to flow in the volume 8, the inner walls 9, 10 providing rigidity and desired inflation properties in a previously known manner.
The airbag 6 is comprised in an airbag arrangement 11, where the airbag arrangement 11 further comprises a gas generator 12 and a textile gas guide 13. The volume 8 is connected to the gas generator 12 which is arranged to fill the airbag 6 with gas during a pressurization process at the event of a collision. The airbag 6 is connected to the gas generator 12 via the textile gas guide 13, shown in detail in Figure 4, having a first opening 14, a second opening 15 and a third opening 16.
The first opening 14 is positioned outside the airbag 6, and is connected to the gas generator 12. The second opening 15 and the third opening 16 are positioned inside the airbag 6 such that gas generated by the gas generator 12 is inserted into the volume 7 via the second opening 15 and the third opening 16. The gas guide 13 is thus slightly Y-shaped, such that an inserted gas is led from the first opening 14 via a first branch 17 which is divided into a second branch 18, leading to the second opening 15, and into a third branch 19, leading to the third opening 16. The second branch 18 is arranged to guide gas mainly in a first direction 20 and the third branch 19 is guiding gas in arranged to guide gas mainly in a second direction 21, here the first direction 20 and the second direction are shown to be opposite each other 21, although this only is an example. However, it is desired that the first direction 20 and the second direction 21, as they are determined by means of the positioning of the gas guide 13 before inflation, mainly is maintained during inflation of the airbag 6.
According to the present invention, the airbag arrangement comprises a sleeve element 22 that is encircling a part of the gas guide 13, such that a gas guide position maintaining support is provided during inflation.
In this way, when the airbag 6 is inflated, the gas guide 13 distributes the gas in the airbag 6 in a desired manner, while no non-pressurized sections are added.
The sleeve element 22 may be arranged around the gas guide 13 in any convenient manner, and at least a part of the gas guide 13 is encircled by the sleeve element 22. The sleeve element 22 may be fixed to the gas guide 13, for example by means of a seam. Alternatively, or additionally, the sleeve element 22 may be fixed to the airbag 6, for example by means of a seam. The sleeve element 6 may be designed such that at least a part of the sleeve element 22 has a smaller circumference than at least a part of the portion of the gas guide 13 it is encircling. In this way, the sleeve element 22 is held in place around the gas guide 13 during inflation.
The invention is not limited to the examples above, but may vary freely within the scope of the appended claims. For example, any type of suitable material may be used in the airbag 6 and the inner walls 9, 10.
The gas generator is generally constituted by an inflating device 12, which may be of any suitable design. Typically, such an inflating device 12 comprises at least one pyrotechnical charge. The gas inflating the airbag 6 is thus generated by means of a detonation 23 of the pyrotechnical charge, as schematically indicated in figure 4.
The inner walls 9, 10 of the airbag 6 are not necessary, but are advantageous in order to acquire a suitable shape, rigidity and inflation properties. When the airbag is not inflated, it is folded and stored in the vicinity of the gas generator 14.
The gas guide 13 may be made of a textile material, or some other suitable material which is flexible. In the same way, the sleeve element 22 may be made of a textile material, or some other suitable material. For example, the sleeve element 22 may be made of a material having lower expansion characteristics than the material that the gas guide 13 is made of.
The inflating device 12 is preferably at least partially positioned within the gas guide 13, and the gas guide 13 is at least partially positioned within the airbag 6.
The sleeve element 22 may be made in one piece, or as a sheet with edges that are attached to each other by means of a seam. The gas guide 22 and the sleeve element 22 may be comprised in an airbag arrangement of another type than one described, for example an internal airbag arrangement where non-pressurized sections are not desired, or where, for some other reason, the sleeve element 22 of the present invention is desired.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A vehicle airbag arrangement (11) comprising an airbag (6), an inflating device (12) and a gas guide (13), the airbag (6) comprising an outer wall (7), enclosing a volume
(8), and being arranged to be inflated by means of the inflating device (14) via the gas guide (13), the gas guide (13) at least partially being positioned within the airbag
(6), characterized in that the airbag arrangement (11) comprises a sleeve element (22) that is encircling a portion of the gas guide (13), providing a gas guide position maintaining support.
2. A vehicle airbag arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the airbag arrangement (11) is constituted by a pedestrian protection airbag arrangement (11), the airbag (6) being arranged to be inflated in the case of a collision with a pedestrian.
3. A vehicle airbag arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the airbag arrangement (11) is arranged for inflation of the airbag (6) such that the airbag (6) expands outside the occupant compartment, the airbag (6) at least partly covering a windscreen (2) when inflated.
4. A vehicle airbag arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the sleeve element (22) is fixed to the gas guide (13) .
5. A vehicle airbag arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the sleeve element (22) is fixed to the airbag (6) .
6. A vehicle airbag arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least a part of the sleeve element (22) has a smaller circumference than at least a part of the portion of the gas guide (13) it is encircling .
7. A vehicle airbag arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the sleeve element (22) is made of a material having lower expansion characteristics than the material that the gas guide (13) is made of.
8. A vehicle airbag arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the inflating device (12) at least partially is positioned within the gas guide (13) .
9. A vehicle airbag arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the gas guide (13) comprises a first opening (14) arranged to guide gas from the gas generator (12) via a first branch (17) to a second branch
(18) , leading to a second opening (15), and to a third branch
(19) , leading to a third opening (16), the second opening (15) and the third opening (16) being positioned within the airbag (6) .
PCT/SE2012/051337 2012-12-04 2012-12-04 An airbag arrangement comprising a gas guide WO2014088478A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/SE2012/051337 WO2014088478A1 (en) 2012-12-04 2012-12-04 An airbag arrangement comprising a gas guide

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/SE2012/051337 WO2014088478A1 (en) 2012-12-04 2012-12-04 An airbag arrangement comprising a gas guide

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014088478A1 true WO2014088478A1 (en) 2014-06-12

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ID=50883775

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE2012/051337 WO2014088478A1 (en) 2012-12-04 2012-12-04 An airbag arrangement comprising a gas guide

Country Status (1)

Country Link
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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2357467A (en) * 1999-12-22 2001-06-27 Autoliv Dev Air bag with secondary porous gas flow duct
EP1369317A2 (en) * 2002-03-26 2003-12-10 Takata Corporation Protective bag device for pedestrian and the like
DE20215541U1 (en) * 2002-10-09 2004-02-12 Trw Occupant Restraint Systems Gmbh & Co. Kg Side airbag retaining system, has gas generator located in B column region of roof frame and connected to multi section gas distributor
WO2005076687A2 (en) * 2004-02-10 2005-08-25 Autoliv Development Ab Airbag and airbag module

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2357467A (en) * 1999-12-22 2001-06-27 Autoliv Dev Air bag with secondary porous gas flow duct
EP1369317A2 (en) * 2002-03-26 2003-12-10 Takata Corporation Protective bag device for pedestrian and the like
DE20215541U1 (en) * 2002-10-09 2004-02-12 Trw Occupant Restraint Systems Gmbh & Co. Kg Side airbag retaining system, has gas generator located in B column region of roof frame and connected to multi section gas distributor
WO2005076687A2 (en) * 2004-02-10 2005-08-25 Autoliv Development Ab Airbag and airbag module

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