GB2400828A - Inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag - Google Patents

Inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2400828A
GB2400828A GB0309568A GB0309568A GB2400828A GB 2400828 A GB2400828 A GB 2400828A GB 0309568 A GB0309568 A GB 0309568A GB 0309568 A GB0309568 A GB 0309568A GB 2400828 A GB2400828 A GB 2400828A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
tunnel
airbag
bulkhead
vehicle
inflatable
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0309568A
Other versions
GB0309568D0 (en
Inventor
Ronan Cronin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AUTOSIM Ltd
Original Assignee
AUTOSIM Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AUTOSIM Ltd filed Critical AUTOSIM Ltd
Priority to GB0309568A priority Critical patent/GB2400828A/en
Publication of GB0309568D0 publication Critical patent/GB0309568D0/en
Publication of GB2400828A publication Critical patent/GB2400828A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B60R2019/007—Means for adjusting or regulating the crash absorption capacity of the vehicle, e.g. when detecting an impending collision
    • 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
    • B60R2021/0002—Type of accident
    • B60R2021/0004—Frontal collision
    • 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

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Abstract

An inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag 1 is an energy-absorbing device, which deploys by means of an inflator device 2 into the space between the bulkhead/tunnel 3/4 and the engine/transmission 5/6 of an automobile during a vehicle collision. The pressure generated in the airbag 1 can be controlled to absorb the energy of the structure and engine 5 so that the deceleration pulse of the vehicle is more gradual and efficient and the intrusion of the structure into the cockpit is reduced. This in turn reduces occupant injuries.

Description

1 240088 INFLATABLE BULKHEAD/TUNNEL AIRBAG The invention relates to an
inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag which when inflated absorbs energy from the engine and structure during a vehicle collision. By absorbing energy in a controlled manner the deceleration of the vehicle is more efficient and intrusions into the cockpit are reduced. This in turn reduced occupant injuries.
The two main factors affecting injury to an occupant in a vehicle collision are the deceleration pulse of the vehicle and intrusions of the vehicle structure into the passenger compartment. The behaviour of the structure and the engine determine the deceleration pulse and intrusions into the cockpit. By absorbing the energy of the structure and engine in a more gradual controlled manner, the deceleration of the vehicle can be managed more efficiently and by controlling the interaction of the engine, bulkhead, tunnel and floor the intrusions into the passenger compartment can be reduced. This in turn will reduce occupant injuries.
An object of the invention is to inflate a heavy duty airbag between the bulkhead/tunnel and the engine/transmission of an automobile thus absorbing the energy of the structure and engine during a collision in a gradual controlled manner which will make the deceleration pulse more efficient and reduce intrusions into the cockpit of the vehicle and reduce occupant injuries.
The inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag is inflated with controlled pressure into the space between the bulkhead/tunnel and the engine/transmission during a vehicle collision. The pressurised airbag reacts with force in a controlled manner between the reaction surfaces acting as an energy absorber so that the deceleration pulse of the vehicle is more efficient and the intrusions into the cockpit reduced.
A pyrotechnic inflator device, a stored gas device or a combination of the two of these types of inflator can inflate the inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag. Its performance can optimised using internal and external venting or throttles. It may be made from fabric, plastic, metals or a combination of all of these materials. It may be supported by the vehicle structure or the engine/transmission.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. - Shows a threedimensional view of the invention when inflated.
Figure 2. - Shows a two-dimensional cross section view of the invention along the centre/length of the vehicle when inflated.
As shown in Figure 1 the system comprises ofthe inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag 1 and its inflation device 2. The airbag is supported by the bulkhead 3 and tunnel 4 and is inflated into the space between the bulkhead/tunnel 3/4 and the engine 5 and transmission 6 A section view of the same setup is shown in Figure 2. The pressure in the airbag 1, which results from firing the inflation device 2, acts as an energy-absorbing device between the bulkhead/tunnel 3/4 and the engine/transmission 5/6 ofthe vehicle.

Claims (6)

1. The inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag is inflated into the space between the bulkhead/tunnel and the engine/transmission during a vehicle collision. The pressurised airbag reacts with force in a controlled manner between the reaction surfaces acting as an energy absorber so that the deceleration pulse of the vehicle is more efficient and the intrusions into the cockpit reduced.
2. The inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag as claimed in claim 1 can be supported by the vehicle structure or the engine and transmission.
3. The inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag as claimed in any proceeding claim may be inflated by a suitable pyrotechnic inflator device, stored gas inflator device or both.
4. The inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag as claimed in any proceeding claim may be optimised for the vehicle by use of internal and external vents or throttles.
5. The inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag as claimed in any proceeding claim may be made from fabric, plastic or metal or a combination of these materials.
6. An inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB0309568A 2003-04-26 2003-04-26 Inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag Withdrawn GB2400828A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0309568A GB2400828A (en) 2003-04-26 2003-04-26 Inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0309568A GB2400828A (en) 2003-04-26 2003-04-26 Inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0309568D0 GB0309568D0 (en) 2003-06-04
GB2400828A true GB2400828A (en) 2004-10-27

