DE29610920U1 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

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Airbag device Description

The invention relates to an airbag device with a gas cushion arrangement that can be inflated by at least one gas generator, which can be fastened in the roof edge area of a vehicle body and, when inflated, forms a lateral impact protection.

Such a device is known from EP 0 694 444 A2. Such an airbag device protects the occupants of vehicles, in particular against head injuries, on side frame parts. When inflated, the airbag arrangement extends downwards from the upper roof edge area, in particular the upper door or window frame, and in this way forms an impact cushion between the side vehicle parts (window, door frame, B-pillar) and in particular the head area of the vehicle occupant.

The object of the invention is to create a device of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which the side impact protection is further improved.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the gas cushion arrangement is tensioned between a front and rear anchoring point along a tension curve determined by the shape of the inflated gas cushion arrangement.

When inflated, the gas cushion arrangement can form a continuous side impact protection along the entire side of the vehicle.

This achieves a fixation of the gas cushion arrangement preferably in the front part of the vehicle, in particular on the α-pillar, and in the rear part of the vehicle, in particular in the area of the C-pillar, in addition to the anchoring in the roof edge area, which extends over essentially the entire longitudinal extent of the gas cushion arrangement. An anchoring to the vehicle body or the vehicle structure is thus achieved on the top of the gas cushion arrangement over essentially the entire longitudinal extent at the front and on the rear of the gas cushion arrangement. The bracing extending over the entire longitudinal extent of the gas cushion arrangement ensures that even with open or broken windows (front and/or rear side window), a perfect anchoring and support of the inflated gas cushion arrangement is achieved in the entire side area of the vehicle, i.e. in the area of the front seat and in the rear of the vehicle.

In the resting state, the gas cushion arrangement is folded into a compact package that extends along the side edge of the roof of the vehicle. A clamping device (piping) can be used to fasten the folded airbag arrangement, as is known, for example, from EP 0 694 444. When the gas cushion arrangement is unfolded and inflated, it shortens in its longitudinal direction, whereby in addition to the upper fixation of the gas cushion arrangement in the roof edge area, a tension is achieved in the lower area of the gas cushion arrangement between the front and rear anchoring point on the vehicle body or on the vehicle structure. In this way, essentially the entire area that forms the side impact protection in the front part of the vehicle and in the rear part of the vehicle is supported on the vehicle structure or on the vehicle body.

The stress curve formed in the gas cushion arrangement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can be achieved by constrictions that partially penetrate the respective gas cushion of the gas cushion arrangement. These are preferably straight constrictions. The constrictions can be created by darts in the gas cushion.

cushion fabric. Preferably, the constrictions run approximately in the direction of the blowing direction that occurs when the gas cushion arrangement is inflated. The constrictions can be provided in the lower part of the gas cushion arrangement or in the upper area of the gas cushion arrangement adjacent to the side roof edge.

The gas cushion arrangement has an area which has a reduced filling volume caused by the constrictions and an area whose filling volume is determined by the surrounding gas cushion fabric and is not reduced. In this way, a certain tension profile in the inflated gas cushion arrangement can be achieved with the help of the constrictions and the arrangement of the front and rear anchoring points for the gas cushion arrangement. Preferably, the front and rear parts of the gas cushion arrangement are connected to the anchoring points by straps.

The gas cushion arrangement can consist of a single gas cushion which extends laterally essentially over the entire length of the vehicle interior and is advantageously anchored to the α-pillar and the C-pillar. However, it is also possible to divide the gas cushion arrangement into several gas cushions which are connected to one another by straps. Preferably, two gas cushions are used which can optionally be mounted separately in the roof edge area in the folded state.

The shortening of the air cushion arrangement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to achieve the tension between the front and rear anchoring points can also be achieved by increasing the width of at least one part of the air cushion arrangement. For example, one part or several parts of the air cushion arrangement can be arranged between two bands that extend essentially in the longitudinal direction of the air cushion arrangement, so that when the air cushion part or parts are inflated, the bands are deflected vertically to the longitudinal direction, so that a shortening of the bands in the longitudinal direction occurs. Parts of the air cushion arrangement are connected to one another by the bands, so that the bands and the associated air cushion areas are tensioned.

To fill the gas cushion arrangement, which consists of one gas cushion or several gas cushions and extends over the entire length of the vehicle interior, a gas generator, in particular a hybrid gas generator, can be provided, which is arranged in the area of the α-column. Starting from the gas generator, a filling pipe (lance) extends over the entire length of the gas cushion arrangement, in particular in the area of the upper edge of the air cushion arrangement. The filling gas is blown into the gas cushion through this filling pipe. In this embodiment, too, the tension curve in the gas cushion arrangement can be generated by suitable constrictions, e.g. darts in the cushion fabric.

