DE2109637B2 - Multi chamber airbag collision protection - with stiff cushion for leg support and pressure controlled cushion for head and chest (AR210275) - Google Patents

Abstract

The airbag protection system is fitted with a multi-chamber bag of two or three sections. The sections are inflated together, with the lower section (21) which supports the legs, being inflated hard, and not fitted with a pressure relief valve (51) so that if the driver is flung onto the airbag, the bag gives slightly and prevents him being thrown back against the seat. The upper sections have at least one main section (20) to support the chest and a smaller head support section (22), linked to the main section by an orifice (50) of smaller diameter than the relief valve (51) to enable the head section to be deflated when the driver is thrown forward.

Description

60

The invention relates to an impact protection device • vehicle occupant with a pressure gas source and with ier speaking to a certain deceleration of the vehicle sensor device, through which a ^6s t the pressurized gas source is open associated valve device to which a for collecting the lower iinbereiches serving the first bag and at least Another bag is attached to catch the upper parts of the body such as the torso and head.

From British patent specification 11 79 809 is one Impact protection device with an inflatable bag and a pressure relief device known (a Pressure relief device has also been described in DT-OS 19 62 890). To the impact of a Vehicle occupants to avoid vehicle interior parts in the event of an accident will occur in the event of a collision The bag placed on the occupant inflated so that it substantially occupies the space in front of the occupant However, the inflated bag can only be adapted to a limited extent to the body of an occupant, so that Although there is protection for the occupant against injury in an accident, this is not satisfactory In addition, it is not ensured that the relatively large bag in the inflated state immediately after a Impact is also inflated quickly enough.

From the DT-Gbm 19 69 924 a device for reducing the impact of the occupants with a Known accident which has several inflatable bags causing a rapid inflation of the bags in the In the event of a collision. The disadvantage of a device of this type is that after a Impact means that the occupants rebound from the device, which is relatively rigid when inflated is possible, whereby in particular the head parts of the occupants are exposed to a great risk of injury are, and that with a triggered, d. H. inflated device the occupant even after the end of the Impacts hardly have freedom of movement in order to be able to free yourself or each other. Think only of the fire hazard that is always present in such accidents.

From US-PS 34 73 824 an impact protection device is known in which two bags one inside the other are arranged. To avoid the outside in the event of a collision. Unfold bag from its storage position, First, the inner bag is inflated, which tears after exceeding its strength limit, whereby the outer bag is partially filled and this at another compressed gas supply reaches its inflated end position. The inner bag is used for this only for unfolding the actual catching device and not as a catching cushion for an occupant in an accident.

Finally, from Swiss patent specification 4 68 897 a vehicle occupant fall arrest device is disclosed with a pressurized gas source and with a responsive to a certain deceleration of the vehicle Sensor device of the type mentioned is known. In this known arrangement, the inflatable bag made of a material that can deform plastically. At a surcharge an occupant on an inflated bag eir part of the kinetic energy is absorbed by plastic deformation of the bag material, so that aul this reduces the tendency for the vehicle occupant to bounce back after impact. There: plastically deformable material, however, acts like a solid body in the event of a stronger impact, so that one there is an increased risk of injury, especially in the head area. Furthermore, the einma triggered device its inflated volume with whereby the freedom of movement and the view dei Occupants are severely disabled after the actual, critical phase of the accident.

The invention is based on the object of a To create the device of the type mentioned, through which wheel after an accident during an accident Accident a maximum of safety for the vehicle class is guaranteed s

To solve this problem, the invention provides that after the triggering of the collecting device The first bag remains fully inflated when the lower leg area is opened, while the Bag arrangement consisting of at least one further bag and intended to catch the upper parts of the body has a known pressure relief device, which when the Occupant lets some of the gas escape

This ensures that in the event of an impact, the lower leg area of a vehicle occupant who is in the Compared to the rest of the body parts, one is relatively insensitive in the usually narrow footwell Vehicle is supported firmly and yet elastically, avoiding that the vehicle occupant is under the bag arrangement covering the upper parts of the body is lifted forward and downward out of the seat becomes or slips out. Nevertheless, the upper body parts of the vehicle occupant are in the event of an impact very effectively protected d. H. intercepted elastically, while at the same time by the gas leakage of the The rebound effect, which is extremely dangerous for the head parts in particular, is reduced to a minimum. By evacuating the bag assembly, the vehicle occupant is immediately relieved of the impact again given a great freedom of movement, which can be decisive in certain circumstances that he can free himself from the vehicle.

