CA2488622C - Airbag and method for producing an airbag - Google Patents
Airbag and method for producing an airbag Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2488622C CA2488622C CA2488622A CA2488622A CA2488622C CA 2488622 C CA2488622 C CA 2488622C CA 2488622 A CA2488622 A CA 2488622A CA 2488622 A CA2488622 A CA 2488622A CA 2488622 C CA2488622 C CA 2488622C
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- Prior art keywords
- plies
- air bag
- fabric
- film
- set forth
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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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
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/235—Inflatable members characterised by their material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/12—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
- B32B5/22—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed
- B32B5/24—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer
- B32B5/26—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D03—WEAVING
- D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
- D03D1/00—Woven fabrics designed to make specified articles
- D03D1/04—Sack- or bag-like articles
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N—WALL, FLOOR, OR LIKE COVERING MATERIALS, e.g. LINOLEUM, OILCLOTH, ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, ROOFING FELT, CONSISTING OF A FIBROUS WEB COATED WITH A LAYER OF MACROMOLECULAR MATERIAL; FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N3/00—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof
- D06N3/0002—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof characterised by the substrate
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N—WALL, FLOOR, OR LIKE COVERING MATERIALS, e.g. LINOLEUM, OILCLOTH, ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, ROOFING FELT, CONSISTING OF A FIBROUS WEB COATED WITH A LAYER OF MACROMOLECULAR MATERIAL; FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N3/00—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof
- D06N3/04—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- D06N3/10—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds with styrene-butadiene copolymerisation products or other synthetic rubbers or elastomers except polyurethanes
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N—WALL, FLOOR, OR LIKE COVERING MATERIALS, e.g. LINOLEUM, OILCLOTH, ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, ROOFING FELT, CONSISTING OF A FIBROUS WEB COATED WITH A LAYER OF MACROMOLECULAR MATERIAL; FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N3/00—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof
- D06N3/12—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. gelatine proteins
- D06N3/121—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. gelatine proteins with polyesters, polycarbonates, alkyds
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N—WALL, FLOOR, OR LIKE COVERING MATERIALS, e.g. LINOLEUM, OILCLOTH, ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, ROOFING FELT, CONSISTING OF A FIBROUS WEB COATED WITH A LAYER OF MACROMOLECULAR MATERIAL; FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N3/00—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof
- D06N3/12—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. gelatine proteins
- D06N3/125—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. gelatine proteins with polyamides
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N—WALL, FLOOR, OR LIKE COVERING MATERIALS, e.g. LINOLEUM, OILCLOTH, ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, ROOFING FELT, CONSISTING OF A FIBROUS WEB COATED WITH A LAYER OF MACROMOLECULAR MATERIAL; FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N3/00—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof
- D06N3/12—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. gelatine proteins
- D06N3/128—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. gelatine proteins with silicon polymers
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N—WALL, FLOOR, OR LIKE COVERING MATERIALS, e.g. LINOLEUM, OILCLOTH, ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, ROOFING FELT, CONSISTING OF A FIBROUS WEB COATED WITH A LAYER OF MACROMOLECULAR MATERIAL; FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06N3/00—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof
- D06N3/12—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. gelatine proteins
- D06N3/14—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. gelatine proteins with polyurethanes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
- B32B38/0012—Mechanical treatment, e.g. roughening, deforming, stretching
- B32B2038/0024—Crushing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2305/00—Condition, form or state of the layers or laminate
- B32B2305/10—Fibres of continuous length
- B32B2305/18—Fabrics, textiles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2310/00—Treatment by energy or chemical effects
- B32B2310/14—Corona, ionisation, electrical discharge, plasma treatment
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
- B32B38/0008—Electrical discharge treatment, e.g. corona, plasma treatment; wave energy or particle radiation
-
- 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
- B60R21/235—Inflatable members characterised by their material
- B60R2021/23504—Inflatable members characterised by their material characterised by material
- B60R2021/23509—Fabric
- B60R2021/23514—Fabric coated fabric
Abstract
The invention relates to a two-ply airbag consisting of a textile surface structure, said plies lying opposite one another and enclosing at least one chamber that can be filled with gas. The plies have surfaces that face outwards. The airbag is characterised in that coatings (1), which are suitable for sealing and reinforcing the airbag, are applied to said surfaces.
