Airbag Module and Airbag System

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag module (16) and an airbag system (18) having an airbag module (16) of this kind, wherein the airbag module (16) has an airbag (22) and a gas generator (30), between which a gas supply (32) with a valve arrangement (34) is arranged, wherein the valve arrangement (34) has an electrically actuatable pilot valve (36) and a hydraulic gearing arrangement (52) for amplifying a stroke action of the pilot valve (36).

Claims

1. An airbag module (16), having: an airbag (22) which is filled with a pressurized airbag gas (24) during operation; a gas generator (30) for providing the pressurized airbag gas (24); and a gas supply (32) between the gas generator (30) and airbag (22) for supplying the provided pressurized airbag gas (24) from the gas generator (30) into the airbag (22); wherein a valve arrangement (34) for releasing a predefined mass flow ( ) of the pressurized airbag gas (24) from the gas generator (30) is arranged in the gas supply (32), wherein the valve arrangement (34) has an electrically actuatable pilot valve (36) for controlling the predefined mass flow ( ) of the airbag gas (24) and a hydraulic gearing arrangement (52) for amplifying a stroke action of the pilot valve (36).

2. The airbag module (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic gearing arrangement (52) has a control chamber (58) which is fluidically connected via a connecting bore (60) and via a throttle bore (62), which is arranged separately from the connecting bore (60), with the gas generator (30), and which is fluidically connected via an outlet bore (64) with the airbag (22), wherein a closing element (66) for sealing and releasing a valve seat (68) in the connecting bore (60) or in the outlet bore (64) is arranged in the control chamber (58), wherein the closing element (66) is configured as a separating element (70) which subdivides the control chamber (58) into a first control chamber region (72) and into a second control chamber region (74) which is separate from the first control chamber (58).

3. The airbag module (16) according to claim 2, characterized in that the throttle bore (62) fluidically connects the first control chamber region (72) with the gas generator (30), wherein the pilot valve (36) for controlling a fluid pressure (P.sub.F) of the airbag gas (24) is configured in the first control chamber region (72).

4. The airbag module (16) according to claim 2, characterized in that an inlet bore (56) to the pilot valve (36) forms a fluidic connection of the control chamber (58) to the pilot valve (36), wherein an outlet bore (78) of the pilot valve forms a fluidic connection of the pilot valve (36) to the airbag (22).

5. The airbag module (16) according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting bore (60) connects the gas generator (30) with the second control chamber region (74).

6. The airbag module (16) according to claim 2, characterized in that the closing element (66) is configured such that a first pressure-action surface (A.sub.1) on the closing element (66) from a side of the first control chamber region (72) is greater than a second pressure-action surface (A.sub.2) from a side of the connecting bore (60) in which the valve seat (68) is formed, or from a side of the outlet bore (64) in which the valve seat (68) is formed.

7. The airbag module (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pilot valve (36) is configured as a normally closed pilot valve (36) and has a compression spring (54) which biases a pilot valve element (40) into a closing position (66) onto a pilot valve seat (42) in the inlet bore (56), wherein the compression spring (54) fixes an opening pressure (P.sub.off) of the pilot valve (36) in particular in such a manner that the opening pressure (P.sub.off) is greater than a prevailing high pressure (P.sub.H) of the airbag gas (24) in the gas generator (30) due to the activation of the gas generator (30).

8. The airbag module (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pilot valve (36) is configured as a normally open pilot valve (36) and has a compression spring (54) which biases a pilot valve element (40) into a defined opening position.

9. An airbag system (18), having: an airbag module (16) according to claim 1; and a control device (28) for actuating the pilot valve (36), wherein the control device (28) is designed to identify a collision course and, based on the identified collision course, to define a mass flow ( ) of the airbag gas (24) to be supplied to the airbag (22).