A particularly advantageous development of the invention provides that the first Beutei within the Bag arrangement is arranged, the at least one further bag with the known pressure relief device having. The impact protection device, which is not normally used, can thereby without impairing the protective effect, compactly and centrally at a suitable location in front of a vehicle occupant arranged to be kept.

The upper body parts of a vehicle occupant involved in an accident become beneficial then protected when the bag arrangement intended for the upper parts of the body consists of a trunk bag and one attached to this and connected to the same via a pressurized gas connection Head bag is formed and when the pressure relief device is provided on the head bag.

The flow cross section of the opening is advantageous in the head bag larger than that of the pressurized gas connection. Such an arrangement ensures that the head bag is emptied faster than the trunk bag after an impact, so that with sufficient Supporting the trunk, the rebound effect in the head area is further reduced.

In another advantageous development of the invention, a first bag is provided for the first bag Pressurized gas container and a first valve as well as a second pressurized gas container and one for the further bag A second valve is provided and these two valves can be controlled by a single sensor device.

Finally, it is provided in a further development according to the invention that a single compressed gas container ⁶ S is provided, to which a single valve is connected to a distributor head with which the first bag is connected via a check valve and the other bag is connected via an opening.

The invention is described below, for example, with reference to the drawing; in this shows

Fig. 1 is a partial side view shown partially in section a vehicle with an impact protection device, which is inflatable through a single manifold head from a single source of pressurized fluid Bags are provided,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the FIG Fig. 1 shown distributor head,

F i g. 3 is a schematic representation of an arrangement of a multiple manifold head and a multiple pressurized fluid source for inflating the in FIG. 1 illustrated bag,

F i g. 4 is a partially sectioned partial side view of a vehicle with an impact protection device according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

F i g. 5 is an enlarged cross section of the only one in FIG. 4 shown distributor head.

In FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 10 which has a windshield 11, an instrument panel 12, a bulkhead 14 and a seat 16 on which an occupant 18 sits

The impact protection device according to FIG. I includes three inflatable bags 20, 21 and 22. which ones normally housed in the folded position on the lower edge of the instrument panel 12 are. When the bags 20, 21 and 22 are inflated with a pressurized fluid, they expand into the positions shown, the bag 20 being arranged between the other bags. Of the Bag 20, which is referred to below as a "trunk bag", is like this in the inflated state shaped so that it can catch the trunk 24 of the occupant and can prevent the trunk 24 from being with the Instrument panel 12 comes into contact. The bag 21, hereinafter referred to as the "knee bag" is shaped when inflated so that it absorbs the impact of the occupant's legs 25 below the knees can catch and prevent the legs 25 from coming into contact with the instrument panel 12. The bag 22, which is referred to below as the "head bag", is like this in the inflated state shaped so that it can absorb the impact of the head 28 of the occupant and prevent the head 28 from being with the Windshield 11 comes into contact.

The fluid for inflating the bags 20, 21 and 22 is normally under pressure in a pressure vessel or tank 30 is stored. The pressurized fluid supply is controlled by a valve 31 which is normally is closed and is opened by a sensor device 32, which on a certain delay of the vehicle responds. Both the valve 31 and the sensor device 32 are versions known type. When the valve 31 as a result of a collision of the vehicle with sufficient delay is opened, the pressurized fluid in tank 30 is passed through pipe 34 to a header 36, which is connected so that the pressurized fluid is fed to all of the bags will.

