AIRBAG MODULE AND VEHICLE SEAT AND VEHICLE OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention describes an airbag module (10) comprising an airbag (12), an elongate gas generator (14) and a diffusor (16), wherein the gas generator (14) includes an outer housing (18) with outflow openings (20) distributed over the circumference (U) which define an outflow area (22), wherein the outflow area (22) of the gas generator (14) is enclosed by the diffusor (16), wherein the diffusor (16) has a central mount hole (24) into which the outer housing (18) protrudes so that the diffusor (16) circumferentially encloses an axial portion of the outer housing (18) which comprises the outflow area (22), wherein the diffusor (16) includes at least one contact face (26, 26a) and at least two gas guiding surfaces (28a, 28b) on the inner face of the diffusor (16) delimiting the mount hole (24), wherein the contact face (26, 26a) is directly adjacent to the outer housing (18) of the gas generator (14) and the gas guiding surfaces (28a, 28b) are radially spaced apart from the outer housing (18) while forming at least a first collection chamber (30a) and a second collection chamber (30b) into which gas flowing out of the outflow area (22) flows, wherein the first collection chamber (30a) opens into at least one first outlet opening (32a) and the second collection chamber (30b) opens into at least one second outlet opening (32b), wherein the first collection chamber (30a) is separated from the second collection chamber (30b) by the at least one contact face (26) specifically in the form of a separating web (34), wherein the diffusor (16) is completely arranged in an inflatable internal volume of the airbag (12), wherein the airbag (12) comprises at least a first airbag chamber (36a) and a second airbag chamber (36b) which are separated from each other, wherein the gas flowing into the first collection chamber (30a) flows, via the first outlet opening (32a), into the first airbag chamber (36a) of the airbag (12) and the gas flowing into the second collection chamber (30b) flows, via the second outlet opening (32b), into the second airbag chamber (36b) of the airbag (12).

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. An airbag module (10) comprising an airbag (12), an elongate gas generator (14) and a diffusor (16), wherein the gas generator (14) has an outer housing (18) with outflow openings (20) distributed over the circumference (U) which define an outflow area (22), wherein the outflow area (22) of the gas generator (14) is enclosed by the diffusor (16), wherein the diffusor (16) has a central mount hole (24) into which the outer housing (18) protrudes so that the diffusor (16) circumferentially encloses an axial portion of the outer housing (18) comprising the outflow area (22), wherein the diffusor (16) has at least one contact face (26, 26a) and at least two gas guiding surfaces (28a, 28b) on the inner face of the diffusor (16) delimiting the mount hole (24), wherein the contact face (26, 26a) is directly adjacent to the outer housing (18) of the gas generator (14) and the gas guiding surfaces (28, 28b) are radially spaced apart from the outer housing (16) while forming at least a first collection chamber (30a) and a second collection chamber (30b) into which gas flowing out of the outflow area (22) flows, wherein the first collection chamber (30a) opens into at least a first outlet opening (32a) and the second collection chamber (30b) opens into at least a second outlet opening (32b), wherein the first collection chamber (30a) is separated from the second collection chamber (30b) by the at least one contact face (26) specifically in the form of a separating web (34), wherein the diffusor (16) is completely arranged in an inflatable internal volume of the airbag (12), wherein the airbag (12) comprises at least a first airbag chamber (36a) and a second airbag chamber (36b) which are separated from each other, wherein the gas flowing into the first collection chamber (30a) flows, via the first outlet opening (32a), into the first airbag chamber (36a) of the airbag (12) and the gas flowing into the second collection chamber (30b) flows, via the second outlet opening (32b), into the second airbag chamber (36b) of the airbag (12).

15. The airbag module (10) according to claim 14, wherein the outflow area (22) of the gas generator (14) comprises a first axial zone (38a) and a second axial zone (38b) which are separated from each other by a separating area (40) of the outer housing (18) without any outflow openings (20), wherein the contact face (26) of the diffusor (16) in the form of a separating web (34) is positioned in the separating area (40) between the first axial zone (38a) and the second axial zone (38b).

16. The airbag module (10) according to claim 14, wherein the diffusor (16) distributes a gas flow formed by the gas exiting the outflow area via the first and second collection chambers (30a, 30b) evenly on a percentage basis or unevenly on a percentage basis to the first and second airbag chambers (36a, 36b).

17. The airbag module (10) according to claim 16, wherein a positioning of the contact face (26) in the form of the separating web (34) and or a proportion of the first axial zone (38a) to the second axial zone (38b) determine(s) the percentage distribution of the gas flow.