Description

[0035] Advantageous configurations of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a motor vehicle which is approaching an obstacle along a time axis t;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a snapshot at a collision time t.sub.0 of the vehicle from FIG. 1 with the obstacle, if an airbag module in the interior of the vehicle is activated;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of the airbag module from FIG. 2 with a valve arrangement, in which a pilot valve is configured as a normally closed pilot valve;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a detailed representation of a hydraulic gearing arrangement for the pilot valve from FIG. 3;

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the valve arrangement from FIG. 3, wherein the pilot valve is configured as a normally open pilot valve;

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of the airbag module from FIG. 2 with a valve arrangement, in which a pilot valve is configured as a normally closed pilot valve;

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a detailed representation of a hydraulic gearing arrangement for the pilot valve from FIG. 6; and

[0043] FIG. 8 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the valve arrangement from FIG. 6, wherein the pilot valve is configured as a normally open pilot valve.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a motor vehicle 10 which is approaching an obstacle 12, with which it will in all probability crash. The approaching process is depicted over time with reference to a time axis with a passage of time t, wherein to defines a collision time, i.e. the time at which the motor vehicle 10 and the obstacle 12 will make contact.

[0045] The motor vehicle 10 has a sensor 14 which captures a speed of the motor vehicle 10 and a distance from the obstacle 12. The speed and the distance are parameters which are detected over time before the probable collision, and from which it is possible to calculate a probable collision course.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows an interior view (top) and an exterior view (bottom) of the motor vehicle 10 from FIG. 1 as a snapshot at the time t.sub.0 of the collision.

[0047] In the interior view, a snapshot of an activation of an airbag module 16 of an airbag system 18 in the motor vehicle 10 can be seen, if, as is depicted in the exterior view of the motor vehicle 10, the motor vehicle 10 has collided with the obstacle 12.

[0048] In order to protect an occupant 20 in the motor vehicle 10 from injuries, an airbag 22 of the airbag module 16 is filled with an airbag gas 24, as a result of which it deploys and separates the occupant 20 from hard parts of the motor vehicle 10. As a result, injuries of the occupant 20 can be avoided.

[0049] In the motor vehicle 10 a further sensor 26 is arranged, which captures characteristics of the occupant 20 such as, for example, his size and his weight.

[0050] On the basis of the parameters which the sensors 14, 26 capture, it is possible to calculate a collision course of the unavoidable collision in advance, and to establish at which pre-determined times to and how much the airbag 22 has to be inflated, in order to be able to provide the occupant 20 with maximum protection.

[0051] To this end, a control device 28 captures signals of the sensors 14, 26 and establishes the probable collision course from said signals. As a result, the control device 28 can define which mass flow {dot over (m)} of the airbag gas 24 has to be supplied to the airbag 22.

[0052] To ensure that the airbag 22 can be specifically filled in accordance with the predicted collision course, a special airbag module 16 is provided, which is shown in FIGS. 3 to 8 in a schematic longitudinal sectional view.

[0053] A first embodiment of the airbag module 16 is initially described with respect to FIG. 3. The airbag module 16 has, in addition to the airbag 22, a gas generator 30 which provides the airbag gas 24 for the airbag 22. In this case, it is possible that the airbag gas 24 is provided via a cold gas generator and is, consequently, present in a gaseous form from the outset. It is, however, also possible that a pyrotechnic gas generator 30 is used, wherein a solid propellant is located in the gas generator 30, which solid propellant is initially ignited in order to liberate the airbag gas 24 when necessary.

[0054] A gas supply 32 is arranged between the airbag 22 and the gas generator 28, via which the airbag gas 24 can be conducted from the gas generator 30 to the airbag 22.

[0055] A valve arrangement 34 is arranged in the gas supply 32, which valve arrangement has an electrically actuatable pilot valve 36 which can thus be specifically actuated via the control device 28 such that the gas supply 32 can be specifically opened or respectively sealed. Thus, a mass flow {dot over (m)} of the airbag gas 24 supplied from the gas generator 30 to the airbag 22 can be controlled specifically and in a predefined manner.

[0056] The pilot valve 36 has a valve region 38, in which a pilot valve element 40 interacts with a pilot valve seat 42, in order to hold the pilot valve 36 in a closing position.

[0057] The pilot valve 36 further has an actuator region 44 which, in an electrically actuated condition, exerts a movement force B on the pilot valve element 40 so that the pilot valve element 40 moves between its closing position and its opening position.

[0058] The actuator region 44 has magnetic elements such as a stationary pole piece 46 and a movable anchor 48, wherein the anchor 48 is coupled to the pilot valve element 40. As a result, the anchor 48 transfers its movement to the pilot valve element 40. In order to induce the movement of the anchor 48, the actuator region 44 comprises a coil 50 which is energized for this reason.