The manifold head 36 is attached to the lower edge of the instrument panel 12 and includes, like this best from FIG. 2 shows a cylinder 37 which is closed at both ends to a To form chamber 38 which is open to tube 34. The body bag 20 has a neck, which

is clamped completely and tightly along its lip by means of a clamp 40 and bolt 41 to the outer surface of the distributor head cylinder 37. Of the Manifold cylinder 37 has an axially directed slot 43 which is in continuous fluid communication between the distributor head chamber 38 and the interior of the body bag 20 ensured. The neck of the Knee pouch 21 is complete and tight along its lip to another part of the outer surface of the Cylinder 37 clamped to another part of the clamp 40. An axially extending slot 44 in the Cylinder 37 ensures fluid delivery from manifold head chamber 38 to the interior of the knee pouch 21 a passage.

A fluid flow from the distributor head 36 to the knee bag 21 is possible, while a fluid flow is prevented in the opposite direction by a check valve 46, which is a valve part 48 extending axially along the outer surface of cylinder 37 beyond both ends of slot 44 The valve member 48 extends along an axially extending edge through an axial series of Clamping bolt 41 is fixed and is free at its ends and at the other axially extending edge. That Valve part 48 has spring properties, so that when there is no pressure difference between the distributor head 36 and the knee bag 21 is present, the valve part 48 assumes its normal position as it is through the broken line in FIG. 2 is shown in which it sits on the cylinder 37 that the Slot 44 is closed or blocked When the pressurized fluid is directed to manifold head 36, the valve part 48 is moved into a position according to the solid line by the pressure of the fluid, whereby a connection between the distributor head 36 and the knee bag 21 is established.

The head bag 22 is on top of the body bag 20 attached by any suitable means or may be an integral part thereof. The inner of the head bag 22 is connected to the interior of the body bag 20 through a restricted opening 50 and is also to open through an opening 51 to the atmosphere, which has a larger flow cross-section than the opening 50. The opening 51 is normally closed by a sealing flap 52 which is detachable and sealingly attached to the Outside of the head bag 22 is attached

The operation of the process shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 shown in detail. The valve 31 is normally closed, wherein the Beate! 20, 21 and 22 are emptied and in aeefl position on in-board 12 are attached. If the vehicle crashes against a stationary or movable element with The strength of the sensor device 32 is dull in that it opens the valve 31 causes pressurized Ffcnd out of the Tank 30 arrives at vertebral head 36. Vertebral head 36 distributes the fluid directly to the fuselage bag 20 and znm Kmebentel 2t, wherein the check valve 46 ms opens the guide to Kneul 21 allow. The pressurized raid then arrives from the hull bag 20 through the opening 50 to the K 21. which will be filled later from the RHmpfbeutd and der KiriebenteL are preferably im ahead of the dirt of the ha tank 30 stored fluid, the sizes of the distributor head openings to the trunk bag end to the knee bag as well as the size of the Body bag opening to the head bag in relation to the volume of these bags so determined that A high, a low and a medium pressure builds up in the knee, head and torso bag before the

S The occupant is caught in the appropriate bags.

When the occupant's body 24 hits the trunk bag 20 thus inflated, the middle bag becomes Pressure in it increased sufficiently by this surcharge

ίο to get additional fluid through the opening 50 into the To push head bag 22, which leads to a controlled pressure drop of the body bag 20 while the impact of the occupant's body on this bag continues with the bag then around the

is the occupant's torso lying around and a soft pillow forms for the same, avoiding excessive recoil of the same.

