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WO1999032327A2 - Module de coussin gonflable avec commande passive de declenchement secondaire - Google Patents

Module de coussin gonflable avec commande passive de declenchement secondaire Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999032327A2
WO1999032327A2 PCT/US1998/021148 US9821148W WO9932327A2 WO 1999032327 A2 WO1999032327 A2 WO 1999032327A2 US 9821148 W US9821148 W US 9821148W WO 9932327 A2 WO9932327 A2 WO 9932327A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cushion
airbag module
tether
sensor
inflator
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/021148
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
H. John Miller, Iii
Jeffrey Sikorski
Original Assignee
Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
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 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. filed Critical Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
Publication of WO1999032327A2 publication Critical patent/WO1999032327A2/fr

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
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/015—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats, and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
    • B60R21/01504—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats, and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use detecting bag displacement
    • 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
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
    • B60R21/2338—Tethers
    • 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
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
    • B60R21/2338—Tethers
    • B60R2021/23382—Internal tether means
    • 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
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
    • B60R21/2338—Tethers
    • B60R2021/23386—External tether means
    • 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
    • B60R21/263—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 using a variable source, e.g. plural stage or controlled output
    • B60R2021/2633—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 using a variable source, e.g. plural stage or controlled output with a plurality of inflation levels
    • 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
    • B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
    • B60R21/217—Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
    • B60R21/2171—Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters
    • 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
    • B60R21/268—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 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas
    • B60R21/272—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 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an airbag module having an integral switch which will regulate the actuation of a secondary energy source for filling an airbag module.
  • Prior art teaches that there is a wide variety of criteria which can be used to determine when an airbag should be fired and the timing and inflation level of the airbag system. Of particular interest is modifying operation of an airbag module when a vehicle occupant is in close proximity (out of position) to the airbag module.
  • Prior art occupant position sensors utilize ultra-sonic, capacitive, or infrared, transmitters and receivers to determine whether a vehicle occupant is too close to the airbag module.
  • the primary object of the present invention is to provide an airbag module with a low cost, reliable passive switch which will only allow the actuation of a second energy source to further fill a cushion when there is no occupant in close proximity to the cushion.
  • FIGURE 1 is an oblique view of an airbag module constructed in accordance with this invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is an cross sectional view of an airbag module constructed in accordance with this invention.
  • FIGURE 3 shows the function of the invention.
  • FIGURE 4 shows the function of the invention when there is a obstructed deployment.
  • FIGURE 5 Shows a multi-level inflator.
  • FIGURE 6 shows function of the invention in a vehicle environment with an out-of-position occupant.
  • FIGURE 7 shows the function of the invention in a vehicle environment with a normally seated occupant.
  • FIGURE 8 shows an embodiment of the sensor mechanism.
  • FIGURE 9 Shows an alternate embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGURES 1 and 2 show the basic components of an airbag module 2 incorporating the present invention.
  • the module includes a cover 4, a housing 6, having an interior surface 8, an exterior surface 10, and depending ends or sides 12 forming a chamber 24.
  • the cover 4 is fixedly attached to the housing 6 by mounting flanges 14 which engage the housing 6.
  • the module 2 has an inflator or gas generator 16 with first 18 and second energy sources 20 of known type to provide inflation gas to an airbag or cushion 22 which has a tether 28 and optional tether 28' disposed within the chamber 24.
  • Disposed outside the housing 6 is a sensor 26 mechanically connected to the tether 28 by a strap 30.
  • the sensor 26 is a hall effect sensor (see figure 8) such as X9864 made by Cherry Electric, responsive to changes in extensions of the tether 28.
  • the sensor 26 is connected to an electrical control unit 32.
  • FIGURE 2 shows an alternative sensor 26' disposed within the chamber 24 of the housing 6 and mechanically coupled to tether 28.
  • sensor 26' can similarly be a hall effect sensor.
