CN101107152A - Airbag module having a controllable tether - Google Patents

Abstract

An air bag module ( 30 ) is disclosed having an air bag ( 50 ) and a tether ( 52 ) and an active brake ( 70, 80 ) for controlling the length of the tether in correspondence with the size of the occupant to be protected.

Description

Air bag module with controllable tether

The present invention relates to a kind of air bag module, wherein the length of the frenulum that is associated with safety air bag can be proportional with the stature of the Vehicular occupant of being protected.

The invention provides a kind of improved air bag module, wherein the length of frenulum and the amount of leading to the charge air conditioning of air can change with the ratio that is varied to of stature that comprises the Vehicular occupant of being protected and/or position.

Fig. 1 is the lateral plan according to passenger side air bag module of the present invention.

Fig. 2 and 2A show the air bag module of Fig. 1, this safety air bag launch fully and frenulum in its extreme length.

Fig. 3 shows the air bag module of Fig. 1, and the length of air-bag deployment and frenulum is subjected to the restriction of stop mechanism.

Fig. 4 is the guide wire of alternative shape of housing.

Fig. 4 a is the end view of member shown in Figure 4.

Fig. 4 b is the planar view of the part of housing.

Fig. 5 is the guide wire of alternative shape of the air bag module of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 shows the relation between frenulum length and the Vehicular occupant stature.

Figure 10 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows folding safety air bag 50, the aerator 60 that comprises housing 40, has at least one root system band 52, the airbag module 30 that starts member 70 and cranking system strip length control mechanism 80.This housing 40 comprises bottom 42 that holds aerator 60 and the top 44 that holds folding safety air bag 50.Air bag module 30 can comprise cover plate 90, and it is installed to the sidepiece 46 of housing 40 as shown in the figure.Air bag module 30 is installed on the opening of Vehicular instrument panel 100.Perhaps, air bag module can be positioned on the integral part that instrument carrier panel below and cover plate form instrument carrier panel.

Housing 40 comprises with acting on the deflector of charge air conditioning and having the separator of battery plates 48 that is used for a plurality of passages 122 of gas by wherein.Separator of battery plates 48 comprises the one or more passages 122 that are used for gas, and they are for providing stream to enter safety air bag 50 to flow out one or more aerator outlet ports 62 at charge air conditioning after by charge air conditioning arrow 61 expressions, that provided by aerator 60.At least one passage 120 that is used for frenulum holds the frenulum 52 of safety air bag.Separator of battery plates at each passage 120 place that is used for frenulum forms relative spool 48a to provide the frenulum 52 can be across the smooth surface of its slip.

One end 54 of frenulum 52 can be connected to the top of aerator 60.The other end 56 of frenulum is connected to the part 58 of the safety air bag that is commonly referred to face piece.Separator of battery plates 48 be fixed to lower part of frame 42 and with its sealing.Sealing member 49 also can be used for forming the sealing between separator of battery plates 48 and the housing 40, and perhaps separator of battery plates 48 can press and is coupled on the housing 40, avoids the needs to independent sealing member.

In Fig. 1 and 2, frenulum 52 is divided into two side- line tape 56a, 56b of the face piece 58 that is connected to safety air bag.Single frenulum end 56 is connected to safety air bag shown in Fig. 2 A.Frenulum can be connected on the face piece 58 by stitching, bonding or other suitable attachment method.The end 56 that Fig. 2 A shows frenulum is sewn onto on the face piece 58 by seam 130.

The bottom 42 of housing 40 comprises first opening 140, and it flows to atmosphere to stop charge air conditioning in this position around rear portion 64 sealings of aerator 60.Lower part of frame 42 comprises roughly another opening 142 relative with first opening 140, and to admit the screw thread extension 160 of aerator, aerator is fixed to lower case part 42 by the threaded fasteners such as label 162.Lower case part 42 comprises air extractor vent or vent openings 144, clearly show that in Fig. 2 and 6, and the charge air conditioning that flows out aerator outlet port 62 optionally shifts from gas filed safety air bag 50 by it.The bottom 42 of housing 10 comprises housing component 170, and housing component 170 has admits aerator to shrink the circular open 172 of bottom 164.The contraction bottom 164 of housing component 170 and aerator is configured to prevent that the mode that gas flows through between them from matching.