When the head 28 of the occupant hits the inflated head bag 22, it becomes in the bag located pressure increased enough to blow away the sealing tab 52, which then through the Opening 51 a controlled venting of the gas into the atmosphere takes place. Since the opening 50 has a higher Has flow resistance than the opening 51, this takes place Collapse of the head bag 22 faster than that of the torso bag 20, thereby reducing the relative angular movement between the head and torso of the occupant is controlled. During the inflation of the knee bag 21 that is Check valve 46 open. When the Legs of the occupant on this bag then closes the check valve 46, so that this bag is under The high pressure remains inflated while the trunk bag 20 and head bag 22 gradually expand empty. The knee bag 21 is kept inflated to keep the occupant in seat 16 so that he is in front of it is preserved, as a result of the vehicle attack down and slide against the front of the vehicle.

The arrangement shown in Figure 3 a

Multiple manifold head and a multiple pressurized fluid source for the in F i g. The bag arrangement shown in FIG. 1 comprises a tank 56, which through a valve 57 is connected to a distributor head 59 which leads fluid under pressure to the body bag 20 and thus also to the head pouch. Another tank 61 is connected via a valve 62 to a distributor head 64, which fluid leads to knee bag 21 under pressure. Both valves 57 and 62 are through a vehicle impact sensor 66 controlled in the event of a vehicle collision

s <> open early. Thus remains in the representation according to Fig. 3 the knee pouch inflated, while the rompfbentel and headbemel through upon impact the occupants collapse, as the knee pouch and romper pouch are separated in this arrangement.

SS own supplies. Furthermore, the arrangement according to FIG. 3 enables a fore-entry of the Pressure conditions that prevail in the three bags should.

In fig. 4, a vehicle 110 is shown which

«° a windshield Hl, an instrument panel 112 a bulkhead 114 and a seat 116 in FIG which an inmate of the Fage sits

The occupant interception device according to the second Embodiments of the invention comprise a pair inflatable Beatel 120 and 121, with the band 121 placed inside the bag 120 and both Bags usually in a folded position on the lower edge of the instrument panel

112 are stowed. When the bags 120 and 121 are inflated with fluid, they assume the position shown in FIG. When inflated, the bag 120 is shaped to catch the occupant's head 123 and torso 124 to prevent the occupant's head and torso from contacting the windshield 11 and instrument panel 112 . An opening 127 on the outer bag 120 is normally closed by a flap 128 which is releasably and sealingly connected to the outside of that bag. When inflated, the inner bag 121, referred to as the "knee bag", is shaped to absorb the impact of the occupant's legs 129 through the outer bag 120 under the knees and prevent the legs 129 from touching the instrument panel 112.

The fluid for inflating both inner bag 121 and outer bag 120 is normally stored under pressure in a pressure vessel or tank 130 . The supply of pressurized fluid for inflating the bags is controlled by the valve 131 which is normally closed and is opened by a sensor device 132 which is responsive to a certain deceleration of the vehicle. Both the valve 131 and the sensor device 132 can be designs of a known type. When the valve 131 is opened sufficiently delayed due to a vehicle impact, the pressurized fluid in the tank 133 is passed through a pipe 134 to a manifold head 136 which is connected so that the pressurized fluid is supplied to both bags 120 and 121 at the same time.

The distributor head 136 is fixed to the lower edge of the instrument panel 112 and includes, as is best seen from Figure 2 forms a cylinder 137 having a chamber 138 closed at one end and open at the other end to the tube 134 towards is. The manifold head 136 extends through opposing walls of the outer bag 120, and the outer bag in these passages is sealed to the surface of the manifold head 136 by clamps 139 , one of which is shown in FIG. This part of the distributor head 136 enclosed within the outer bag 120 is provided with axially spaced-apart slots 140 which establish a fluid connection between the distributor head chamber 138 and the interior of the outer bag.

