DE102006023272A1 - Side gas bag unit for e.g. motor vehicle, has gas generator blowing gas bag that includes main and auxiliary chambers, where gas from generator flows into two chambers such that auxiliary chamber forms filling chamber for main chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit has a gas generator (10) blowing a gas bag (20) that includes a main chamber (22) with a volume found between walls (34, 36). An auxiliary chamber of the bag has a volume found outside of the main chamber and between wall (36) and a wall (38). The volume of the auxiliary chamber is smaller than the volume of the main chamber. The chambers stay in flow connection with an overflow opening (40) in the wall (36). Gas escaping out of the generator flows into the auxiliary chamber and into the main chamber such that the auxiliary chamber forms a filling chamber (32) for the main chamber.

Description

The The invention relates to a gas bag unit according to the preamble of Claim 1.

A generic airbag unit is from the US Pat. No. 6,851,706 B2 known. The gas bag unit described therein consists of a gas generator and a gas bag, which is filled by this gas generator. The gas bag has a pillow-shaped main chamber and a likewise pillow-shaped, referred to as contact pad secondary chamber, which is arranged on the main chamber and is in flow communication therewith. The outflow region of the gas generator is in this case arranged in the main chamber, from which the gas flows after unfolding of the main chamber in the secondary chamber. The construction of the airbag described therein ensures that it has substantially different depths in different areas, as a result of which the protective effect can be improved in certain applications.

Side airbags point a relatively large length and width compared to their depth, and it stands usually very little time for their unfolding and filling to disposal. This makes it much more difficult to achieve a satisfactory unfolding, positioning and filling behavior as to reach for example in a front airbag.

The The present invention therefore has for its object, a side airbag unit to improve the unfolding, positioning and filling behavior is improved.

These Task is by a side airbag unit with the features of claim 1.

Of the Airbag of the gas bag unit according to the invention has a located between two walls Main chamber and one outside this main chamber between a wall of the main chamber and a additional wall arranged on the side chamber, wherein the secondary chamber has a smaller volume than the main chamber. Upon actuation of the Gas generator flows from this the gas first in the side chamber and from there over at least one overflow opening in the main chamber. The secondary chamber thus serves as a filling chamber for the main chamber.

by virtue of the relatively small volume of the filling chamber is this after ignition of the Gas generator filled very quickly and unfolds into its final position. Here she pulls the main chamber with, thereby also their unfolding and positioning process support clarified and is accelerated. After completion of the complete filling of the gas bag loses the auxiliary chamber usually their function.

In a preferred embodiment according to claims 2 to 7, the side chamber in addition to the improvement of the expansion behavior has the another task, for that to ensure that in different protective chambers of the main chamber, here it may in particular be a pelvic and thoracic chamber act, different pressures built up and, in particular, maintained. For this the at least two protective chambers are not immediate but exclusively via the Secondary chamber fluidic connected with each other.

It can activities be taken for that Ensure that after completion of filling and / or immersion the occupant in the gas bag all or part of the overflow closed so that no gas exchange or just a directed gas exchange can take place between the protective chambers. This can in particular the outward chamber to the outside final third side wall and / or flexi ble cloth, the at least one Part of the overflow openings on the side of the main chamber, serve. This can in particular be achieved that in a pelvic chamber, a greater pressure can be built up and maintained as in a thorax chamber.

The The invention will now be described with reference to exemplary embodiments closer to the figures explained. Hereby show:

1 A first embodiment of the invention side airbag unit in a side plan view,

2 a section along the cutting plane AA 1 .

2a an alternative embodiment of the in the 1 and 2 shown side airbag unit in one of 2 appropriate representation,

3 a second embodiment of a side airbag unit in one of 1 appropriate representation,

4 a third embodiment of a side airbag unit in one of 1 appropriate representation,

5 a section along the section plane BB 4 .

6 a section of sectional plane CC out 4 while filling the airbag,

7 this in 6 Shown by stressing thoracic chamber by an occupant,

8th an alternative embodiment to that in 4 side airbag unit shown,

9 a section along the cutting plane DD 8th .

10 a first possibility of arranging a side airbag unit in a motor vehicle and

11 a second possibility of arranging a side airbag unit in a motor vehicle.

The 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a side airbag unit according to the invention. The side airbag unit consists of a gas generator 10 , which by means of bolts 12 can be connected to a motor vehicle part and the gas bag 20 , At rest, the gas bag is folded into a housing which is located in a seat back or in or on a part of the side structure of the motor vehicle.

The gas bag 20 has a first wall 34 and a second wall 36 on which the main chamber 22 enclose. In most cases, first wall 34 and second wall 36 executed as separate blanks and connected together along their circumference, for example sewn (not shown). On the second wall 36 is the third wall 38 , which is also generally designed as a separate blank, arranged, for example, along the circumference of the third wall 38 on the second wall 36 sewn on, welded on or glued on (also not shown). Between this third wall 38 and the second wall 36 is the filling chamber 32 serving auxiliary chamber, in which the gas generator 10 or at least the outflow region of a gas generator unit is located. In the second wall 36 there are overflow openings 40 which the filling chamber 32 with the main chamber 22 connect.

The 1 and 2 show the fully expanded state of the airbag 20 , As you can see, the main chamber has 22 a much larger volume than the filling chamber 32 , Now gas flows when the gas generator is operated 10 out of this, so first fills the filling chamber whereby this unfolds quickly to its maximum size and thus entrains the main chamber and supports their unfolding.