In a further embodiment, an approximately diagonal tension curve is generated through the essentially rectangular gas cushion by arranging the anchoring points on the respective gas cushion accordingly. In this embodiment, the gas cushion is folded diagonally in its resting state. This diagonal basic fold achieves a tensioning of the gas cushion, preferably starting from the front anchoring point in the α-column, if necessary via a tensioning band arranged between the gas cushion and the front anchoring point.

To extend the holding time of the air cushion arrangement, a further gas cushion can be provided within a respective gas cushion of the gas cushion arrangement, which when inflated has approximately the same shape as the respective outer gas cushion. The inner gas cushion is inflated after the outer gas cushion is inflated. For this purpose, one or more gas generators can be provided, which are activated by the pressure effective when the outer gas cushion arrangement is inflated. It is also possible to provide two-stage gas generators for filling the two gas cushions or gas cushion arrangements.

The invention is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments based on the figures. It shows:
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Fig. 1: a first embodiment in side view;

Fig. 2: a second embodiment in side view;

Fig. 3: a detail of the embodiment of Fig. 2 in plan view;

Fig. 4: a third embodiment;

Fig. 5: a fourth embodiment in the idle state;

Fig. 6: the embodiment of Fig. 5 in a first inflation phase;

Fig. 7: the embodiment of Fig. 5 in a second inflation phase;

Fig. 8: the embodiment of Fig. 5 in a third inflation phase;

Fig. 9: a gas generator arrangement which is used in the embodiment of the

Fig. 5 is used;

Fig. 10: a special embodiment for a gas generator of the embodiment

example of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11: an embodiment of a gas generator arrangement of the embodiment

ration example of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12: a fifth embodiment; and

Fig. 13: a sixth embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a gas cushion arrangement is provided which, in the unfolded and inflated state, extends essentially along the entire inside of the vehicle. The air cushion arrangement 6 consists of a single continuous gas cushion. The gas cushion is attached to the vehicle body, in particular to an A-pillar 25 of the vehicle in a front anchoring point 7 and a rear anchoring point 8 on a C-pillar 26 of the vehicle body. Between the front anchoring point 7 and the front

A front tensioning strap extends on the side of the gas cushion arrangement 6. A rear tensioning strap 21 extends between the rear anchoring point 8 and the back of the gas cushion arrangement 6.

In the resting state, the gas cushion of the gas cushion arrangement 6 is folded and housed in the side roof edge area, for example as shown in EP 0 694 444 A2, in the interior of the vehicle. In the inflated state, which is shown in Fig. 1, the gas cushion arrangement 6 remains anchored on its upper side essentially along its entire longitudinal extent in the area of the side roof edge. Further anchoring in the lower area of the gas cushion arrangement 6 is achieved by the anchoring points 7 and 8 and the tensioning straps 20 and 21.

The gas cushion of the gas cushion arrangement 6 has in its lower area, which extends between the tensioning straps 20 and 21 and the anchoring points 7 and 8, constrictions 1 to 5, which are achieved by darts in the gas cushion fabric. In the embodiment shown, the constrictions 1 to 5 extend approximately in a vertical direction. In the embodiment shown, this direction corresponds to the blowing direction when inflating the gas cushion. For this purpose, a filling pipe with blowing openings adapted to the roof edge is provided. Two filling pipes can also be provided. The filling gas is supplied by one or more gas generators. If a gas generator is provided for filling, this can be arranged in the area of the B-pillar and supply a front and rear filling pipe with filling gas, as is described, for example, in German patent application 195 42 436.0. However, it is also possible to provide a gas generator in the area of the A-pillar 25 and another gas generator in the area of the C-pillar 26, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 4, which is yet to be explained, and to carry out the filling of the filling pipe or the two filling pipes from these gas generators.

The course of the constrictions 1 to 5 does not necessarily have to be aligned in a vertical direction, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1. It is also possible to provide an oblique course of the constrictions, whereby the course is adapted to the respective blowing direction that exists at the location of the constriction. By

lacings 1 to 5, a gas cushion area 10 with a reduced filling volume is created. There is also a gas cushion area 11 with an unreduced filling volume, which is determined solely by the surrounding fabric of the gas cushion. In the border area between the gas cushion area 10 with the reduced filling volume and the gas cushion area 11 with the unreduced filling volume, a stress area is formed, which is schematically indicated by a stress line 9 in Fig. 4. This stress progression extends essentially in the longitudinal direction of the gas cushion arrangement 6 and can, as shown in Fig. 1, have an arc-shaped progression. The stress progression extends between the anchoring points 7, 8 and the tensioning bands 20, 21 that may be interposed.