Description
Airbag and Method of Producing an Airbag The invention relates to an air bag comprising two plies of a textile sheet fabric, the plies facing each other and enclosing at least one chamber that can be filled with gas, the plies having surfaces facing outwards, the invention also relating to a method of producing such an air bag.
Air bag fabrics are in use whose technical properties are dictated by the dense structure of the fabric.
To attain the needed strength and airtightness the fabric must be fabricated suitably high set which because of the high material consumption results in fabrication being expensive. Fully fabricated or one-piece woven (OPW) air bags need to satisfy the crash withstanding performance, in other words it is vital that the pressure in the air bag is maintained for the critical duration, i.e. the air bags must not leak. For this purpose such air bags are woven extremely dense, major efforts being made to change the weave in the transition of two-ply portions into single-ply portions in attaining, for example, a high fabric tear strength or comb withdrawal force.
Since in many cases the air bag fabric made in this way still fails to exhibit an adequate leakage resistance, additional thin films are added in an expensive process with the sole objective of sealing the fine pores of the fabric to achieve the necessary leakage resistance. Air bags fabricated as such are, on the one hand, because of the weaving method very expensive. On the other hand, the expense of the air bags is further increased by the complicated coating process.
Because of its high density, finishing such a fabric is a slow and thus cost-intensive process.
Known air bag fabrics have the further drawback that because of the dense set and involving the slower weaving process the load on the yarn is correspondingly higher. Thus, during the transition in weaving the threads from the upper into the lower position and vice-versa the threads rub against each other all the more often and intensified because of the dense set, to the detriment of the quality in weaving (capillary damage, fluffing, conglomerations, thread breakage and the like) resulting in a high degree of spoilage. Moreover, thread damage in weaving results in many cases in downtime of the weaving machine, also due to machine speeds needing to be increasingly higher causing a serious loss of efficiency which in turn further adds to the already high costs of production.
Another drawback of the air bags as discussed is that due to the high set and because of the correspondingly high fabric thickness of the air bag fabric a certain packing volume of the finished air bag needs to be assured in the folded condition. Because of the high set the fabric or air bag becomes stiffer, further adversely influencing working the fabric.
The present invention is based on the objective of producing a low-cost air bag in avoiding or at least greatly diminishing the drawbacks of prior art, as well as proposing a method for producing such an air bag.
According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bag comprising two gas-permeable and loosely woven plies of a textile sheet fabric, the plies facing each other and enclosing at least one chamber that can be filled with gas, the plies having surfaces facing outwardly, wherein the said two plies comprise a fabric with a loose woven set defining an inner and outer structure of the air bag, wherein each of the said surfaces facing outwardly has a single leak-resistant coating disposed thereon, and wherein the said coating strengthens the said plies as compared to the plies in an uncoated condition.
According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing an air bag comprising two gas-permeable and loosely woven plies facing each other and enclosing at least one chamber that can be filled with gas, the plies having surfaces facing outwardly, on each of which a thermoplastics film is attached to produce a coating for strengthening and rendering the air bag resistant to leakage, the said method comprising the steps of: (a) weaving the air bag plies on a weaving machine controlled by a Jacquard device; and (b) hot rolling the thermoplastics film on the said surfaces, wherein keying points in the plies are flattened by pressure to thereby form a larger contact surface for the film.
The aforesaid objective is firstly achieved by an air bag having the features described above. This air bag in accordance with the invention can now be fabricated significantly cheaper than air bags as known from prior art. By arranging the coating on the surfaces of the fabric plies of the air bag facing outwards as suitable for forming the leakage resistance and strengthening of the air bag, the textile sheet fabric of the air bag can now be woven relatively loosely.
