GB2476241A - Post airbag deployment protective extraction of substances - Google Patents

Post airbag deployment protective extraction of substances Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2476241A
GB2476241A GB0921869A GB0921869A GB2476241A GB 2476241 A GB2476241 A GB 2476241A GB 0921869 A GB0921869 A GB 0921869A GB 0921869 A GB0921869 A GB 0921869A GB 2476241 A GB2476241 A GB 2476241A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
debris
chemicals
gases
hvac
airbag
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Withdrawn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
GB0921869A
Other versions
GB0921869D0 (en
Inventor
Jeremy Ross Green
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0921869A priority Critical patent/GB2476241A/en
Publication of GB0921869D0 publication Critical patent/GB0921869D0/en
Publication of GB2476241A publication Critical patent/GB2476241A/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B5/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use of air flow or gas flow
    • B08B5/04—Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
    • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
    • B60H1/00642—Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices
    • B60H1/00735—Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
    • B60H1/00764—Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
    • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
    • B60H1/00642—Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices
    • B60H1/00814—Control systems or circuits characterised by their output, for controlling particular components of the heating, cooling or ventilating installation
    • B60H1/00821—Control systems or circuits characterised by their output, for controlling particular components of the heating, cooling or ventilating installation the components being ventilating, air admitting or air distributing devices
    • B60H1/00828—Ventilators, e.g. speed control
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
    • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
    • B60H1/24—Devices purely for ventilating or where the heating or cooling is irrelevant
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
    • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
    • B60H1/24—Devices purely for ventilating or where the heating or cooling is irrelevant
    • B60H1/248—Air-extractors, air-evacuation from the vehicle interior
    • 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
    • B60R21/164—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags combined with vehicle venting means for reducing or avoiding the passenger compartment overpressure during inflation
    • 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
    • B60R2021/0027—Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services

Abstract

The invention relates to automotive airbags and post deployment protection. An airbag gas, chemical and debris extraction system utilises the vehicle's airbag control unit (ACU) and air distribution system to evacuate harmful gas, chemicals and debris vented into the occupant environment by the deployment of the airbags. Deployed airbags AB1-AB8 vent gases, chemicals and debris represented by cloud (G) into the occupant environment. The airbag control unit (ACU) sends a signal to the HVAC system (H), this increases the Fan Speed to it maximum (HM) and reverses the air flow direction of the system. The gases, chemicals and debris represented by cloud (G) are evacuated through the HVAC system in the direction of the arrows and vented externally through the system intake (I1).