In the embodiment shown, the gas cushion area with the reduced filling volume, in which the constrictions 1 to 5 are located, is in the lower part of the gas cushion arrangement 6 and the gas cushion area 11 with the unreduced filling volume is in the upper part of the gas cushion arrangement 6. However, it is also possible to provide the gas cushion area 10 with the reduced filling volume at the top and the gas cushion area 11 with the unreduced filling volume at the bottom of the gas cushion arrangement.

In a special embodiment, the only gas cushion of the gas cushion arrangement 6 is inflated by a gas generator (not shown in detail) which is arranged in the instrument panel area. The filling volume is approximately 20 to 25 liters. When inflated, the air cushion contracts longitudinally by approximately 150 mm, which achieves the required tensioning effect in the gas cushion arrangement 6 between the anchoring points 7 and 8 in addition to the upper anchoring in the roof edge area. The continuous gas cushion of the gas cushion arrangement 6 offers continuous impact protection in the area of the front window and the rear window as well as in the area of the B-pillar 27 and, if applicable, a slanted window frame 28 in the rear of the vehicle.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, two gas cushions 12 and 13 are provided. The front gas cushion 12, which in the inflated state extends essentially over the window of the front door and the B-pillar 27, is connected via the front tensioning strap 20 to the front anchoring point 7 on the A-pillar

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25. The rear gas cushion 13, which when inflated essentially forms a side impact protection in the window of the rear of the vehicle, is connected to the rear anchoring point 8 via the rear tensioning strap 21. The two gas cushions 12 and 13 can be identical in shape and arranged in a mirror image in the vehicle. The gas cushions are filled by a gas generator 42, e.g. designed as a hybrid gas generator, and a filling pipe 38 extending over essentially the entire length of the gas cushion arrangement 6.

The two gas cushions 12 and 13 are connected to each other via bands 14 and 15.

As can be seen in particular from Fig. 3, the bands 14 and 15 are arranged on both sides of gas cushion parts 17 and 18 and are connected to one another at a connection point 19 between the two gas cushion parts. Two further connection points 13 and 30 are provided at the respective ends of the bands 14 and 15 with the gas cushions 12 and 13. The two bands 14 and 15 are approximately in line with the two anchoring points 7 and 8 and the tensioning bands 20 and 21. As can be seen from Fig. 3, when the gas cushions are inflated and in particular when the gas cushion parts 17 and 18 are inflated (additional blower nozzles with a diameter of approximately 120 mm), the extension of the bands 14 and 15 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is shortened. This is caused by the lateral bulging of the bands 14 and 15 when the gas cushion parts 17 and 18 are inflated. This results in the gas cushion arrangement, which is formed by the two gas cushions 12 and 13, being braced between the anchoring points 7 and 8 and the tensioning bands 20 and 21. The shortening of the gas cushion arrangement 6 when inflating can be approximately 130 mm. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, bracing can also take place between the α-pillar and the C-pillar of the vehicle.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the gas cushion arrangement 6 also consists of a front gas cushion 12 and a rear gas cushion 13. The two gas cushions are connected to one another via a single band 16. The two gas cushions are filled by gas generators 43 and 44. The gas generator 43 is arranged in the instrument panel area. The gas generator 44 is arranged in the area of the C-pillar 26. The gas cushions 12 and 13 are filled via filling pipes (lances) 31 and 32. In the inflated state, the gas cushion arrangement 6 is

the lateral expansion of the gas cushions 12 and 13 during inflation and the resulting shortening in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle between the anchoring points 7 and 8 and the tensioning straps 20 and 21. In addition, constrictions can be provided in the gas cushions 12 and 13 as in the embodiment of Fig. 1. 5

In the embodiments explained in Figures 5 to 11, a further gas cushion is arranged in the respective gas cushion of the gas cushion arrangement, which has approximately the same shape as the outer gas cushion when inflated. The figures show the arrangement of the two gas cushions lying one inside the other for the front gas cushion 12. The respective views (A) of Figures 5 to 8 show the side view and the respective views (B) of Figures 5 to 8 show a sectional view of the gas cushion arrangement along the respective section lines b-b.