Strengthening the air bag in this sense is meant as coating the air bag to achieve particularly high strength, leakage resistance and keying to the fabric. The fabric itself is responsible so-to-speak for forming the outer and inner structure of the air bag and its at least one chamber, i.e. it not primarily contributing towards leakage resistance and strength of the fabric as handled namely by the coating. Now, because of this, the set of the fabric can be strongly redimensioned. Thus, for instance, the single-ply portions in a one-piece woven (OPW) can now be executed solid and tight in a (simpler) plain weave instead of a panama weave as hitherto. This greatly reduces the load on the fabric by shear forces at critical transitions from single-ply to two-ply portions with the same weave as achieved by the plain weave as proposed in this case, resulting in a drastic reduction in the risk of the coating becoming detached or damaged as arranged on the fabric, i.e. risk of leakage. By satisfying the required airtightness the air bag in accordance with the invention thus ensures the vital pressure withstanding duration.
Another advantage materializes from the smoother surface of the plain weave permitting better adhesion of the coating in further reducing the risk of leakage. Because of the lower set and the resulting higher output of the weaving machine, the air bag fabric and one-piece wovens (OPW) in the shop and finishing can now be produced and worked to advantage substantially cheaper. Due to the fewer shed changes as well as due to the lesser attrition of the threads against each other the load on the yarn material is significantly reduced, resulting in a drastic reduction in impairments (capillary damage, fluffing, conglomerations, thread breakage and the like) in thus immensely enhancing product quality. Since this involves the weaving machine being down far less because of yarn impairment, efficiency is boosted substantially.
Yet another advantage of the air bag in accordance with the invention materializes from the reduced packing volume in the folded condition. The reduction in set as made possible by the invention now makes it possible to reduce the cover factor and result in a fabric with a softer feel with added flexibility. As a result of this, the fabric coming from the weaving machine can now be worked much better in the subsequent steps in the process.
Air bag fabrics are in use whose technical properties are dictated by the dense structure of the fabric.
To attain the needed strength and airtightness the fabric must be fabricated suitably high set which because of the high material consumption results in fabrication being expensive. Fully fabricated or one-piece woven (OPW) air bags need to satisfy the crash withstanding performance, in other words it is vital that the pressure in the air bag is maintained for the critical duration, i.e. the air bags must not leak. For this purpose such air bags are woven extremely dense, major efforts being made to change the weave in the transition of two-ply portions into single-ply portions in attaining, for example, a high fabric tear strength or comb withdrawal force.
Since in many cases the air bag fabric made in this way still fails to exhibit an adequate leakage resistance, additional thin films are added in an expensive process with the sole objective of sealing the fine pores of the fabric to achieve the necessary leakage resistance. Air bags fabricated as such are, on the one hand, because of the weaving method very expensive. On the other hand, the expense of the air bags is further increased by the complicated coating process.
Because of its high density, finishing such a fabric is a slow and thus cost-intensive process.
Known air bag fabrics have the further drawback that because of the dense set and involving the slower weaving process the load on the yarn is correspondingly higher. Thus, during the transition in weaving the threads from the upper into the lower position and vice-versa the threads rub against each other all the more often and intensified because of the dense set, to the detriment of the quality in weaving (capillary damage, fluffing, conglomerations, thread breakage and the like) resulting in a high degree of spoilage. Moreover, thread damage in weaving results in many cases in downtime of the weaving machine, also due to machine speeds needing to be increasingly higher causing a serious loss of efficiency which in turn further adds to the already high costs of production.
Another drawback of the air bags as discussed is that due to the high set and because of the correspondingly high fabric thickness of the air bag fabric a certain packing volume of the finished air bag needs to be assured in the folded condition. Because of the high set the fabric or air bag becomes stiffer, further adversely influencing working the fabric.
The present invention is based on the objective of producing a low-cost air bag in avoiding or at least greatly diminishing the drawbacks of prior art, as well as proposing a method for producing such an air bag.
According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bag comprising two gas-permeable and loosely woven plies of a textile sheet fabric, the plies facing each other and enclosing at least one chamber that can be filled with gas, the plies having surfaces facing outwardly, wherein the said two plies comprise a fabric with a loose woven set defining an inner and outer structure of the air bag, wherein each of the said surfaces facing outwardly has a single leak-resistant coating disposed thereon, and wherein the said coating strengthens the said plies as compared to the plies in an uncoated condition.