18. The airbag module (10) according to claim 17, wherein the proportion of the first axial zone (38a) to the second axial zone (38b) can be adapted by the number and/or size of the outflow openings (20) in the first axial zone (38a) and the second axial zone (38b).

19. The airbag module (10) according to claim 14, wherein the airbag (12) includes a diffusor mount (44) in an airbag chamber partition (42).

20. The airbag module (10) according to claim 19, wherein the diffusor mount (44) includes a sealing element (46).

21. The airbag module (10) according to claim 14, wherein an internal pressure of the first airbag chamber (36a) in a completely filled state of the airbag (12) is higher or lower than an internal pressure of the second airbag chamber (36b).

22. The airbag module (10) according to claim 14, wherein the airbag (12) is a side airbag (12a) or a central airbag.

23. The airbag module (10) according to claim 22, wherein an airbag chamber (36a, 36b) is a shoulder chamber.

24. The airbag module (10) according to claim 14, wherein the airbag (12) is a curtain airbag (12b).

25. A vehicle seat (50), comprising an airbag module (10, 10a) according to claim 14, wherein the airbag module (10, 10a) is arranged in the vehicle seat (50).

26. The vehicle seat (50) according to claim 25, wherein the airbag module (10, 10a) is arranged in a backrest (52) of the vehicle seat (50).

27. A vehicle occupant safety system (60), comprising at least one vehicle seat (50) according to claim 25.

28. A vehicle occupant safety system (60), comprising at least one airbag module (10, 10a, 10b) according to claim 14.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be evident from the following description of an embodiment that is not to be understood as limiting and by means of the drawings, wherein

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic lateral view of a vehicle comprising a vehicle occupant safety system according to the invention with different embodiments of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a schematic partial representation of a second embodiment of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged schematic representation of an inflation area of a third embodiment of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective representation of an axial end of a gas generator which can be used for an airbag module according to the invention,

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective representation of a diffusor which can be used for an airbag module according to the invention, and

[0037] each of FIGS. 7 a) to c) shows an enlarged schematic representation of an inflation area of a fourth, fifth and sixth embodiment of an airbag module according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 62 comprising a vehicle occupant safety system 60 according to the invention for a vehicle occupant 64 which includes plural airbag modules 10 according to the invention. FIG. 1 shows, of the vehicle occupant safety system 60, an airbag module 10b with an airbag 12 in the form of a curtain airbag 12b and an airbag module 10a with an airbag 12 in the form of a side airbag 12a in a deployed state and a non-activated further airbag module 10a arranged laterally in the backrest 52 of the rear vehicle seat 50.

[0039] The airbag module 10b including the curtain airbag 12b is arranged in the area of a roof edge 66 of the vehicle 62, the gas generator 14 of the airbag module 10b being arranged in the area of the B-pillar 68.

[0040] The airbag modules 10a are disposed in the backrests 52 of each of the front and rear vehicle seats 50.

[0041] Airbag modules 10 according to the invention can also be disposed in the seat surface 54 of the vehicle seat 50, for example, and/or in the instrument panel 56 of the vehicle 62 and can be in the form of a central airbag, knee airbag and/or front airbag, for example (not shown).

[0042] The airbag 12 in the form of a side airbag 12a of the airbag module 10a has a first airbag chamber 36a and a second airbag chamber 36b which are separated from each other by an airbag chamber partition 42, see also FIG. 2.

[0043] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the first airbag chamber 36a is a shoulder chamber and the second airbag chamber 36b is a thorax chamber. The chamber volume of the first airbag chamber 36a is smaller than the chamber volume of the second airbag chamber 36b. In this case, the gas generator 14 of the airbag module 10a is arranged substantially in the internal volume of the airbag 12 in the form of a side airbag 12a, the diffusor 16 that deflects the gas flowing out of the gas generator 14 and distributes the same to the internal volume of the side airbag 12a being arranged completely in the internal volume of the side airbag 12a.

[0044] The diffusor is arranged, in the shown embodiment, in a diffusor mount 44 disposed in the airbag chamber partition 42. The airbag chamber partition 42 of the airbag 12 in the form of a side airbag 12a is configured to be substantially gas-tight in the shown side airbag 12a. The diffusor mount 44 of the airbag chamber partition 42 moreover comprises a sealing element 46 that is capable of strongly restricting or at best preventing overflow of gas from the first airbag chamber 36a into the second airbag chamber 36b at least during the filling operation of the side airbag 12, 12a. Accordingly, the sealing element 46 engages a bead 35 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) which is formed by the contact face 26 in the form of a separating web 34.