The resting state of the gas cushion arrangement is shown in Fig. 5. The gas cushion arrangement is fastened to the body in a panel using a clamping device in the area of the upper door frame. When filling with the help of the gas generator 42, the outer gas cushion fabric of the gas cushion 12 is inflated first (Fig. 6 A and B). This state is reached after about 15 ms. The same state occurs for the rear gas cushion 13 (not shown in detail). In this state, the inflation of an inner gas cushion 22 begins (Fig. 6B and 7A, B). After a time of about 800 ms, the inner gas cushion 22 is completely filled, as shown in Fig. 8 (A) and (B).

The arrangement of the inner gas cushion 22 extends the holding time of the gas cushion arrangement, which is stretched between the two anchoring points 7 and 8 and is fastened in the lateral roof edge area over the entire length 7. When inflating the two gas cushions, namely the outer gas cushion 12 and the inner gas cushion 22, the gas generator 42, which is arranged in the area of the α-pillar or in the instrument panel area, can be designed in two stages, so that in the first stage (Fig. 6) the outer gas cushion 12 and in the second stage (Fig. 8) the inner gas cushion 22 is inflated.

Figures 9 to 11 show a further embodiment for the two-stage inflation of the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 8.

The overall arrangement of the inflation system is shown in Fig. 11. This contains a first gas generator 23 for the primary filling of the outer gas cushion up to the state shown in Fig. 6. A second gas generator 24 is also provided for the secondary filling, during which the inner gas cushion 22 is filled. The gas generator 24, which is shown in Figs. 9 and 10, has a gas container 33 in which the filling gas is kept ready under pressure. A closure 34 can be opened with the help of a pointed plunger 35. The pressure that was used for the primary filling of the outer gas cushion 12 is used to actuate the plunger 35. This pressure acts on the plunger 35, which opens the closure 34 at its tip. The filling gas in the gas bottle 33 can escape and be blown into the inner gas cushion 22 through an injection pipe 36. In the embodiment of Fig. 9, the inner gas cushion 22 is placed on the injection pipe 36. The injection pipe 36 and the pressure-operated plunger 35 are provided on an adapter 37, which can be screwed onto the cap 34 of the gas bottle 33.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, a tapered pressure cannula 45 is used to open the closure 34 of the gas bottle 33, which is pressed into the closure 34, which is designed as a bursting base, for example, by the pressure during the primary filling of the outer gas cushion in the direction of an arrow 46. The filling gas can then penetrate through the pressure cannula cavity into the inner gas cushion connected to the cannula.
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In the embodiment shown in Fig. 12, an approximately diagonal tension profile 9 is achieved in the inflated gas cushion 12. The tension profile extends between the front anchoring point 7 on the A-pillar 25 and the B-pillar 27. A connection point 39 between the front tensioning band 20 and the gas cushion 12 is located in the lower corner, which is formed by a lower edge 40 and a front edge 41 of the gas cushion 12. The rear anchoring point 8 is connected to the gas cushion 12 via the rear tensioning band 21.

In the rest position (folded state), the gas cushion 12 has a diagonal basic fold (diagonal fold). This diagonal basic fold of the gas cushion 12 achieves the tensioning of the tensioning strap 20 from the front anchoring point 7.
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When the gas cushion 12 is inflated, the connection point 39 moves on a circular arc 47. The center of this circular arc 47 is located at the anchoring point 7. A preferably form-fitting support for the gas cushion 12 is provided on the B-pillar 27.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 13, the gas cushion arrangement consists of a single gas cushion that extends between the A-pillar 25 and the C-pillar 26 of the motor vehicle. The special darts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, which produce the desired tension curve 9, are provided in the gas cushion. The gas cushion is filled by a gas generator 42, which is provided in the area of the A-pillar. This gas generator is preferably designed as a hybrid gas generator. The filling gas generated by the gas generator 42 is fed into the interior of the gas cushion arrangement 6 via a continuous filling pipe (lance) 38, which extends along the top of the gas cushion arrangement 6. As already explained, the darts 1 to 5 ensure that the gas cushion arrangement 6 is braced between the A-pillar 25 and the C-pillar 26 in the inflated state, which is shown in Fig. 13.