According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing an air bag comprising two gas-permeable and loosely woven plies facing each other and enclosing at least one chamber that can be filled with gas, the plies having surfaces facing outwardly, on each of which a thermoplastics film is attached to produce a coating for strengthening and rendering the air bag resistant to leakage, the said method comprising the steps of: (a) weaving the air bag plies on a weaving machine controlled by a Jacquard device; and (b) hot rolling the thermoplastics film on the said surfaces, wherein keying points in the plies are flattened by pressure to thereby form a larger contact surface for the film.
The aforesaid objective is firstly achieved by an air bag having the features described above. This air bag in accordance with the invention can now be fabricated significantly cheaper than air bags as known from prior art. By arranging the coating on the surfaces of the fabric plies of the air bag facing outwards as suitable for forming the leakage resistance and strengthening of the air bag, the textile sheet fabric of the air bag can now be woven relatively loosely.
Strengthening the air bag in this sense is meant as coating the air bag to achieve particularly high strength, leakage resistance and keying to the fabric. The fabric itself is responsible so-to-speak for forming the outer and inner structure of the air bag and its at least one chamber, i.e. it not primarily contributing towards leakage resistance and strength of the fabric as handled namely by the coating. Now, because of this, the set of the fabric can be strongly redimensioned. Thus, for instance, the single-ply portions in a one-piece woven (OPW) can now be executed solid and tight in a (simpler) plain weave instead of a panama weave as hitherto. This greatly reduces the load on the fabric by shear forces at critical transitions from single-ply to two-ply portions with the same weave as achieved by the plain weave as proposed in this case, resulting in a drastic reduction in the risk of the coating becoming detached or damaged as arranged on the fabric, i.e. risk of leakage. By satisfying the required airtightness the air bag in accordance with the invention thus ensures the vital pressure withstanding duration.
Another advantage materializes from the smoother surface of the plain weave permitting better adhesion of the coating in further reducing the risk of leakage. Because of the lower set and the resulting higher output of the weaving machine, the air bag fabric and one-piece wovens (OPW) in the shop and finishing can now be produced and worked to advantage substantially cheaper. Due to the fewer shed changes as well as due to the lesser attrition of the threads against each other the load on the yarn material is significantly reduced, resulting in a drastic reduction in impairments (capillary damage, fluffing, conglomerations, thread breakage and the like) in thus immensely enhancing product quality. Since this involves the weaving machine being down far less because of yarn impairment, efficiency is boosted substantially.
Yet another advantage of the air bag in accordance with the invention materializes from the reduced packing volume in the folded condition. The reduction in set as made possible by the invention now makes it possible to reduce the cover factor and result in a fabric with a softer feel with added flexibility. As a result of this, the fabric coming from the weaving machine can now be worked much better in the subsequent steps in the process.
Further features and advantages of the invention follow below.
The aforesaid objective is further achieved by the method as previously described. For this purpose, particular mention is made to the advantages of hot rolling thermoplastic film to the surfaces, resulting in the keying points in the fabric being flattened by the pressure in thus providing a more expansive receiving surface for the roll-applied film. In other words, this technique now makes it possible to achieve a smoother surface for better keying between film and fabric.
As a rule the surfaces of e.g. woven, non-woven fleece, knitted or netted textile sheet fabrics as representing the aforementioned surfaces, for example, are not smooth in structure but "bumpy", resulting in no continuous flat contact surface being available for a coating, e.g. applied in the form of a film. The threads of the textile sheet fabric merely "ripple" from the surface thereof in a bumpy structure, whereby in a knit, for example, the peaks of the loops protrude from the surface whilst the valleys of the loops are located deeper in the knit.
It is known to coat textile sheet fabrics with fluids, films, film-like materials or laminates and the like, serving e.g. to enhance the resistance to ageing and/or leakage and/or to reduce permeability and/or friction, etc. When such textile sheet fabrics are overtaxed mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically the key between the textile sheet fabric and the coating is disrupted which may even result in a total malfunction of the textile sheet fabric.
In another advantageous aspect of the method in accordance with the invention, a low-cost method of coating textile sheet fabrics, especially where wovens, air bag wovens and air bags are involved in achieving a better adhesion between the textile sheet fabrics and their coating. A substantial improvement in the adhesion of the textile sheet fabric is achieved both by corona treatment and by plasma treatment as well as by fluorination. In the corona and plasma processes as described and discussed e.g. in German utility model DE 298 05 999 U1 electrostatic forces of attraction are activated to greatly enhance the adhesion of the substances applied to the textile sheet fabric. In fluorination of a textile sheet fabric, a reproducible, dry chemical reaction takes place at the surface in which hydrogen atoms are substituted by fluorine, creating a longer-active surface permitting mechanical and chemical bonding.