[0059] The coil 50 configures a magnet with the magnetic elements of the pilot valve 36.

[0060] Normally, it would be sufficient if the pilot valve element 40 were to seal the gas generator 30, so that by simply opening and closing the pilot valve element 40, a mass flow {dot over (m)} from the gas generator 30 to the airbag 22 could be regulated.

[0061] To this end, a relatively large magnet is, however, necessary, which requires a relatively large installation space in the airbag module 16 and is, in addition, relatively inert as well.

[0062] Therefore, it is now proposed in the embodiments described below to interpose a hydraulic gearing 52 between the gas generator 30 and the pilot valve 36, which intensifies a stroke of the pilot valve element 40. As a result, the pilot valve 36 and, consequently, also the magnet arrangement can be configured considerably smaller and therefore require less installation space and can switch very quickly.

[0063] The pilot valve 36 in FIG. 3 is configured as a normally closed pilot valve 36, i.e., in the unenergized condition, the pilot valve element 40 is located in its closing position. To this end, it is biased by a compression spring 54 in the direction of the closing position. In the closing position, the pilot valve element 40 seals an inlet bore 56 to the pilot valve 36, wherein the inlet bore 56 forms the connection of the pilot valve 36 to the hydraulic gearing arrangement 52.

[0064] The hydraulic gearing arrangement 52 is formed from a control chamber 58 which is fluidically connected both via a connecting bore 60 and via a throttle bore 62 with the gas generator 30. The connecting bore 60 and the throttle bore 62 are bores which are arranged separately from one another, which bores open out into the control chamber 58 or respectively into the gas generator 30 at different positions. The control chamber 58 is also fluidically connected via the inlet bore 56 with the pilot valve 36. The control chamber 58 is further fluidically connected via an outlet bore 64 with the airbag 22. In the control chamber 58, a closing element 66 is arranged, which seals a valve seat 68 which, in the first embodiment shown, is arranged in the connecting bore 60. The closing element 66 is configured as a separating element 70 and subdivides the control chamber 58 into a first control chamber region 52 and a second control chamber region 74, wherein the two control chamber regions 72, 74 are separate from one another. The separating element 70 separates the two control chamber regions 72, 74 fluidically from one another, but is nevertheless movably arranged within the control chamber 58.

[0065] The throttle bore 62 has an aperture 76 and fluidically connects the gas generator 30 with the first control chamber region 72. The pilot valve 36 is also fluidically connected via the inlet bore 56 with the first control chamber region 72.

[0066] The connecting bore 60 fluidically connects the gas generator 30 with the second control chamber region 74.

[0067] The closing element 66 is configured as a ball in the present embodiment, on which ball both a fluid pressure P.sub.F of the airbag gas 24 present in the respective control chamber region 72, 74 acts from the side of the first control chamber region 72 and from the side of the second control chamber region 74.

[0068] This is shown in a detailed representation in FIG. 4. The first control chamber region 72 forms a first volume V.sub.1, in which the airbag gas 24 acts on the upper surface of the closing element 66. This creates a relatively large first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 on the closing element 66 from the side of the first control chamber region 72.

[0069] The second control chamber region 74 forms a second volume V.sub.2 with a corresponding second pressure-action surface A.sub.2 which acts from below on the closing element 66 from the side of the second control chamber region 74. The region in the connecting bore 60, which is sealed with the closing element 66, additionally forms a third volume V.sub.3 with a corresponding third pressure-action surface A.sub.3 from below onto the closing element 66.

[0070] The second and third pressure-action surface A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 are added up and counteract the first pressure-action surface A.sub.1.

[0071] The action of the valve arrangement 34, which is shown in the first embodiment in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, is as follows:

[0072] The hydraulic gearing arrangement 52 has the movable closing element 66 in the form of a ball and is actuated by the pilot valve 36. The pilot valve 36 can, as shown in FIG. 3, be normally closed. It is, however, also possible that the pilot valve 36, as shown in FIG. 5, is provided as a normally open pilot valve 36. The selection of the type of the pilot valve 36 is dependent on the safety concept of the airbag system 18.