Description

PAGE 1 Title Automotive Airbags -Post Deployment Protection
Background
This Invention relates to the Extraction of the Gases, Chemicals and Debris created during and after the Deployment of an Automotive Occupant Protection Airbag.
When an Airbag System is deployed the Gases, Chemicals and Debris used and created to inflate and lubricate the airbag are vented into the occupant environment.
These Gases, Chemicals and Debris are harmful to the occupants either by inhalation or contact to the skin and eyes.
This can lead to 2 main types of Occupant Injury: Asthma Injury -Occupants with asthma may develop an asthmatic attack from inhaling Gas, Chemicals & Debris.
Chemical Injury -Chemical injuries may occur from bums caused by the Gas & Chemicals emitted from the air bags and by breathing problems caused by the Gas & Chemicals emitted from deflating air bags. Chemical injuries also include burns to the face and other parts of the body including eye injury.
Statement of Invention
This invention extracts the Gases, Chemicals and Debris vented into the Occupant Environment by utilizing and adapting the vehicles current Air Distribution System (HVAC) & Airbag Control Unit (ACU).
Advantages The extraction of Gases, Chemicals and Debris from the Occupant Environment will ensure that the Airbag Systems designed to protect the Occupant minimises the harmful effects of exposure to Gases, Chemicals and Debris once the airbags have fulfilled their primary function.
This system utilises existing vehicle components, i.e. ACU (Airbag Control Unit), Cockpit Interior Ducting and HVAC or Heater motors.
Preferably, the system can be reset and a set time interval when the Occupant Environment is clean'.
Preferably, the extraction can be performed by the HVAC Motor being powered in the reverse direction' or by a series of Ducting Flaps reversing the airflow.
PAGE 2
Introduction to Drawings
An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Sheet 1/7 Figure 1 -Side View of a Vehicles Occupant (Driver) seated in position with the HVAC System and the normal' operating Airflow Direction.
Sheet 2/7 Figure 2 -Plan View of a vehicle with the HVAC or Heater & Air Distribution System and the Deployed or Inflated Airbags. The ACU is shown as the actuator for the System and the Gases Chemicals & Debris extracted in the direction of the arrows eventually venting outside the vehicle. The Gas & Debris is represented by a Cloud (G) in the Occupant Environment.
Sheet 3/7 Figure 3 -Side View of a vehicles occupant (Driver) seated in position with the HVAC System and the reversed' operating Airflow Direction obtained by reversing the HVAC Fan Motor Direction.
Sheet 4/7 Figure 4 -Side View of a vehicles occupant (Driver) seated in position with the HVAC System and the reversed' operating Airflow Direction obtained by Directional Flaps' reversing the Airflow Direction.
Sheet 5/7 Figure 5 -Isometric View of a vehicles HVAC or Heater & Air Distribution System with the Gases, Chemicals & Debris from Deployed Airbags represented as a Cloud (G) evacuated from the Occupant Environment through the HVAC System in the direction of the arrows.
Sheet 6/7 Figure 6 -Side View of a vehicles HVAC or Heater & Air Distribution System and the Deployed or Inflated Airbags. The ACU is shown as the actuator for the System with the Gases, Chemicals & Debris extracted following the direction of the arrows.
Sheet 7/7 Figure 7 -Plan View of a vehicle with the HVAC or Heater & Air Distribution System and the Deployed or Inflated Airbags. The ACU is shown as the actuator for the System and the Gases, Chemicals & Debris extracted in the direction of the arrows eventually venting outside the vehicle. The Gas & Debris is represented by a Cloud in the Occupant Environment.
PAGE 3
Detailed Description
A Passenger Vehicles Heater or HVAC System currently operates by drawing air externally of the vehicle, conditioning the air and distributing it air via outlets of the occupants choice; Upwards to the Windshield, towards the Occupants, downwards to the foot wells or a combination of all 3.
This is represented on Sheet 1/7 Figure 1.
Air enters the system (H) at Inlet 1 (11) powered by the HVAC System Motor (HM) and is distributed to the occupant via 3 Principal Outlets (01, 02 & 03) In a Crash scenario, impact on of vehicle is detected by the vehicles Airbag Control Unit (ACU), that measures rapid acceleration or deceleration' and fires' the required airbags.
The airbags inflate to protect the vehicles occupant(s), when they have fulfilled their function deflate by venting to the occupant environment.
The venting exposes the occupant(s) to harmful gases, chemicals and debris.
This is represented on Sheet 2/7 Figure 2.
The Airbag Control Unit (ACU) signals the Airbags to inflate, the gases, chemicals and debris that are created during and post deployment are represented by a cloud (G).
The Airbags are illustrated for a Left Hand Drive Vehicle by: Passenger Airbag -Instrument Panel (AB 1) Drivers Airbag -Steering Wheel (AB 2) Passenger Airbag -Knee Bolster (AB 3) Drivers Airbag -Knee Bolster (AB 4) Side Curtain -RHS (AB 5) Side Curtain -LHS (AB 6) Passenger Front Seat (AB 7) Drivers Front Seat (AB 8) PAGE 4 Gases, Chemicals and Debris created during and post deployment may incorporate, for example, a combination of nitroguanidine, phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) or other nonmetallic oxidizer, and a nitrogen-rich fuel different than azide (eg. tetrazoles, triazoles, and their salts).