-In still another advantageous aspect of the method in accordance with the invention the textile sheet fabric is coated with a film of silicone whose surface facing away from the textile sheet fabric is treated with fluorine gas. This fluorination produces a near totally smooth surface practically cancelling any silicone/silicone adhesion.
This advantage is put to use particularly for air bags to be folded, since it does away with the need for a parting agent as required hitherto.
The invention will now be briefly explained in the following by way of an example embodiment with reference to the drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section through a fabric ply of an air bag in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of how thermoplastic films are rolled on to a fabric ply for producing a textile sheet fabric for the air bag in accordance with the invention.
Referring now to FIG. I there is illustrated a fabric including weft threads 6 and (not shown true to scale) warp threads 7. Indicated are so-called keying points 2 to which a film 1 optimized as to adhesion, resistance to leakage and strength is applied to a fabric 3 formed by weft and warp threads 6 and 7 respectively. Due to the fabric 3 being compressed by a pair of nip rollers 4 (Figure 2) as shown in FIG. 2 the warp threads 7 are squeezed together so that they become elliptical cross-sectionally. Likewise evident from the arrangement as shown in FIG. 1 is how the keying "points" 2 become flattened between film and fabric.
Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a pair of nip rollers 4 between which the film 1 as cited above and the backing fabric 3 thinned in the thread densities is guided and keyed. The resulting key of film and fabric is achievable, chemically, thermally or mechanically, resulting in so-to-speak a textile-strengthened plastics surface 5 according to embodiments of this invention which can be additionally compounded by making use of bicomponent yams. In a loose fabric setting the undulation of the fabric is less. The keying points 2 (Figure 1) of the textile-strengthened plastics surface 5 are flattened by the pressure in rolling and offer a larger contact surface for the film 1.
With reference to other embodiments of the present invention, the fabric 3 may be a knit or a non-woven fleece. The film 1 may be keyed to the surfaces of the fabric 3 either chemically, thermally or mechanically. The film 1 may also consist of a layer of plastics-sheathed threads of the plies of fabric 3.
The air bag according to the present invention may be produced by weaving the plies for same on a weaving machine controlled by a Jacquard device. A thermoplastic film is deposited on the outwardly facing surfaces of the plies as aforesaid by hot rolling, wherein keying points in the fabric plies are flattened by pressure to thereby form a larger contact surface for the film.
The said surfaces of fabric 3 and the film 1 may be prepared at least in part by a corona treatment, by a plasma treatment or by fluorination before the said step of hot rolling.
The film 1 may be selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, silicone, neoprene or polyurethane.
Moreover, the said surfaces of fabric 3 may be provided with a film of silicone which is in turn treated with fluorine gas.
The air bag may also be configured as it reads from claim 3, whereby the advantages as discussed with reference to claim 1 are likewise provided. By thermally treating the air bag after weaving the necessary leakage resistance and strength are attainable due to cross-linking of the components of the plastics sheathing the threads of the fabric plies.
The aforesaid objective is further achieved by the method as previously described. For this purpose, particular mention is made to the advantages of hot rolling thermoplastic film to the surfaces, resulting in the keying points in the fabric being flattened by the pressure in thus providing a more expansive receiving surface for the roll-applied film. In other words, this technique now makes it possible to achieve a smoother surface for better keying between film and fabric.
As a rule the surfaces of e.g. woven, non-woven fleece, knitted or netted textile sheet fabrics as representing the aforementioned surfaces, for example, are not smooth in structure but "bumpy", resulting in no continuous flat contact surface being available for a coating, e.g. applied in the form of a film. The threads of the textile sheet fabric merely "ripple" from the surface thereof in a bumpy structure, whereby in a knit, for example, the peaks of the loops protrude from the surface whilst the valleys of the loops are located deeper in the knit.