Housing component 170 comprises at least two paths 150 that the charge air conditioning that separated by cross bar or bridgeware 152 can flow through.The part 55 of frenulum 52 is passed passage 150 and across bridgeware 152.Bridgeware 152 is provided for the composition surface 172a (seeing Fig. 4 and 4a) of door 82.

Fig. 4 b shows another embodiment of narrow down passage 150 and a plurality of more passage aisles 151 that are used for frenulum 52.The size that is used for the passage 150 of frenulum can be arranged to greater than frenulum and can be enough greatly also to allow charge air conditioning to flow through wherein.In this preferred embodiment, composition surface 172a is smooth.Composition surface 172a can comprise the ridge or the projection of one or more risings, and it is equipped with the prevention power of strengthening on the frenulum 52 that provides with recessed association on door 82 the composition surface.When door 82 clamped frenulums 52, frenulum was clipped between composition surface 172a and the door 82, made the part frenulum surround jut and was forced to depression on the composition surface of access door 82.

Fig. 2,2A and 3 show frenulum length control mechanism 80.Frenulum length control mechanism 80 comprises hinged door 82, and it is attached on the lower case 42 by the crooked one or more deformable tabs 84 that are used as articulation piece.Tab is firmly held in the position with door 82, covers vent openings till tab 84 distortion.Articulation piece can be any suitable structure, such as piano type articulation piece.If door is plastics, then articulation piece can be movable articulation piece.If use the piano hinge fitting, door 82 can be by the spring biasing to close vent openings 144, as shown in Figure 2.

Fig. 1 and 5 shows and is the air bag module that launches preceding state.The part 155 of frenulum can the pleating mode of accordion fold and be resisted against on the top of aerator 60.Frenulum end 54 can be fixed on aerator or the housing.When airbag inflated and frenulum length control mechanism 80 when not starting, shown in Fig. 1,2,2A and 5, frenulum will shift out from housing shown in the arrow 156 of Fig. 5, shortens all the other folding or fold parts 155 of frenulum thus.Along with frenulum 52 opens, it is pulled and slips over the passage 150 in the housing component 170.

In Fig. 6, the accordion fold of frenulum part is substituted by spool 156, and the centre portion 55 of frenulum was stored on the spool with compact way before the passage 150 that passes housing component 170.

Air bag module 30 comprises safety air bag 50 and frenulum 52, first end 56 of frenulum 52 be fixed in safety air bag part 58 and can be in safety air bag 50 inflations therebetween along with the part 58 of safety air bag moves.Housing 40 accommodates safety air bag 50 and aerator 60.Housing 40 has air extractor vent 144, can be moved away from air extractor vent 144 by the door 82 that will seal air extractor vent 144 and is optionally passed it and shift from gas filed safety air bag 50 by the charge air conditioning of aerator supply.Housing component 170 has at safety air bag 50 aeration period frenulums 52 and passes its passage that moves 150.First end 56 of frenulum 52 is positioned at a side of housing component 170.Frenulum has second end 54 on the opposite side that is arranged on housing component 170.Frenulum length control mechanism 80 can move to engage position from unengaged position and pass moving of housing component 170 upper channels 150 to stop frenulum during airbag inflated, and has therefore limited the moving of part 58 of the safety air bag of first end 56 that is fixed to frenulum 52.

Fig. 1,2 and 2A show the bias force that overcomes plate or door bias spring (not shown) and the activation members 70 of the motion of enabling gate 82.Activation members 70 can be motor machine or pyrotechnic device.The electronic control unit circuit communication of activation members 70 and vehicle, circuit control unit produces the start-up control signal to start this activation members 70 on circuit 202.Electronic control unit is in response to such as the incoming signal of indication about the signal of the stature of the Vehicular occupant of the air bag module that do not launch as yet and/or position.During vehicle collision, the stature of the Vehicular occupant that the electronic control unit 200 that is associated with the sensor that is distributed in whole vehicle can definite be protected.According to employed algorithm, if control signal can use the information of using the seat position of Vehicular occupant about the Vehicular occupant protected with respect to the information of the position of the safety air bag that does not launch as yet and the position that can not obtain Vehicular occupant.Electronic control unit 20 sends ignition signal by one or more signal lines 204,204a to the firing unit of aerator 60.

