DE102005007209A1 - Motor vehicle`s gas bag e.g. front-gas bag, unit, has separation wall separating gas space into two chambers, and separation wall perpendicular to impingement surface in expanded condition of gas bag cover in section wise manner - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit has a gasbag cover surrounding a gas space in its expanded condition. A separation wall extends via a gas space and separates the gas space into two chambers (K1, K2), where the movement of the cover is in a direction perpendicular to a surface normal of the impingement surface, in the expansion phase. The separation wall stands perpendicular to the impingement surface in the expanded condition in a section wise manner. An independent claim is also included for a motor vehicle with a gas bag unit attached to a front seat passenger.

Description

The The invention relates to a gas bag unit according to the preamble of Claim 1 and a motor vehicle according to claim 8.

in the The safety concept of a modern automobile is played by the front airbags - ie the Driver and passenger gas bags - a central role. Of the Driver's airbag is usually in the hub area of the steering wheel arranged while the passenger airbag usually in the instrument panel above the glove compartment is arranged. When operating such a passenger airbag the gas bag unfolds substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle and the impact surface of the airbag is in essentially perpendicular to this deployment direction.

Regarding the fast deployment and correct positioning is the arrangement The passenger gas bag in the instrument panel is usually ideal. The disadvantage, however, is that on the one hand, the space in the instrument panel is relatively limited and is also needed for other installations, furthermore, usually needs to be triggered after the passenger gas bag the entire instrument panel to be replaced, which itself high in only minor accidents Repair costs. It is therefore already proposed been the passenger airbag in the center console or in or to arrange on the A-pillar. In this case, a deployment of the gas bag is initially in essentially perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. Regarding the fast and correct positioning of the expanded gas bag and in terms of protecting a not in standard seating position Passenger (OoP situation), occur in such a solution However, considerable difficulties.

The EP 1 140 569 B1 proposes, in a front airbag, which may be arranged, for example, within the side structure of the motor vehicle to provide a partition which divides the airbag into two chambers and extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. This is intended to improve the safe deployment of the gas bag in the direction of the occupant to be protected.

From the US 6,808,198 B2 is known a front gas bag, which is arranged in the region of the A-pillar and also has a substantially perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis extending partition.

Of these, starting it is an object of the invention, a generic airbag unit To enhance the protection of a person in a non-standard position is improved. In particular, the threat of a forwards bowed passenger to be improved.

These Task is by an airbag unit with the features of the claim 1 or a motor vehicle with the features of claim 8 solved.

Extends according to the invention through the gas space of the gas bag, a partition, which expanded in the Condition at least partially substantially perpendicular to baffle stands. In case of in or at the A-pillar arranged front gas bags means this, that this section of the partition in the expanded state parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis runs. Is the passenger in expansion of the gas bag in one Prevented position, so the airbag slides on the partition on Head of the occupant and pushes him with relatively little force to the side. In particular, it can be excluded hereby that the gas bag slides under the neck of the occupant. For this runs the Partition in a rear portion preferably obliquely with respect to the Vertical.

One Another advantage of the invention arranged partition is that the chamber, which lies on the side of the gas generator, fills up very quickly and thus in the case described above a corresponding fast Cover the A-pillar sets. This results in particular in a laterally offset Frontal crash benefits.

at a preferred embodiment with the further features of claims 3 or 4, an early and relative strong force introduction in the thorax area and thus early retention of the inmate without too big Load of the head in a standard sitting position Inmates are reached.

Further preferred embodiments arise from the other dependent claims and from the now with Reference to the figures closer illustrated embodiments. Show it:

1 A fully expanded passenger airbag from the passenger's point of view,

2 the passenger gas bag off 1 in a perspective view,

3a to d the undisturbed expansion of the in the 1 and 2 pictured passenger gas sacks in one of the 1 appropriate representation,

4a to d the expansion of in 1 illustrated gas bag in the presence of a bent over inmates / dummies and

5a to c alternative embodiments of the gas bag in one of 1 corresponding representation.

The 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a Frontgassasck unit according to the invention for the passenger side of a motor vehicle.

The gas bag unit is shown here in each case with fully expanded airbag cover; the 1 is a view from the direction of A from 2 ,

The gas bag unit is arranged on the A-pillar; here is also the gas generator 10 attached. The airbag cover 20 surrounds the gas space, which has a main section H and a feed section Z, which the gas generator 10 connects to the main section H. The airbag cover 20 has a baffle 22 and one of the baffle surface substantially opposite support surface 24 on.