[0045] The diffusor 16 comprises a first collection chamber 30a from which, via a first outlet opening 32a, the gas (represented by the arrow Ga) flowing out of the gas generator 14 into the first collection chamber 30a can flow into the first airbag chamber 36a of the side airbag 12a, and a second collection chamber 30b from which, via a second outlet opening 32b, the gas (represented by the arrow Gb) flowing out of the gas generator 14 into the second collection chamber 30b can flow into the second airbag chamber 36b of the side airbag 12a. The gas flow formed by the gas flowing out of the outflow area 22 (see also FIGS. 4 to 7) of the gas generator 14 is distributed substantially evenly on a percentage basis to the first and second airbag chambers 36a and 36b via the first and second collection chambers 30a and 30b. In this way, the first airbag chamber 36a has a higher internal pressure than the second airbag chamber 36b and is moreover filled more quickly.

[0046] In such a side airbag 12a, the first airbag chamber 36a can thus be quickly inflated at a high internal pressure so that it urges against the shoulder of the vehicle occupant 64 and moves the vehicle occupant 64 away from the side structure of the vehicle 62 in such a way that the second airbag chamber 36b can be positioned better between the vehicle occupant 64 and the side structure of the vehicle 62.

[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of the injection area of the airbag module 10b with the airbag 12 in the form of a curtain airbag 12b which serves for the protection of the head area of the vehicle occupant 64. The curtain airbag 12b shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 includes a first airbag chamber 36a for the front vehicle occupants 64 and a second airbag chamber 36b for the rear vehicle occupants 64 having chamber volumes different in size (in FIG. 1 only the front vehicle seat 50 is occupied by a vehicle occupant 64). The uneven percentage distribution of the gas flow via the first collection chamber 30a and the second collection chamber 30b of the diffusor 16 can help achieve a substantially even filling of the first front airbag chamber 36a and the second rear airbag chamber 36b. The first front airbag chamber 36a and the second rear airbag chamber 36b are separated from each other by the tubular diffusor mount.

[0048] The diffusor 16 is located in the internal volume of the airbag 12 in the form of a curtain airbag 12b in a tubular diffusor mount 45 such that the gas flowing out of the first outlet opening 32a of the first collection chamber 30a (shown by the arrow Ga) flows into the first airbag chamber 36a and the gas flowing out of the second outlet opening 32b of the second collection chamber 30b (shown by the arrow Gb) flows into the second airbag chamber 36b of the curtain airbag 12b.

[0049] The gas flow formed by the gas flowing out of the outflow area 22 (see also FIGS. 4 to 7) of the gas generator 14 is unevenly distributed on a percentage basis to the first and second airbag chambers 36a and 36b via the first and second collection chambers 30a and 30b. Thus, a substantially even filling of the first front airbag chamber 36a and the second rear airbag chamber 36b can be obtained, although they have chamber volumes different in size (see FIG. 1). Accordingly, it is not necessary to seal the tubular diffusor mount 45 against the outer wall of the diffusor 16, as the first and second airbag chambers 30a and 30b in this example have substantially the same internal pressure. The gas generator 14 can be additionally fixed with the diffusor 16 in the diffusor mount 45 of the airbag 12, where necessary, via an outboard airbag fastener such as a clamp, a retaining strap or a clip collar (not shown).

[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates a detail view of the injection area of a third embodiment of an airbag module 10 according to the invention. The already introduced reference symbols are maintained for the individual elements which differ only as to their shape and/or position but not as to their function.

[0051] The airbag 12 in this case also includes an airbag chamber partition 42 with a diffusor mount 44 comprising a sealing element 46. The sealing element 46 is connected, in the area of the diffusor mount 44, to the airbag chamber partition 42 via a seam 48. The seam 48 can be, for example, a stitched seam, a welded seam, in particular an ultrasonic weld, a bonded seam or else a combination of the afore-mentioned seams. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the diffusor mount 44 can be formed merely by an opening in the airbag chamber partition 42 into which the diffusor is introduced so that, via the first outlet opening 32a, the first airbag chamber 30a can be filled with gas and, via the second outlet opening 32b, the second airbag chamber 30b can be filled with gas.