It is known to coat textile sheet fabrics with fluids, films, film-like materials or laminates and the like, serving e.g. to enhance the resistance to ageing and/or leakage and/or to reduce permeability and/or friction, etc. When such textile sheet fabrics are overtaxed mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically the key between the textile sheet fabric and the coating is disrupted which may even result in a total malfunction of the textile sheet fabric.
In another advantageous aspect of the method in accordance with the invention, a low-cost method of coating textile sheet fabrics, especially where wovens, air bag wovens and air bags are involved in achieving a better adhesion between the textile sheet fabrics and their coating. A substantial improvement in the adhesion of the textile sheet fabric is achieved both by corona treatment and by plasma treatment as well as by fluorination. In the corona and plasma processes as described and discussed e.g. in German utility model DE 298 05 999 U1 electrostatic forces of attraction are activated to greatly enhance the adhesion of the substances applied to the textile sheet fabric. In fluorination of a textile sheet fabric, a reproducible, dry chemical reaction takes place at the surface in which hydrogen atoms are substituted by fluorine, creating a longer-active surface permitting mechanical and chemical bonding.
-In still another advantageous aspect of the method in accordance with the invention the textile sheet fabric is coated with a film of silicone whose surface facing away from the textile sheet fabric is treated with fluorine gas. This fluorination produces a near totally smooth surface practically cancelling any silicone/silicone adhesion.
This advantage is put to use particularly for air bags to be folded, since it does away with the need for a parting agent as required hitherto.
The invention will now be briefly explained in the following by way of an example embodiment with reference to the drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section through a fabric ply of an air bag in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of how thermoplastic films are rolled on to a fabric ply for producing a textile sheet fabric for the air bag in accordance with the invention.
Referring now to FIG. I there is illustrated a fabric including weft threads 6 and (not shown true to scale) warp threads 7. Indicated are so-called keying points 2 to which a film 1 optimized as to adhesion, resistance to leakage and strength is applied to a fabric 3 formed by weft and warp threads 6 and 7 respectively. Due to the fabric 3 being compressed by a pair of nip rollers 4 (Figure 2) as shown in FIG. 2 the warp threads 7 are squeezed together so that they become elliptical cross-sectionally. Likewise evident from the arrangement as shown in FIG. 1 is how the keying "points" 2 become flattened between film and fabric.
Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a pair of nip rollers 4 between which the film 1 as cited above and the backing fabric 3 thinned in the thread densities is guided and keyed. The resulting key of film and fabric is achievable, chemically, thermally or mechanically, resulting in so-to-speak a textile-strengthened plastics surface 5 according to embodiments of this invention which can be additionally compounded by making use of bicomponent yams. In a loose fabric setting the undulation of the fabric is less. The keying points 2 (Figure 1) of the textile-strengthened plastics surface 5 are flattened by the pressure in rolling and offer a larger contact surface for the film 1.
With reference to other embodiments of the present invention, the fabric 3 may be a knit or a non-woven fleece. The film 1 may be keyed to the surfaces of the fabric 3 either chemically, thermally or mechanically. The film 1 may also consist of a layer of plastics-sheathed threads of the plies of fabric 3.
The air bag according to the present invention may be produced by weaving the plies for same on a weaving machine controlled by a Jacquard device. A thermoplastic film is deposited on the outwardly facing surfaces of the plies as aforesaid by hot rolling, wherein keying points in the fabric plies are flattened by pressure to thereby form a larger contact surface for the film.
The said surfaces of fabric 3 and the film 1 may be prepared at least in part by a corona treatment, by a plasma treatment or by fluorination before the said step of hot rolling.
The film 1 may be selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, silicone, neoprene or polyurethane.
Moreover, the said surfaces of fabric 3 may be provided with a film of silicone which is in turn treated with fluorine gas.
The air bag may also be configured as it reads from claim 3, whereby the advantages as discussed with reference to claim 1 are likewise provided. By thermally treating the air bag after weaving the necessary leakage resistance and strength are attainable due to cross-linking of the components of the plastics sheathing the threads of the fabric plies.