If the Vehicular occupant stature rank of being protected is more than or equal to the 50th percentage point the male sex, when detecting collision, aerator starts in a usual manner, produces the charge air conditioning that flows through housing and enter safety air bag 50 by passage 150,120,122.When airbag inflated, it from as shown in Figure 1 launching front construction pulling frenulum 52.At aeration period, the pulling frenulum passes the passage 150 of housing component 170.In these cases safety air bag operating period, activation members 70 does not start, and therefore door 82 remains on the position of the covering air extractor vent 144 that illustrates.

If the Vehicular occupant stature of being protected is less; such as the women of the 5th percentage point or such as 6 years old big or small children; electronic control unit can start this activation members 70 when detecting collision under dual-mode operation, activation members 70 causes that door 82 moves to position shown in Figure 3.Door 82 moves to two variations that position shown in Figure 3 can cause system operation.Door 82 mobile opened vent openings 144 and also closes by being communicated with of passage 150 and safety air bag 50, and guides the gas outflow air bag module of aerator 60 supplies thus.The safety air bag structure is realized during the big stature Vehicular occupant of the inflation pressure that safety air bag is realized and size and protection compares and is restricted or reduces.When starting, door 82 moves with the part of the frenulum that interweaves around housing component 170 and contacts, and cooperates to apply gripping power on frenulum with housing component 170, prevents that thus frenulum from further being pulled out housing, the size of the safety air bag of restricted charging thus.

Fig. 7 is the figure that blocks of door 82 and a part of lower case part 1402.The side of Men Zaimen comprises composition surface 180 and comprises that at opposite side sealing surfaces is with sealed open or air extractor vent 144.Composition surface 180 can comprise the profile that strengthens friction, such as rough surface or comprise and apply superincumbent friction material, when they contact with frenulum, stops the mobile of frenulum positively.

Another embodiment has been shown among Fig. 8, and wherein composition surface cooperates with a plurality of teeth 182.When door started, tooth entered corresponding passage 152 and punctures frenulum, prevented that thus frenulum from further being pulled out the size of the safety air bag of housing and restricted charging.

Activation members 70 can comprise electronic ignition gunpowder unit, and it produces residues of combustion, causes that piston outwards moves, thus the initial movable of generator gate 82 and the gas flow path that places aerator to produce at door 82.After Jiang Men moved on in the gas flow path, air-flow promotion door entered the clip operation with frenulum.Activation members 70 can comprise the electrically activating solenoid mechanism with tensile piston 70a, as shown in Figure 5, it is shifted door in the gas flow path onto in the above described manner, perhaps, moves to clamped position and when starting door is remained on this clamped position with the door physical engagement and with door.

Operation of the present invention is not limited to only to fall into two kinds of Vehicular occupant stature grades, such as the protection of the less women or the big stature male sex's Vehicular occupant.Use the specific stature of definite Vehicular occupant of protecting and the information of weight, impact strength and/or seat position, can expect to allow safety air bag to come airbag inflated according to the stature and/or the impact strength of Vehicular occupant more or less.In this embodiment, the startup of activation members 70 or point of ignition for example are based on the system parameter of the stature such as the protection Vehicular occupant that obtains from the collaborative sensor-based system of known type, impact strength etc.In Fig. 9, vertical axis indicates frenulum length, and the igniting or the run up time of it and member 130 are proportional.Point of ignition is also proportional with the inflation size of safety air bag.

Figure 10 shows another embodiment of the present invention, and the distal portions of frenulum 52 comprises elongated open or slit 300.Frenulum 52 and actuator casing 302 are configured to frenulum 52 is arranged on the piston of close actuator 70.Near the end of the frenulum of frenulum upper shed or slit 300 by on frenulum, increase other several layer materials or by the end of frenulum is made flexible metal strip or by resin is immersed in the end of frenulum so that frenulum is strong strengthens.Actuator casing 302 comprises the passage 304 that frenulum passes wherein and keeps aliging with piston.The motion of the end of frenulum just is restricted when piston forward moves to opening 300 on the frenulum.