[0073] In the case of the normally closed variant in FIG. 3, the pilot valve 36 seals the inlet bore 56 by the compression spring 54, without current being applied to the coil 50 with the pilot valve element 40. The compression spring 54 is clamped in a region between the anchor 48 and the pole piece 46. When current is applied to the coil 50, a magnetic field and, as a result, a magnetic force is produced between the anchor 48 and the pole piece 46, which acts against the force of the compression spring 54. At the time at which the force of the compression spring 54 is overcome by the magnetic force between the movable anchor 48 and the stationary pole piece 46, the pilot valve 36 switches. The spacing between the movable anchor 48 and the stationary pole piece 46 is reduced and the pilot valve element 40 releases the cross-section of the inlet bore 56. As a result, the airbag gas 24 can flow through the inlet bore 56. The airbag gas 24 is discharged via an outlet bore 78 of the pilot valve 36 to the airbag 22.

[0074] The hydraulic gearing arrangement 52 is executed as a seat valve. This means that the closing element 66 seals the valve seat 68. The diameter of the valve seat 68 is smaller than the diameter of the closing element 66, since the latter is configured as a ball. The third pressure-action surface A.sub.3 in the region of the connecting bore 60 is formed by the diameter of the valve seat 68. The first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 in the first control chamber region 72 is determined by the outside diameter of the closing element 66. The first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 in the first control chamber region 72 is greater than the third pressure-action surface A.sub.3 on the valve seat 68. If the closing element 66 is therefore supplied from both sides with the same fluid pressure P.sub.F, a greater force acts from the first control chamber region 72 due to the larger first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 than from the region of the valve seat 68. As a result, the closing element 66 closes and rests on the valve seat 68.

[0075] Following activation of the gas generator 30, the fluid pressure P.sub.F in the connecting bore 60 increases. The fluid pressure P.sub.F is therefore present in the region of the valve seat 68 at the closing element 66. The pilot valve 36 in the normally closed variant is closed. Thanks to the stagnation pressure, airbag gas 24 can flow through the aperture 76 into the first control chamber region 72. After a short time, the fluid pressure P.sub.F in the first control chamber region 72 has equalized with the fluid pressure P.sub.F in the region of the valve seat 68. The closing element 66 continues to seal the connecting bore 60.

[0076] In order to meter a quantity of the airbag gas 24 to the outlet bore 64 and, consequently, to the airbag 22, the pilot valve 36 is supplied with current, as a result of which the pilot valve 36 releases the inlet bore 56. As a result, the fluid pressure P.sub.F in the first control chamber region 52 drops, the closing element 66 switches and releases the cross-section in the region of the valve seat 68 towards the outlet bore 64. The mass flows r from the outlet bore 64 and the outlet bore 78 are collected and supplied to the airbag 22.

[0077] In order to stop the mass flow {dot over (m)} of the airbag gas 24 to the airbag 22, the pilot valve 36 is closed again.

[0078] Thanks to the actuation of the pilot valve 36, a quantity of the airbag gas 24 can be supplied to the airbag 22 once or repeatedly.

[0079] In FIG. 4, the area ratios of the pressure-action surfaces A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 corresponding to the volumes V.sub.1, V.sub.2, V.sub.3 in the different regions of the control chamber 58 are depicted in the detailed representation. In the connecting bore 60 from the gas generator 30, the third pressure-action surface A.sub.3 acts within the seat diameter of the valve seat 68 on the closing element 66. In the second control chamber region 74, i.e. in the second volume V.sub.2, a pressure from the outlet bore 64 to the airbag 22 or respectively from the airbag 22 acts on the lower second pressure-action surface A.sub.2 of the closing element 66. The second pressure-action surface A.sub.2 is located between the outside diameter of the closing element 66 and the seat diameter of the valve seat 68. The pressure in said region is very much lower than in the connecting bore 60. The forces on the closing element 66 act in the same direction on the closing element 66.

[0080] In the first control chamber region 72, the corresponding first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 acts on the outside diameter of the closing element 66. The direction of action of the force on the closing element 66 is in the opposite direction to the forces on the pressure-action surfaces A.sub.2 and A.sub.3. If a higher pressure prevails in the first control chamber region 72, the force on the first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 is greater than the total of the forces on the pressure-action surfaces A.sub.2 and A.sub.3. The closing element 66 closes and seals against the valve seat 68. If the prevailing pressure in the first control chamber region 72 is lower, the force on the first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 is smaller than the total of the forces on the second and third pressure-action surface A.sub.2 and A.sub.3. The closing element 66 opens and releases the connecting bore 60 and, consequently, the throughput to the airbag 22 via the outlet bore 64.