The neck of the inner knee pouch 121 is clamped along its lip by a clamp 142 and bolts 143 to a sleeve 144 which supports the inner pouch 121 on the manifold head 136 and also provides a connection between the manifold head junction 138 and the interior of this bag on axial SS extending slot 145 in the cylinder 137 provides fluid communication between the cylinder 137 and the interior 146 of the sleeve 144. Thus, the connection between the Verteiterkopfkammer 138 and the inner knee bag 121 from the connection between the chamber 138 and the outer bag 120 separately. A check valve 148 located in the sleeve 1414 allows pressurized fluid to flow from the manifold head chamber 138 into the inner knee bag and, on the other hand, prevents the fluid from flowing in the opposite direction. The valve 148 has a pair of valve flap elements 149 and 150 which are mounted on a pin 151 . A torsion spring 153 provides a small biasing force to normally hold the valve elements 149 and 150 in the closed position shown in FIG. 5 is shown contacting a valve seat 155 to close the passage between the manifold head chamber 138 and the inner knee bag 121 . When pressurized fluid is fed into the manifold head chamber 138 , the valve parts 149 and 150 are moved by the fluid pressure against the tension of the spring 153 so that a connection between the manifold head chamber 138 and the inner knee bag 121 is established.

The operation of the process shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 shown collecting device described. The valve 131 is normally closed and the bags 120 and 121 are deflated and placed on the instrument panel 112 in a collapsed position. If the vehicle impacts a moving or fixed object at a certain relative speed, the sensor device 132 opens the valve 131, whereby pressurized fluid is led from the tank 130 to the distributor head 136 . The manifold head 136 distributes the fluid directly to the outer bag 120 and the inner knee bag 121 and the check valve 148 opens and allows the fluid to flow to the knee bag 121. When the trunk and head of the occupant hit the inflated outer bag 120, the pressure therein is increased by this impact, the flap 128 being blown away and a controlled pressure reduction through the opening 127 to the atmosphere. This leads to a gradual reduction of the pressure in the bag 120 as the impact of the occupant on this bag continues, the bag then wrapping itself around the torso of the occupant to form a soft cushion for the latter and largely to prevent rebounding impede.

During inflation of the knee bag 121 , the check valve 148 opens. When the impact of the occupant's legs against the knee bag 121 occurs, the impact being transmitted through the outer bag 120, the check valve 148 closes to maintain pressure in the knee bag 121 while the outer bag 120 deflates through opening 127. The knee bag 121 is maintained inflated to hold the occupant in the seat 116 , thereby preventing them from being thrown downward and toward the front of the vehicle as a result of the vehicle impact.

For this purpose 3 sheets of drawings «09 532/188

Claims (6)

Patent claims: 1. Impact protection device for vehicle occupants with a pressurized gas source and with one on one certain delay of the vehicle responsive sensor device through which a with the pressure gas source connected valve device is to be opened, to which a first bag serving to catch the lower leg area and at least one other bag for catching the upper one Body parts such as the torso and head of certain bags are connected, characterized in that after the release of the collecting device, the first bag (21; 121) at Opening the lower leg area (25; 129) remains in the fully inflated state, while the off at least one further bag for collecting the upper body parallels (24, 28; 124) certain bag arrangement (20, 22; 120) a per se known pressure relief device (51, 52; 127, 128), which escape when the occupant (18; 118) hits a part of the gas leaves. 2. Apparatus according to claim I, characterized in that the first bag (21; 121) ² S is arranged within the bag arrangement (20, 22; 120), the at least one bag (20, 22) with the known pressure relief device ( 51.52; 127.128) 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the particular for ciie upper body parts bag arrangement of a trunk bag (20) and one attached to this and via a pressurized gas connection (50) is formed with the same connected head bag (22) and that the pressure relief device is provided on the head bag (22). 4. Apparatus according to claim J, characterized characterized in that the flow cross section of the opening (51) in the head bag (22) is greater than that of the pressurized gas connection (50). 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the first bag (21), a first pressurized gas container (61) and a first valve (62) and for the others Bag (20; 22) a second pressurized gas container (56) and a second valve (57) are provided and that these two valves (62; 57) can be controlled by a single sensor device (66). 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a single pressurized gas container (30; 130) is provided to which about a single valve (31; 131) is connected to a distributor head (36; 136) to which the first bag (21,121) via a check valve (46; 148) and the further bag (20; 120) via an opening (43; 140) are connected.