Within the gas space is the partition wall 26 , which except in the region of the overflow 27 with the gas bag cover 20 connected, for example sewn. The overflow opening 27 is located at a lower portion of the baffle 22 , The lower section 26a the partition 26 is substantially perpendicular to the impact surface 22 and is vertically aligned. The upper section 26b the partition 26 kinks, so it is not vertically aligned, but is also perpendicular to the baffle 22 , Furthermore, the outer wall of the main section H is over a tether 28 with an A-pillar-near section of the airbag cover 20 or connected to the A-pillar itself. This tether 28 prevents rotation of the gas bag during expansion.

The 3a to 3d show the unimpeded expansion of the gas bag, so the state in which no OOP situation is given. First, gas flows from the gas generator 10 in the Zuführabschnitt Z and from there into the main section H. In an early expansion phase, the movement of the airbag envelope is substantially perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis, ie also substantially perpendicular to the surface normal of the baffle of the fully expanded airbag shell.

The main section H is through the partition wall 26 divided into the first chamber K1 and the second chamber K2. Due to the presence of the partition 26 first fills the first chamber K1 and thus positioned one half of the main section H in front of the passenger and also covers at an early stage, the A-pillar, which is important in an oblique impact. Only after substantially complete development of the first chamber K1, gas flows into the overflow 27 in the second chamber K2, until the airbag cover 20 is fully expanded.

Due to the fact that the overflow 27 in the lower part of the baffle 22 is arranged, the second chamber K2 fills from bottom to top, so that at a very early stage, a complete connection of the thorax is possible, whereby an early restraint of the occupant can be achieved. As already mentioned, the partition is 26 up to the area of the overflow opening 27 along its edge with the gas bag cover 20 sutured. The partition therefore serves not only as a gas-conducting element, but also the contouring of the airbag envelope, in particular the limitation of its height and its depth. The partition thus also has the function of a tether.

The 4a to 4d show the situation with a front bent passenger / dummy (in the following dummy). Located during expansion of the airbag skin 10 the head DK of the dummy over the dashboard I in front of the windshield W, then comes the airbag cover 20 at an early date in contact with the dummy head DK. The power transmission between inflowing gas and dummy head DK occurs substantially over the upper portion 26b the partition 26 , The dummy head DK directs the expansion of the airbag shell 20 towards the side window, while the airbag cover 20 or the outflowing gas pushes the dummy head DK in the direction of the vehicle center. A gentle pushing away of the dummy head DK without jamming the airbag cover 20 in the neck area is in particular by the inclined upper section 26b supported. Because of the dividing wall 26 The gas flow deflects anyway, is the burden of the dummy head DK through the outgoing airbag shell 20 limited.

you sees that on the one hand the gas bag evades the dummy and on the other hand push the dummy away. Due to the relatively long way that the Gas must go back to the second chamber K2 are here the maximum forces acting on the dummy and in particular on the dummy head are relatively low.

The 5a to 5c show alternative embodiments of the partition 26 or the rear surface 25 , Here, in particular, the embodiment in 5b to mention. Here, the partition wall 26 no sloping upper section. Instead, part of the rear surface adjacent to the windshield is 25 formed bead-like and here ensures the desired sliding of the dummy head in a OoP situation. The elasticity of the retention effect can be influenced by the design of this bead-like region.

10

inflator

20

Airbag covering

22

baffle

24

supporting

25

rear area

26

partition wall

27

overflow

26a

lower section

26b

upper section

28

tether

K1

first chamber

K2

second chamber

H

main section

Z

feeding

W

Windshield

A

A column

DK

dummy head

Claims (8)

Airbag unit with an airbag cover ( 20 ), a gas generator ( 10 ), wherein - the airbag cover in the expanded state surrounds a gas space and a pointing in the direction of the occupant baffle ( 22 ), - through the gas space a partition wall ( 26 ) Extends, which divides the gas space into a first (K1) and in a two-chamber (K2), and wherein - takes place in an early phase of expansion movement of the airbag skin substantially in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the surface normal of the impact surface, characterized characterized in that the partition ( 26 ) in the expanded state at least in sections substantially perpendicular to the baffle surface ( 22 ) stands. Airbag unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the partition wall ( 26 ) is at least partially substantially vertical. Airbag unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partition wall at least in sections does not extend to the baffle surface, so that an overflow opening ( 27 ), through which gas can flow from the first (K1) into the second chamber (K2). Airbag unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the overflow opening a lower portion of the baffle surface ( 22 ) assigned. Airbag unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an upper section ( 26b ) the partition does not run vertically. Airbag unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the gas bag is a front airbag, so that the partition at least partially substantially parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis extends. Airbag unit according to Claim 6, characterized that the gas bag is a passenger gas bag. Motor vehicle with a passenger assigned Airbag unit, wherein the airbag unit in the idle state in or at the A-pillar (A) is arranged and wherein the gas bag unit is an airbag unit with the features of claim 7.