Claims (8)
1. An air bag comprising two gas-permeable and loosely woven plies of a textile sheet fabric, the plies facing each other and enclosing at least one chamber that can be filled with gas, the plies having surfaces facing outwardly, wherein the said two plies comprise a fabric with a loose woven set defining an inner and outer structure of the air bag, wherein each of the said surfaces facing outwardly has a single leak-resistant coating disposed thereon, and wherein the said coating strengthens the said plies as compared to the plies in an uncoated condition.
2. The air bag as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the said coating consists of a film keyed to the surfaces chemically, thermally or mechanically.
3. The air bag as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the said single coating consists of a layer of plastics-sheathed threads of the fabric plies.
4. The air bag as set forth in any one of Claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein the said textile sheet fabric comprises bicomponent yarns.
5. A method of producing an air bag comprising two gas-permeable and loosely woven plies facing each other and enclosing at least one chamber that can be filled with gas, the plies having surfaces facing outwardly, on each of which a thermoplastics film is attached to produce a coating for strengthening and rendering the air bag resistant to leakage, the said method comprising the steps of:
(a) weaving the air bag plies on a weaving machine controlled by a Jacquard device; and (b) hot rolling the thermoplastics film on the said surfaces, wherein keying points in the plies are flattened by pressure to thereby form a larger contact surface for the film.
(a) weaving the air bag plies on a weaving machine controlled by a Jacquard device; and (b) hot rolling the thermoplastics film on the said surfaces, wherein keying points in the plies are flattened by pressure to thereby form a larger contact surface for the film.
6. The method as set forth in Claim 5, wherein the said surfaces and film are prepared at least in part by a corona treatment or by a plasma treatment or by fluorination before the said step of hot rolling.
7. The method as set forth in any one of Claims 5 and 6, wherein the film is selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, silicone, neoprene and polyurethane.
8. The method as set forth in any one of Claims 5, 6 and 7, wherein the said surfaces are provided with a film of silicone which is in turn treated with fluorine gas.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE10224771.4 | 2002-06-04 | ||
| DE10224771A DE10224771A1 (en) | 2002-06-04 | 2002-06-04 | Airbag and method for manufacturing an airbag |
| PCT/EP2003/005697 WO2003101731A1 (en) | 2002-06-04 | 2003-05-30 | Airbag and method for producing an airbag |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2488622A1 CA2488622A1 (en) | 2003-12-11 |
| CA2488622C true CA2488622C (en) | 2010-10-26 |
Family
ID=29594254
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2488622A Expired - Fee Related CA2488622C (en) | 2002-06-04 | 2003-05-30 | Airbag and method for producing an airbag |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1509394B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP4746873B2 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN100423936C (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE337908T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2003232843A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2488622C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE10224771A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2271633T3 (en) |
| PL (1) | PL372051A1 (en) |
| PT (1) | PT1509394E (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2003101731A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1967422B1 (en) | 2007-03-08 | 2012-04-18 | nolax AG | Airbag |
| EP2500454B1 (en) * | 2011-03-16 | 2015-05-13 | Autoliv Development AB | A fabric for use in the manufacture of an inflatable air-bag |
| KR102253492B1 (en) * | 2014-12-01 | 2021-05-18 | 현대모비스 주식회사 | Driver airbag structure |
| JP6678420B2 (en) * | 2015-02-06 | 2020-04-08 | 住商エアバッグ・システムズ株式会社 | Woven airbag |
| WO2017135617A1 (en) * | 2016-02-02 | 2017-08-10 | 이상근 | Fabric having gas sheet having plurality of independent gas cells, and method for manufacturing same |
| US10391969B2 (en) * | 2017-03-31 | 2019-08-27 | Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. | Heat-resistance increasing fabric sheet for airbag |