The burn rate modifiers in the mixture may be an alkaline metal nitrate (N03-) or nitrite (N02-), or its salts, sodium borohydride (NaBH4), etc. The coolants and slag formers may be eg. clay, silica, alumina, glass, etc. Other alternatives are eg. nitrocellulose based propellants (which have high gas yield but bad storage stability, and their oxygen balance requires secondary oxidation of the reaction products to avoid buildup of carbon monoxide), or high-oxygen nitrogen-free organic compounds with inorganic oxidizers (e.g., di or tricarboxylic acids with chiorates (C103-) or perchlorates (HC1O4) and metallic oxides or nitrogen oxides).
The Airbag Cushion is an open system and a certain amount of venting occurs during the Airbag Inflation but the majority of venting is when the airbag has deployed and protected the vehicle occupants, deflation begins immediately as the gases, chemicals and debris escapes, by design, through vents in the cushion and cools. The gages, chemicals and debris are often referred to as effluent. Most of this debris consists of cornstarch, French chalk, or talcum powder, which are used to lubricate the airbag during deployment.
With exposure to air, it quickly turns into sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
However, this transformation is not 100% complete, and invariably leaves residual amounts of hydroxide ion from NaOH. Depending on the type of airbag system, potassium chloride may also be present.
These Chemicals, Gases and Debris are represented on Sheets 2/7-7/7 inc.
on figures 2 -7 inc. by a cloud (G) This invention extracts the Gases, Chemicals and Debris vented into the Occupant Environment by utilising the Vehicles Current Air Distribution System This represented by 2 versions of the Extraction System on Sheets 3/7 Figure 3 & 4/7 Figure 4.
PAGE 5 The Principle of the Invention is the same for both versions. The Chemicals, Gases and Debris are extracted from the Occupant Environment using the existing or an adaptation of the existing air distribution system.
This is represented by Figure 7 on Sheet 7/7.
The Airbag Control Unit (ACU) when actuated by crash conditions sends the signals to deploy the relevant airbag (AB 1-8), Airbag Control Unit also sends a signal to the HVAC (H) to extract air from the occupant environment working in the reverse direction of airflow to its principle design. The Chemicals, Gases and Debris are represented by cloud (G) are then extracted via the HVAC Outlets (01-3 sheet 3/7 fig 3 & 01-3 sheet 4/7 fig 4).
Sheet 5/7 Figure 5 & Sheet 6/7 Figure 6 shows how the Chemicals, Gases and Debris represented by cloud (G) extracted from the occupant environment through the Windshield Outlet (01) the Face Vents (02) and the Foot well Vents (03) powered by the HVAC Motor and expelled outside the vehicles occupant environment through the HVAC Intake (I 1) Two Methods of the Extraction System are shown on Sheets 3/7 Figure 3 & 4/7 Figure 4.
Sheets 3/7 Figure 3 shows the Reverse Motor Method.
The Airbag Control Unit (ACU) when actuated on crash conditions sends the signal to deploy the relevant airbags (AB 1-8), the Airbag Control Unit also sends a signal to the HVAC (H), this signal reverses the direction of the HVAC (H) Motor (HM) and increases the Motor Speed to maximum which extracts the Chemicals, Gases and Debris represented by cloud (G) from the occupant environment working in the reverse action to its principle design.
The HVAC normal operating outlets (01,02 & 03) would suck' the Chemicals, Gases and Debris represented by cloud (G) out of the occupant environment to exhaust via the HVAC Intake (I 1).
This reverse maximum speed would operate for a set time until the occupant environment is clean' and reset to the HVAC pre-activation settings.
PAGE 6 Sheets 4/7 Figure 4 shows the Reverse Ducted Method.
The Airbag Control Unit (ACU) when actuated on crash conditions sends the signal to deploy the relevant airbags (AB 1-8), the Airbag Control Unit also sends a signal to the HVAC (H), this signal Open and Closes Vents or Flaps represented as (VF) this reverses the direction of the Air Flow and increases the Motor Speed to maximum which extracts the Chemicals, Gases and Debris represented by cloud (G) from the occupant environment working in the reverse action to its principle design. The HVAC normal operating outlets (01, 02 & 03) would suck' the Gases, Chemicals and Debris represented by cloud (G) out of the occupant environment to exhaust via the HVAC Intake (I 1).
This maximum speed & directional vents would operate for a set time until the occupant environment is clean' and reset to the HVAC pre-activation settings
GB0921869A 2009-12-15 2009-12-15 Post airbag deployment protective extraction of substances Withdrawn GB2476241A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0921869A GB2476241A (en) 2009-12-15 2009-12-15 Post airbag deployment protective extraction of substances