[0081] In the longitudinal sectional view in FIG. 5, a valve arrangement 34 which corresponds in its mode of action to the valve arrangement 34 from FIG. 3 is shown, wherein the difference merely consists of the pilot valve 36 in FIG. 3 being configured as a normally closed pilot valve 36 and the pilot valve 36 in FIG. 5 being configured as a normally open pilot valve 36. To this end, the components of the actuator region 44, in particular the pole piece 46, the anchor 48 and the compression spring 54, are arranged correspondingly.

[0082] The compression spring 54 in FIG. 3 ensures that the pilot valve 36 is securely closed. To this end, an opening pressure P.sub.off of the pilot valve 36, which is determined by the biasing force of the compression spring 54, is above a high pressure P.sub.H of the airbag gas 24 in the gas generator 30, which is to be expected on activating the gas generator 30.

[0083] In the case of the pilot valve 36 in FIG. 5, a biasing force of the compression spring 54 is designed such that the pilot valve 36 is held in the opening position, wherein the pilot valve element 40 takes up a defined opening position.

[0084] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the valve arrangement 34, wherein the pilot valve 36 or respectively the entire actuator region 44 is configured in accordance with the first embodiment in FIGS. 3 to 5. Merely the hydraulic gearing arrangement 52 differs in the second embodiment from that in the first embodiment.

[0085] In the case of the second embodiment, the pressure-action surfaces A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 are, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 7, transposed compared with the first embodiment. The second pressure-action surface A.sub.2 between the outside diameter of the closing element 66 and the seat diameter of the valve seat 68 acts in the connecting bore 60 from the gas generator 30. In the region of the third volume V.sub.3, the pressure from the outlet bore 64 to the airbag 22 or respectively from the airbag 22 acts on the third pressure-action surface A.sub.3 of the closing element 66. The second pressure-action surface A.sub.2 is located between the outside diameter of the closing element 66 and the seat diameter of the valve seat 68. The fluid pressure P.sub.F in said region is very much lower than in the connecting bore 60. The forces on the closing element 66 act in the same direction on the closing element 66.

[0086] In the first control chamber region 72, the corresponding first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 acts on the outside diameter of the closing element 66. The direction of action of the fluid pressure P.sub.F on the first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 is in the opposite direction to the force on the two pressure-action surfaces A.sub.2 and A.sub.3. If the prevailing fluid pressure P.sub.F in the first control chamber region 72 is high, the force on the first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 is greater than the total of the forces on the two pressure-action surfaces A.sub.2 and A.sub.3. The closing element 66 closes and seals against the valve seat 68. If the prevailing fluid pressure P.sub.F in the first control chamber region 72 is low, the force on the first pressure-action surface A.sub.1 is smaller than the total of the forces on the two pressure-action surfaces A.sub.2 and A.sub.3. The closing element 66 opens and releases the throughput to the airbag 2.

[0087] In the second embodiment, the valve seat 68, on which the closing element 66 sits in the closing position, is not formed on the connecting bore 60, but on the outlet bore 64.

[0088] The valve arrangement 34 in FIG. 6 merely differs from the valve arrangement 34 in FIG. 8 in that the valve arrangement 34 has, in FIG. 6, a normally closed pilot valve 36 and the valve arrangement 34 has, in FIG. 8, a normally open pilot valve 36.

[0089] The advantage of the embodiments described above is that the entire valve arrangement 34 can, in each case, be constructed in a very robust and compact manner, wherein the closing element 66 is configured very simply. Thanks to the construction in the pre-controlled construction form with the aid of the pilot valve 36, it is possible to control large mass flows m with a relatively small pilot valve 36. By exchanging the pilot valve 36 from a normally opened construction form to a normally closed construction form, the utilization of the biased pilot valve element 40 and the pressure tap in front of the mass flow-limiting aperture 76, a variant constellation of different hydraulic gearing arrangements 52 can be produced relatively simply in accordance with the safety concept of the airbag system 18.