Airbag control device and airbag unit

Abstract

An airbag control device for controlling the volume of an airbag (10) of a restraining means, comprising an inflator (14) for inflating the airbag (10) and an electrically controllable decoupling device (22) for tension means via which the geometry of the airbag (10) can be varied, is characterized in that the inflator (14) and the decoupling device (22) are fluid-communicated and the decoupling device (22) includes at least one outlet opening (36) the cross-section of which is variable by an electrically controllable actuator (46) and through which gas can escape from the inflator (14) to the atmosphere. Moreover, the invention describes an airbag unit.

Claims

1. An airbag control device for controlling the volume of an airbag of a restraining means, comprising an inflator for inflating the airbag and an electrically controllable decoupling device for a tension means via which the geometry of the airbag can be varied, wherein the inflator and the decoupling device are fluid-communicated and the decoupling device includes at least one outlet opening the cross-section of which is variable via an electrically controllable actuator and through which gas can escape from the inflator to the atmosphere, wherein the decoupling device includes an outer housing that is mechanically coupled to an inflator housing or is formed in one part or integrally with the inflator housing.

2. The airbag control device according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling device includes a cylindrical outer housing and is fluid-coupled to the interior of the inflator via an open front end.

3. The airbag control device according to claim 1, wherein inside the airbag control device the inflator is separated in terms of flow from the at least one outlet opening, and in that the at least one or more outlet openings are disposed in such a way that they allow gas to flow through the airbag control device for flowing out of the interior of the airbag to the atmosphere.

4. The airbag control device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured so that it can both decouple the tension means and close the outlet opening.

5. The airbag control device according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling device includes a piston which is movable via the actuator and is adapted to decouple the tension means and/or to close the outlet opening.

6. The airbag control device according to claim 5, wherein the inflator is fluid-communicated with a piston chamber that includes, when the actuator is not activated, the at least one outlet opening which is open when the actuator is not activated.

7. The airbag control device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one outlet opening is provided in a cylinder wall guiding the piston.

8. The airbag control device according to claim 6, wherein the actuator acts on a side of the piston opposed to the piston chamber so as to move the piston into the piston chamber.

9. The airbag control device according to claim 5, wherein the outlet opening is disposed so that, by displacing the piston, the at least one outlet opening can be closed.

10. The airbag control device according to claim 5, wherein a device for retaining and/or releasing the tension means which is activated by displacing the piston is provided on the piston.

11. The airbag control device according to claim 10, wherein the device includes a hook fastened to the piston on which hook the tension means is detachably fastened, wherein the tension means protrudes through an opening in the outer housing into the interior of the decoupling device so as to be disposed there on the hook.

12. The airbag control device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a pyrotechnical actuator.

13. An airbag unit comprising an airbag having a panel on which at least one tension means is fastened, and comprising an airbag control device according to claim 1, wherein, in the non-activated state of the airbag, the tension means is fastened on the airbag control device and is detached from the airbag control device, when the decoupling device is activated.

14. The airbag unit according to claim 13, wherein the airbag control device is arranged inside the airbag and the at least one or more outlet openings are arranged so that they allow gas to flow through the airbag control device for flowing out of the interior of the airbag to the atmosphere.

15. The airbag unit according to claim 13, wherein the airbag is configured as a side airbag unit to be mounted on a vehicle seat frame of a vehicle seat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following description of the following drawings which are referred to, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic section across an airbag unit according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section across a variant of the airbag control device according to the invention that can be used for the airbag unit according to FIG. 1, namely when tension means are not released,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section across the airbag control device according to FIG. 2 when tension means are released,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic section across the airbag unit according to FIG. 1 when tension means are released, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section across another airbag unit according to the invention comprising another embodiment of the airbag control device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 illustrates an airbag unit comprising an airbag 10, especially a side airbag, having an outer panel 12.

(8) An inflator 14 serves for deploying the airbag 10. Inside the airbag 10 one or more tethers 16 (tension means) is/are provided which help define the depth of the airbag 10.

(9) The tethers 16 are fastened, at their rear end, to an airbag control device shown in FIG. 2 that includes an inflator 14 having an inflator housing 20 as well as a decoupling device 22 mechanically directly connected to the inflator 14 and having an outer housing 24 in the form of a cylindrical tube.

(10) The inflator housing 20, too, comprises a cylindrical tube.

(11) The two tubes are nested or otherwise directly connected to each other, for example screwed or caulked to each other or integrally formed.