Claims (28)

Protection claims 1. Airbag device with a gas cushion arrangement inflatable by at least one gas generator, which can be attached to the roof edge area of a vehicle body and forms a lateral impact protection when inflated, characterized in that
15 the gas cushion arrangement (6) is tensioned between a front and rear anchoring point (7, 8) along a tension curve (9) determined by the shape of the inflated gas cushion arrangement (6). 2. Airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinally formed tension profile (9) in the gas cushion arrangement (6) is determined by constrictions (1 - 5) partially penetrating the respective gas cushion of the gas cushion arrangement, which form a gas cushion region (10) with a reduced filling volume and a gas cushion region (11) with an unreduced filling volume. 3. Airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vertical extension of the constrictions (1 - 5) partially corresponds to the vertical extension of the inflated gas cushion arrangement (6). 4. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the constrictions (1 - 5) extend approximately in the gas injection direction when filling the gas cushion arrangement (6). 5. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gas cushion arrangement (6) is formed by a continuous gas cushion. 6. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in the inflated state the gas cushion arrangement (6) forms a continuous side impact protection along the entire side of the vehicle. 7. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the gas cushion arrangement (6) has at least two gas cushions (12, 13) connected to one another. 8. Airbag device according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least two gas cushions (12, 13) can be mounted separately on an approximately horizontally extending vehicle body part in the region of the roof edge. 9. Airbag device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that at least two gas cushions (12, 13) have the same shape and are arranged in mirror image on one side of the vehicle. 10. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bracing of the gas cushion arrangement (6) is formed between the A-pillar (25) and the C-pillar (26) of the vehicle. 11. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bracing of the gas cushion arrangement is formed by a shortening of the longitudinal extent of the gas cushion arrangement (6) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle that occurs during inflation. 12. Airbag device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the rear gas cushion (13) is connected to the C-pillar (26) and the front gas cushion (12) is connected to the A-pillar (25) of the vehicle. 13. Airbag device according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the at least two gas cushions (12, 13) are connected to one another by at least one band (14, 15; 16). 14. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the shortening of the gas cushion arrangement (6) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is produced by increasing the width of at least part of the gas cushion arrangement (6). 15. Airbag device according to one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that at least one gas cushion part (17, 18) is arranged between two bands (14, 15) which absorb the tension and that when the at least one gas cushion part (17, 18) is inflated, the extension of the bands (14, 15) in the tension direction is shortened. 16. Airbag device according to one of claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the at least two gas cushions (12, 13) are connected to two bands (14, 15) and that at least one gas cushion part (17, 18) is arranged between the two bands to shorten their longitudinal extent during inflation. 17. Airbag device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the two bands (14, 15) are connected to one another in their middle (connection point 19) and gas cushion parts (17, 18) shortening the longitudinal extent of the two bands (14, 15) are arranged in front of and behind the connection point (19). 18. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that an inner gas cushion arrangement (22) is provided within each gas cushion of the gas cushion arrangement (6), which in the inflated state has approximately the shape of the outer gas cushion arrangement (6) and can be inflated after the outer gas cushion arrangement (22). 19. Airbag device according to claim 18, characterized in that the inner gas cushion arrangement (22) is inflatable by at least one gas generator (24) which can be actuated by the pressure effective when inflating the outer gas cushion arrangement (6). 20. Airbag device according to claim 18, characterized in that at least one two-stage gas generator is provided for filling the two gas cushion arrangements (6, 22). 21. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the gas cushion arrangement (6) which can be braced between the A and C pillars can be filled by a gas generator (42) arranged in the region of the A pillar (25) via a lance (38) extending essentially over the entire length of the gas cushion arrangement. 22. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the respective gas generators (42; 43, 44) are designed as hybrid gas generators. 23. Airbag device according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the voltage profile (9) on the respective gas cushion (12, 13) runs approximately diagonally. 24. Airbag arrangement according to claim 23, characterized in that the diagonal tension profile is determined by the positions of the anchoring points (7, 8, Fig. 12). 25. Airbag device according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the gas cushion is connected to an anchoring point (7) via a tensioning band (20) and that a connection point (39) of the tensioning band (20) with the gas cushion (12) moves on a circular arc (47) during inflation. 26. Airbag device according to one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that the gas cushion in its rest position (folded state) has a diagonal fold which is determined by the position of the anchoring points (7, 8) on the gas cushion (12) or at the ends of the tensioning straps (20, 21, Fig. 12). 27. Airbag device according to claim 25, characterized in that the center of the circular arc (47) around which the connection point (39) moves when the gas cushion (12) is inflated is the front anchoring point (7) of the
Gas cushion on the A-pillar (25). 28. Airbag device according to claim 25 or 27, characterized in that the connection point (39) connected to the front anchoring point (7) is arranged in the corner formed by the lower edge (40) and front edge (41) of the gas cushion (12), and the rear anchoring point (8) of the Gas cushion is located at a height in the upper half of the gas cushion (12) and is connected to the rear edge of the gas cushion.