As in 2 shown, it is basically possible to use a fourth wall 39 to be provided on the second wall 36 is arranged and shared with the third wall 38 the filling chamber 32 encloses. In this case should be second wall 36 and fourth wall 39 around the overflow opening 40 around, for example, be sewn together, see 2a ,

The extraction of the main chamber 22 from a housing through the filling chamber 32 can be further improved by the fact that the filling chamber 32 in sections until completely or almost to the edge of the second wall 36 extends, including the cutting of the third wall 38 also single fingers 38a may have, as in 3 is shown. It is also possible to carry out the third wall congruent with the second wall and to sew all walls together by means of a common peripheral seam.

4 shows an embodiment in which the main chamber 22 in two protective chambers, namely the thorax chamber 26 and the pelvic chamber 24 is divided. Here is the filling chamber 32 not just the job, the main chamber 22 Helping to unfold, but also serves to different pressure conditions in the pelvic chamber 24 and chest chamber 26 to create and maintain, because it is often desirable that in the pelvic chamber 24 a greater pressure than in the chest chamber 26 prevails and this pressure difference is maintained over the duration of the accident. This goal is achieved as follows:
As in the 4 and 5 can be seen, are the pelvic chamber 24 and chest chamber 26 by means of the partition 28 completely separated, the partition 28 has no overflow opening. The thorax chamber 26 has a ventilation opening 27 on while the pelvic chamber 24 has no or a much smaller ventilation opening. The overflow openings 40 which the filling chamber 32 with the pelvic chamber 24 Connect, are designed so that a backflow of gas from the pelvic chamber 24 in the filling chamber 32 is excluded. In the embodiment shown here, this is achieved in that on the side of the pelvic chamber 24 the overflow openings 40 of flexible cloths 42 are covered by two parallel seams 43 with the second wall 36 are connected (see also 6 ). Exceeds the pressure in the pelvic chamber 24 the pressure in the filling chamber 32 That is usually the case when the pelvis of the occupant hits the pelvic chamber 24 pushes, become the flexible rag 42 on the associated overflow opening 40 pressed like this in 7 is shown. Thus, a gas exchange between the pelvic chamber 24 and chest chamber 26 at least in the direction of excluding gas from the pelvic chamber 24 into the thorax chamber 26 flows, so the provision and especially the Maintaining different pressure conditions is guaranteed.

Second wall 36 and third wall 38 are in this embodiment by further seams 45 that of reducing or limiting the thickness of the filling chamber 32 serve, connected. The other seams 45 here extend between the two lower overflow 40 , which have a return flow fuse. By reducing the thickness of the filling chamber 32 In this area, the tightness of the backflow fuses is increased.

Depending on the design and positioning of the gas bag 20 can be the sealing of overflow openings 40 also through the third wall 38 done, which, for example, from the occupant to the second wall 36 can be pressed.

As in the 8th and 9 Shown is the dividing wall 28 also by a Trennaht 30 be replaced.

in the unfolded, not filled with gas Condition are first, second, third and - if available - fourth Wall parallel to each other and lie on each other.

How to relate to the 10 and 11 sees, the gas bag according to the invention 20 be positioned so that the filling chamber 32 pointing in the direction of the occupant or in the direction of the internal structure of the motor vehicle.

The gas generator 10 can, as shown in the embodiments, within the filling chamber 32 be arranged. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange the gas generator completely outside the airbag. In this case, the gas generator is connected by means of a gas-conducting element with the secondary chamber such that the outlet opening of the gas-conducting element, which in the simplest case consists of a pipe section, is located inside the filling chamber.

10

inflator

12

bolt

20

airbag

22

main chamber

24

Beck chamber

26

thorax chamber

27

vent

28

partition wall

30

dividing seam

32

filling chamber

34

first wall

36

second wall

38

third wall

38a

finger

39

fourth wall

40

overflow

42

flexible cloth

43

seam

45

Further seam

Claims (11)

Side airbag unit consisting of an airbag ( 20 ) and a gas generator ( 10 ) for inflating this gas bag, wherein the gas bag between a first and a second wall ( 34 . 36 ) located main chamber ( 22 ) with a first volume and outside this main chamber ( 22 ) between the second wall and one on the second wall ( 36 ) arranged third wall ( 38 ) located secondary chamber with a second volume, which is smaller than that of the main chamber ( 22 ), wherein the secondary chamber and the main chamber via at least one arranged in the second wall overflow ( 40 ) are in fluid communication, characterized in that from the gas generator ( 20 ) gas flowing first into the secondary chamber and from this into the main chamber ( 22 ) flows, so that the secondary chamber a filling chamber ( 32 ) forms for the main chamber. Side airbag unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the main chamber ( 22 ) is divided into at least two protective chambers. Side airbag unit according to claim 2, characterized in that each protective chamber via at least one separate overflow ( 40 ) with the filling chamber ( 32 ) connected is. Side airbag unit according to claim 3, characterized in that that the two protective chambers are not directly in fluid communication stand. Side airbag unit according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that a first protection chamber, a pelvic chamber ( 24 ) and a second protective chamber a thorax chamber ( 26 ). Side airbag unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the overflow openings ( 40 ) on the side of the main chamber ( 22 ) with flexible lobes serving as backflow fuses ( 42 ) is covered. Side airbag unit according to claim 5 and claim 6, characterized in that the backflow fuses only the pelvic chamber ( 24 ) assigned. Side airbag unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling chamber ( 32 ) Means for accelerated positioning of the main chamber ( 22 ) in the expansion. Side airbag unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the means fingers ( 38a ) of the filling chamber ( 32 ) are. Side airbag unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one seam ( 45 ) between the second and the third wall ( 36 . 38 ) is provided. Side airbag unit according to claim 6 and claim 10, characterized in that the seam ( 45 ) in the region of the return flow fuses having overflow openings ( 40 ) is arranged.