Family

ID=9957256

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0309568A Withdrawn GB2400828A (en) 2003-04-26 2003-04-26 Inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2400828A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2890354A1 (en) * 2005-09-02 2007-03-09 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Shock-absorbing system for protecting interior of vehicle in collision comprises air bag mounted between bulkhead and engine block
GB2435245A (en) * 2006-02-15 2007-08-22 Michael Smith & Associates Ltd Vehicle safety cell and luggage compartment
DE102017218450A1 (en) 2017-10-16 2019-05-02 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Arrangement for protecting a crash-sensitive vehicle component against the penetration of another vehicle component

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4414661A1 (en) * 1994-04-27 1995-11-02 Ford Werke Ag Vehicle chassis with a passenger compartment
GB2340799A (en) * 1998-08-19 2000-03-01 Rover Group An air bag arrangement for a vehicle engine compartment
EP1010586A2 (en) * 1998-12-18 2000-06-21 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Airbag arrangement in a vehicle engine compartment
WO2000050270A1 (en) * 1999-02-24 2000-08-31 Automotive Development Specialists Ltd. Inflatable protection apparatus
GB2354980A (en) * 1999-10-09 2001-04-11 Ford Global Tech Inc Vehicle with an inflatable device in front of the engine

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4414661A1 (en) * 1994-04-27 1995-11-02 Ford Werke Ag Vehicle chassis with a passenger compartment
GB2340799A (en) * 1998-08-19 2000-03-01 Rover Group An air bag arrangement for a vehicle engine compartment
EP1010586A2 (en) * 1998-12-18 2000-06-21 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Airbag arrangement in a vehicle engine compartment
WO2000050270A1 (en) * 1999-02-24 2000-08-31 Automotive Development Specialists Ltd. Inflatable protection apparatus
GB2354980A (en) * 1999-10-09 2001-04-11 Ford Global Tech Inc Vehicle with an inflatable device in front of the engine

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2890354A1 (en) * 2005-09-02 2007-03-09 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Shock-absorbing system for protecting interior of vehicle in collision comprises air bag mounted between bulkhead and engine block
GB2435245A (en) * 2006-02-15 2007-08-22 Michael Smith & Associates Ltd Vehicle safety cell and luggage compartment
GB2435245B (en) * 2006-02-15 2010-11-03 Michael Smith & Associates Ltd Vehicle safety cell
DE102017218450A1 (en) 2017-10-16 2019-05-02 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Arrangement for protecting a crash-sensitive vehicle component against the penetration of another vehicle component
DE102017218450B4 (en) 2017-10-16 2024-05-29 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Arrangement for protecting a crash-sensitive vehicle component against the penetration of another vehicle component

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0309568D0 (en) 2003-06-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5154229B2 (en) Safety device
US5975566A (en) Vehicle occupant restraint system
JP5276988B2 (en) Variable energy management system for pedestrians, passengers and vehicles
JP4057526B2 (en) Low profile airbag module design for overhead use
US5615914A (en) Inflatable metal bladders for automobile passenger protection
US6299209B1 (en) Protective device for motor vehicle occupants
US9669784B2 (en) Vehicle energy management system with load-bearing component in wheel cavity
US20130069352A1 (en) Airbag
EP1050439B1 (en) Vehicle having a roof mounted inflatable cushion
EP2116430B1 (en) Passenger airbag cushion having tether holder used in a vehicle
US20040262829A1 (en) Resilient and deformable member for absorbing kinetic energy
CN115210113A (en) Motor vehicle part expansion system for absorbing impacts in the event of an imminent collision
US20070182132A1 (en) Mounting bracket for rail mounted airbag inflator
JP5208930B2 (en) Knee restraint airbag device
KR100778579B1 (en) Mounting structure of curtain airbag for automobile
GB2400828A (en) Inflatable bulkhead/tunnel airbag
KR102263721B1 (en) Passenger Airbag Aparatus Of Vehicle
KR20090019261A (en) Mounting structure of air-bag module
WO2006030453A3 (en) Means for improving the safety of a vehicle
US9573549B2 (en) Inflator device with integral clamp stop
KR100410838B1 (en) Device for absorbing the shock of roof of overtuned vehicle
KR0125263Y1 (en) Airbag device in engine room of a car
KR0181845B1 (en) Device for preventing an airbag from injurying a passenger
US20030085558A1 (en) Micro airbag safety system
KR19980061354A (en) Automotive shock absorbers

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)