| EP3722085A1 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2020-10-14 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Multilayer films for airbag applications and related methods |
| EP3722086A1 (en) | 2019-04-12 | 2020-10-14 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Multilayer films for airbag applications |
Family Cites Families (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH037337A (en) * | 1989-06-05 | 1991-01-14 | Tomoegawa Paper Co Ltd | Base cloth for air bag and air bag |
| JP3014127B2 (en) * | 1990-08-16 | 2000-02-28 | 旭化成工業株式会社 | Laminated fabric |
| EP0558762B1 (en) * | 1991-09-27 | 1996-08-21 | Teijin Limited | Airtight woven sheet for air bags and method of manufacturing the same |
| JPH05156545A (en) * | 1991-12-10 | 1993-06-22 | Takata Kk | Non-coat woven fabric and its production |
| JPH05338092A (en) * | 1992-06-04 | 1993-12-21 | Toray Ind Inc | Manufacture of air bag base fabric |
| JPH07506790A (en) * | 1993-03-17 | 1995-07-27 | ローディア フィルテック アーゲー | Airbag filter fabric |
| JPH06286547A (en) * | 1993-03-31 | 1994-10-11 | Ikeda Bussan Co Ltd | Air bag body |
| JPH06305089A (en) * | 1993-04-21 | 1994-11-01 | Tomoegawa Paper Co Ltd | Production of base fabric for air bag |
| DE19941059A1 (en) * | 1998-09-09 | 2000-03-23 | Bernd Katemann | Airbag, for a vehicle occupant safety airbag unit, comprises a knitted fabric of mineral especially glass fiber threads |
| DE29906538U1 (en) * | 1999-04-13 | 1999-09-30 | Trw Repa Gmbh | Textile gas bag material |
| US6177366B1 (en) * | 1999-06-17 | 2001-01-23 | Milliken & Company | Two-layer coating system for airbag fabrics |
| US6375219B2 (en) * | 1999-07-30 | 2002-04-23 | Milliken & Company | Airbag cushion exhibiting low fabric usage and simultaneously high available inflation volume |
| US6294487B1 (en) * | 1999-09-24 | 2001-09-25 | Milliken & Company | Airbag fabric processing very low cover factor |
| JP2001138849A (en) * | 1999-11-18 | 2001-05-22 | Takata Corp | Ground fabric for air bag |
| US20020033589A1 (en) * | 2000-03-13 | 2002-03-21 | Barnes John A. | Laminated fabric for airbag |
| US6569788B1 (en) * | 2000-06-16 | 2003-05-27 | Milliken & Company | Low permeability airbag cushions having extremely low silicone-based coating levels |
| JP2002088657A (en) * | 2000-09-11 | 2002-03-27 | Toyoda Spinning & Weaving Co Ltd | Method for producing coated base fabric for industrial material and coat base fabric |
| DE10049395A1 (en) * | 2000-10-05 | 2002-04-25 | Berger Seiba Technotex Verwaltungs Gmbh & Co | Textile fabrics |
| JP2002144995A (en) * | 2000-11-09 | 2002-05-22 | Toray Ind Inc | Air bag |
-
2002
- 2002-06-04 DE DE10224771A patent/DE10224771A1/en not_active Ceased
-
2003
- 2003-05-30 AU AU2003232843A patent/AU2003232843A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-05-30 JP JP2004509056A patent/JP4746873B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-05-30 CN CNB038128632A patent/CN100423936C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-05-30 ES ES03755961T patent/ES2271633T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-05-30 AT AT03755961T patent/ATE337908T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2003-05-30 WO PCT/EP2003/005697 patent/WO2003101731A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2003-05-30 PL PL03372051A patent/PL372051A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2003-05-30 EP EP03755961A patent/EP1509394B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-05-30 CA CA2488622A patent/CA2488622C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-05-30 DE DE50304862T patent/DE50304862D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-05-30 PT PT03755961T patent/PT1509394E/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| PT1509394E (en) | 2007-01-31 |
| DE50304862D1 (en) | 2006-10-12 |
| CN100423936C (en) | 2008-10-08 |
| CA2488622A1 (en) | 2003-12-11 |
| EP1509394B1 (en) | 2006-08-30 |
| PL372051A1 (en) | 2005-07-11 |
| EP1509394A1 (en) | 2005-03-02 |
| AU2003232843A1 (en) | 2003-12-19 |
| JP2005535488A (en) | 2005-11-24 |
| DE10224771A1 (en) | 2004-01-08 |
| JP4746873B2 (en) | 2011-08-10 |
| CN1659029A (en) | 2005-08-24 |
| WO2003101731A1 (en) | 2003-12-11 |
| ES2271633T3 (en) | 2007-04-16 |
| ATE337908T1 (en) | 2006-09-15 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
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