(12) The front end of the outer housing 24 facing the inflator 14 is open in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 so that an overflow channel 26 is provided.

(13) Pyrotechnical material 28 inside the inflator 14 can be triggered by an electrical igniter so that gas can flow through openings 30 in the inflator housing 20 to the outside and into the airbag 10 for deployment thereof.

(14) The decoupling device 22 includes an axially movable piston 32 in its interior, wherein a piston chamber 34 is formed between the piston 32 and the inflator 14 in the home position shown in FIG. 2. In the home position shown in FIG. 2, the piston 32 is maximally spaced apart from the inflator 14. In said position, the outer housing 24 includes one or more outlet openings 36 in the area of the piston chamber 34.

(15) Moreover, distanced less than the outlet openings 36 from the inflator, a plug opening 38 through which the end of the tether 16 or a joint end of the plural tethers 16 extends is provided in the outer housing 24. Said end denoted with the reference numeral 40 is a type of eye, for example, which is slipped onto a hook 42 that is permanently fastened with the piston 32 and extends into the piston chamber 34.

(16) On the end of the piston 32 opposed to the inflator 14, an electrically controllable pyrotechnical actuator 46 is provided which, upon activation, causes gas to flow into a working chamber 48.

(17) FIG. 2 symbolically illustrates that the decoupling device 22 electrically controllable by the electrically controllable actuator 46 protrudes from the airbag 10 at least in the area of the outlet openings 36.

(18) As will further be explained in the following, the actuator 46 is adapted, by moving the associated piston 32, to decouple the tether 16 or tethers 16 serving as tension means from the decoupling device 22 as well as to close the outlet openings 36.

(19) Hereinafter, the functioning of the airbag unit and the airbag control device will be illustrated by means of FIGS. 1 to 4. When the inflator 14 is activated electrically via a central control system, preferably even before an impact of the vehicle, gas is generated which flows through the openings 30 into the airbag 10 and deploys the latter. Gas passes through the channel 26 into the piston chamber 34 and via the outlet openings 36 to the atmosphere. The tether or tethers 16 remain active, i.e., they remain fastened on the hook 42 and result in a smaller width B of the airbag 10.

(20) Excess gas flows via the exposed outlet openings 36 to the atmosphere. Nevertheless, the airbag 10 is sufficiently inflated.

(21) If the airbag is intended to have a larger volume and a larger width B (cf. FIG. 4), the actuator 46 is activated simultaneously with or slightly delayed vis-à-vis the inflator 14. Then the piston 32 moves along with the hook 42 in the direction of the inflator 14. The piston 32 closes the outlet openings 36 so that gas is only allowed to flow into the airbag 10 through the openings 30. By shifting the hook 42 while simultaneously retaining the eye due to the plug opening 38, the hook 42 detaches from the end 40 so that the tether or tethers 16 is/are released and is/are detached from the decoupling device 22. Thus, the tethers or the tether 16 is no longer anchored, and the airbag 10 can adopt the configuration having a larger inflation volume shown in FIG. 4.

(22) Even the movement of the piston 32 can take place already before the actual crash.

(23) A securing device 60 in the form of an elastic detent lug on the outer housing 24 maintains the displaced piston 32 in the displaced final position.

(24) In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, inside the airbag control device no direct flow communication is present between the inflator 14 and the decoupling device 22. The entire airbag control device is accommodated inside the airbag 10. Gas generated by the inflator 14 flows through the outlet openings 30 into the interior of the airbag and ensures deployment thereof.

(25) Part of the gas that ensures the deployment may flow out of the airbag 10, namely via the outlet openings 36, as long as the piston 32 has not been displaced. The outlet openings 36 are arranged opposed to each other, for example, and allow a flow through the decoupling device 22 just as in the case of an outlet valve (see arrows in FIG. 5). The airbag 10 includes an opening 70 which is aligned with an abutting outlet opening 36. The flow communication between the inflator 14 and the outlet openings of the decoupling device 22 of the airbag control device is effectuated especially via the interior of the airbag.

(26) If, however, the decoupling device 22 is activated and the piston 32 moves over the outlet openings 36, a flow through the decoupling device 22 and gas flowing out of the airbag 10 are inhibited.

(27) Preferably, the release of the tether 16 so that the airbag can adopt a larger volume and a larger width B (see FIG. 4) as well as the closing of the outlet openings 36 by the piston 32 are carried out in the same way as in an airbag control device in accordance with FIGS. 2 and 3.