  • the ECU 32 upon determining that a crash event in underway, sends an actuation signal to the first stored energy source 18. As the energy is released, the cushion 22 begins to inflate opening the module cover or door 4.
  • the sensor 26 responsive to a predetermined the change in tension or the rate of change of tension in the tether 28 and changes in state to generate a control signal.
  • the sensor 26 transmits the control signal to the ECU 32 indicating that the cushion 22 has reached its initial fully deployed state.
  • the ECU 32 can decide whether to actuate the second stored energy source 20.
  • This control signal could also be communicated directly to the second energy source 20 as an actuation signal.
  • the ECU 32 Upon receiving the control signal, the ECU 32 generates the signal necessary to actuate the second stored energy source.
  • the tether 28 will not fully extend or the tether will not have a sufficient amount tension, then the second actuation signal will not be generated by the ECU 32 or will be suppressed by the sensor 26.
  • FIGURE 3 shows the cross section of an airbag module 2 in a fully deployed condition. Shown is the housing 6, with the inflator assemble 16 positioned therein. The neck 23 of the cushion 22 fluidly coupled to the housing is mounted by a retaining ring 38. The tether 28 is shown attached to the mounting ring 38, but could alternatively be wrapped around the inflator 16 and attached to the sensor 26' which is mounted on the interior surface of the housing 6 by a strap 30.
  • Figure 3 additionally shows the actuation of the sensor 26 which produces a signal indicating the cushion 22 has fully deployed and actuation of a second energy source 20 is allowable.
  • Figure 4 shows the cross sectional view of an airbag module showing the trajectory of the deploying cushion 22 being encountering an obstruction 34.
  • an inflator 16 is shown having two stored energy devices 18,20. Shown is an inflator which includes two squibs 19, two solid propellant devices 18,20 and a stored gas pressure vessel 21.
  • Figure 6 depicts the use of the invention in an automobile passenger compartment 40.
  • the vehicle 40 an airbag module incorporating the invention 2 mounted in an instrument panel 42.
  • An occupant 44 is seated in a seat 46 and leaning into the deploying airbag.
  • the cushion 22 having a tether 28 cannot extend to its full deployed condition.
  • An alternative tether 28' is shown on the exterior of the cushion. The lack of tension in the tether 28, 28' is sensed by the sensor 26 which inhibits the actuation of the second energy source 20.
  • the tether tension sensor 26 includes a magnetic field sensing element 50 and a magnetic bar 52.
  • the sensor 26 creates a control signal based on determinable changes in the magnetic sensor element 50.
  • a strap 30 connects the metal bar to the tether 28 of the cushion 22 (shown in figure 1) .
  • FIGURE 9 shows an alternate airbag module 2'.
  • the tether or band 36 is wrapped around the outside of the cushion 22 having sufficient slack to allow the cushion to expand forward al least 300 cm without fracturing.
  • a sensor conductive element sensor 26' is located on the outer surface of the band 36 and is electrically coupled to the ECU 32.
  • the operation of this embodiment of the invention is generally similar to that describe above with the exception that the fracture or tension in the exterior band 36 is measured.
  • the sensor 26' produces a control signal which is used to either allow or suppress the actuation of the second energy source 20.
  • the sensor 26 can alternatively be mounted to the exterior 10 to the housing 6.
  • the cover 4 is opens, extending the cushion 22 which is turn places a tension on the band 36 the fracture of which is sensed by either the fracture of a conductive foil or by the actuation of a switch 26' .
  • the sensor Upon sensing the fracture of the band 36, the sensor produces a signal, which can be used by the ECU 36 to determine whether the second stored energy source 20 should be actuated.
  • the module assembly 2 will be manufactured similar to standard airbag modules. First the cushion tether 28 is attached the sensor via a strap 30 the tether is then connected to the housing 6 by a mounting ring 38 or alternatively by wrapping the tether 28 around an inflator 16. The cushion 22 having an opening 23 is connected to the housing 6 at the neck portion by a retaining ring 38. The cushion 22 is then folded and the cover 4 is placed onto the housing 6.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un module de coussin d'air (2, 2') latéral pour conducteur comprenant un couvercle (4) de coussin d'air, un logement (6), un dispositif de gonflage (16) et un coussin (22). Le coussin (22) est assorti d'une sangle (28) relativement souple qui en limite le déploiement au moment du gonflage. Un capteur (26) qui est logé dans le module (2) de coussin d'air et qui est relié à la sangle (28) détecte les changements de tension au niveau de ladite sangle (28).
PCT/US1998/021148 1997-12-23 1998-10-07 Module de coussin gonflable avec commande passive de declenchement secondaire WO1999032327A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US99683197A 1997-12-23 1997-12-23
US996,831 1997-12-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999032327A2 true WO1999032327A2 (fr) 1999-07-01

Family

ID=25543357

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1998/021148 WO1999032327A2 (fr) 1997-12-23 1998-10-07 Module de coussin gonflable avec commande passive de declenchement secondaire

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1999032327A2 (fr)

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