In the operation to big stature Vehicular occupant, activation members 70 does not activate, and when airbag inflated, the safety air bag that frenulum 52 is inflated is pulled outwardly.If protect little stature Vehicular occupant; the stature of controller 200 identification Vehicular occupants or determine other system parameter and start actuator 70 that actuator 70 moves and causes door 82 to move to and stops gas to flow to the position of safety air bag at the appropriate time of above detailed description.This moving of door 82 opened vent openings 144 as before, so that charge air conditioning is shifted from housing.When piston moved, it entered opening or slit 300 on the frenulum.Because during airbag inflated, frenulum 50 is pulled out from housing 40, piston engages the lower end of passage 304, further stops the motion of safety air bag towards Vehicular occupant thus because frenulum length is restricted.

The frenulum end can be provided with tab, stop or type of tamper evidence 306, and it can be stuck in the passage 304 of actuator casing along with the safety air bag expansion, but stops frenulum further to be emitted thus when frenulum 52 has been pulled out to the maximum working length.Type of tamper evidence 306 is formed by the folded part of frenulum, and folded part enough is blocked in the passage 304 greatly.

Although in the context of airbag module the present invention has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be used in driver side air bag module and the curtain air bag module.

Claims (8)

1. an air bag module (30) comprising:

Safety air bag (50) and frenulum (52), first end (56) of described frenulum (52) are fixed in the part (58) of described safety air bag and can move along with the described part (58) of described safety air bag at described safety air bag (50) aeration period;

The housing (40) that holds described safety air bag (50) and aerator (60), described housing (40) has air extractor vent (144), move away from described air extractor vent (144) by the door (82) that will seal described air extractor vent (144), can be from be that described safety air bag (50) inflation is optionally by described air extractor vent (144) transfer by the charge air conditioning of described aerator (60) supply;

Housing component (170), have at the described frenulum of described safety air bag (50) aeration period (52) and pass the passage (150) that wherein moves, first end (56) of described frenulum (52) is positioned at a side of described housing component (170), and described frenulum has second end (54) of the opposite side that is arranged on described housing component (170); And

Frenulum length control mechanism (80), it can pass moving of described passage (150) on the described housing component (170) to stop described frenulum moving to engage position during the airbag inflated from unengaged position, and therefore restriction is fixed to the motion of described part (58) of described safety air bag (50) of first end (56) of described frenulum (52).

2. air bag module as claimed in claim 1 (30), it is characterized in that, described housing component (170) has at least two passages (150) that separated by the bridgeware with composition surface (172a) (152), and described frenulum (52) passes described passage (150) and passes along described composition surface (172a) when described airbag inflated; Described frenulum length control mechanism (80) comprises the described door (82) of the described air extractor vent of sealing (144), described door (82) can rotate and leave described air extractor vent (144) to open described air extractor vent (144) and described frenulum (52) folder is against described composition surface (172a), stops described frenulum to pass the motion of described passage (150) thus.

3. air bag module as claimed in claim 2 (30) is characterized in that, described door (82) has composition surface (180), to engage described frenulum (52) and described frenulum (52) folder to be against the composition surface (172a) of described housing component (170).

4. air bag module as claimed in claim 3 (30) is characterized in that, the composition surface of described door (82) comprises material or the jut (182) that strengthens friction.

5. as each described air bag module (30) among the claim 1-4, it is characterized in that, also comprise being used for described frenulum length control mechanism (80 to the major general; 82) start the actuating device (70) that moves to described clamped position, described actuating device (70) comprises removable plunger or the piston (70a) that contacts with described door.

6. as each described air bag module (30) among the claim 1-5, it is characterized in that second end (54) of described frenulum (52) is fixed on the non-moving parts (60) of described air bag module.

9. air bag module as claimed in claim 1 (30) is characterized in that, second end (54) of described frenulum (52) is configured to anchor in the described passage (150).

10. as each described air bag module (30) among the claim 1-9, it is characterized in that the device by being used to control described frenulum length does not activate described frenulum length control mechanism (80) according to Vehicular occupant with respect to the stature and/or the position of the safety air bag that starts as yet.

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