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0921869A GB2476241A (en) 2009-12-15 2009-12-15 Post airbag deployment protective extraction of substances

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0921869D0 GB0921869D0 (en) 2010-01-27
GB2476241A true GB2476241A (en) 2011-06-22

Family

ID=41667102

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0921869A Withdrawn GB2476241A (en) 2009-12-15 2009-12-15 Post airbag deployment protective extraction of substances

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2476241A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104670145A (en) * 2013-11-27 2015-06-03 博世汽车部件(苏州)有限公司 Method and device for providing automobile safety buffer

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2950179A1 (en) * 1979-12-13 1981-06-19 Ing.(grad.) Heinz 4390 Gladbeck Hölter Fresh air intake for car - has filtered by=pass with reverse flow purging
US5246083A (en) * 1989-07-07 1993-09-21 Audi Ag Inflatable air bag for motor vehicles
US5320383A (en) * 1993-07-02 1994-06-14 General Motors Corporation Automatic venting supplemental inflatable restraint system
US5323872A (en) * 1990-11-15 1994-06-28 Nsk Ltd. Automotive vehicle equipped with air bag system
DE10123209A1 (en) * 2001-05-12 2002-12-19 Volkswagen Ag Pressure equalization arrangement for vehicle used when airbag is triggered provides opening to exterior via existing air channels to release compressed air and minimize internal pressure increase

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2950179A1 (en) * 1979-12-13 1981-06-19 Ing.(grad.) Heinz 4390 Gladbeck Hölter Fresh air intake for car - has filtered by=pass with reverse flow purging
US5246083A (en) * 1989-07-07 1993-09-21 Audi Ag Inflatable air bag for motor vehicles
US5323872A (en) * 1990-11-15 1994-06-28 Nsk Ltd. Automotive vehicle equipped with air bag system
US5320383A (en) * 1993-07-02 1994-06-14 General Motors Corporation Automatic venting supplemental inflatable restraint system
DE10123209A1 (en) * 2001-05-12 2002-12-19 Volkswagen Ag Pressure equalization arrangement for vehicle used when airbag is triggered provides opening to exterior via existing air channels to release compressed air and minimize internal pressure increase

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104670145A (en) * 2013-11-27 2015-06-03 博世汽车部件(苏州)有限公司 Method and device for providing automobile safety buffer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0921869D0 (en) 2010-01-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN102910134B (en) Car driver and passenger life-saving escape system and operation method
US6179326B1 (en) Efficient airbag system
US6139052A (en) Dual variable inflatable safety system
US6648367B2 (en) Integrated occupant protection system
US6733036B2 (en) Automotive electronic safety network
US5246083A (en) Inflatable air bag for motor vehicles
US20070228703A1 (en) Inflator system
JP5099619B2 (en) Front passenger airbag housing structure
US5323872A (en) Automotive vehicle equipped with air bag system
US7070201B2 (en) Low risk deployment passenger airbag system
US9731674B2 (en) Airbag assembly including depressed region below steering column
CN110325408B (en) Vehicle occupant restraint device and method for operating a vehicle occupant restraint device
WO2013090111A1 (en) Active airbag venting system
KR20190101540A (en) Airbag apparatus for vehicle
Swanson-Biearman et al. Air bags: lifesaving with toxic potential?
US5441303A (en) System and method for gas bag inflation and deflation
CN102529867A (en) Integrated airbag device of motor vehicle
GB2476241A (en) Post airbag deployment protective extraction of substances
JP2007153027A (en) Occupant protection device
CN205890819U (en) Double -deck air bag in side
CN111497777A (en) Novel expansion type safety airbag assembly
CN206186973U (en) Prevent to produce air bag of piece
US20080111360A1 (en) Knee airbag module for vehicle
WO2018169628A1 (en) Dash panel exterior mounted passenger airbag
CN111169348A (en) Automobile safety seat capable of quickly protecting head in emergency

Legal Events

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