[0052] The diffusor 16 (see also FIG. 6 showing an alternative embodiment of the diffusor 16) includes a mount hole 24 into which the outer housing 18 of the gas generator 14 protrudes so that the diffusor 16 circumferentially encloses an axial portion of the outer housing 18 which comprises the outflow area 22 including the outflow openings 20. The outflow openings 20 are distributed over the circumference U in the outer housing 18 and define the outflow area 22 of the gas generator 14 (see also FIG. 5).

[0053] The diffusor 16 shown here includes contact faces 26 and 26a as well as two gas guiding surfaces 28a and 28b on the inner face delimiting the mount hole 24. The contact faces 26 and 26a are directly adjacent to the outer housing 18 of the gas generator 14. The gas guiding surfaces 28a and 28b are radially spaced apart from the outer housing 18 while forming a first collection chamber 30a and a second collection chamber 30b. The first collection chamber 30a and the second collection chamber 30b are separated from each other by the contact face 26 in the form of a separating web 34. The separating web 34 forms a bead 35 which the sealing element 46 of the diffusor mount 44 engages.

[0054] The gas flowing into the first collection chamber 30a flows via the first outlet opening 32a into the first airbag chamber 36a of the airbag 12 and the gas flowing into the second collection chamber 30b flows via the second outlet opening 32b into the second airbag chamber 36b of the airbag 12.

[0055] In this embodiment, the contact face 26 in the form of a separating web 34 abuts in the outflow area 22 such that several of the outflow openings are covered and, thus, closed by the contact face 26. Via positioning the contact face 26 in the form of the separating web 34, in this case the percentage distribution of the gas flow formed by the gas exiting the outflow area 22 to the first and second airbag chambers 30a and 30b can be adapted to the respective purpose of the airbag 12.

[0056] Further, via the collection chambers 30a and 30b of the diffusor 16, the gas flow exiting the outflow area 22 of the outer housing 18 of the gas generator 14 in the radial direction r (shown by the arrow GGG) is deflected to the substantially axial outflow directions Ga and Gb.

[0057] FIGS. 7a) to c) show a detail view of fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments of an airbag module 10 according to the invention. The already introduced reference symbols are maintained for the individual elements which differ only as to their shape and/or position but not as to their function, and substantially the differences from the preceding embodiments are emphasized.

[0058] The airbag modules of FIGS. 7 a) to c) include a diffusor 16 as it is detailed in FIG. 6. The embodiments shown in FIG. 7 differ from the embodiments of the preceding Figures particularly by the design of the outer housing 18 of the gas generator 14.

[0059] The outflow area 22 of the gas generator 14 includes a first axial zone 38a and a second axial zone 38b in the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 7. The first axial zone 38a and a second axial zone 38b are separated from each other by a separating area 40 of the outer housing 18 which includes no outflow openings 20,

[0060] The contact face 26 of the diffusor 16 in the form of a separating web 34 is positioned in the separating area 40 between the first axial zone 38a and the second axial zone 38b.

[0061] The proportion of the first axial zone 38a to the second axial zone 38b in these embodiments determines the percentage distribution of the gas flow. In the shown embodiments, the proportion of the first axial zone 38a to the second axial zone 38b is determined by the number of the outflow openings 20 which are arranged in each of the first axial zone 38a and the second axial zone 38b.

[0062] In FIG. 7 a), the outflow openings 20 are distributed to the first and second axial zones 38a and 38b such that, in the area of the first axial zone 38a, approximately two thirds of the gas flow exit into the first collection chamber 30a and, in the second axial zone 38b, approximately one third of the gas flow exits into the second collection chamber 30b.

[0063] In FIG. 7 b), the outflow openings 20 are distributed to the first and second axial zones 38a and 38b such that, in the area of the first axial zone 38a, approximately one third of the gas flow exits into the first collection chamber 30a and, in the second axial zone 38b, approximately two thirds of the gas flow exit into the second collection chamber 30b.

[0064] In FIG. 7 c), the outflow openings 18 are distributed symmetrically/evenly to the first and second axial zones 38a and 38b so that approximately half of the gas flow in the first axial zone 38a exits into the first collection chamber 30a and half of the gas flow in the second axial zone 38b exits into the second collection chamber 30b.

[0065] As a matter of course, the skilled person can also produce other percentage ratios of the gas flow distribution to the first axial zone 38a and the second axial zone 38b by a distribution and/or a size of the outflow openings 20 adapted to the purpose of the airbag module 10.

[0066] It is the advantage of such an embodiment that the diffusor 16 can be designed as a standard component: An adaptation of the percentage gas distribution which is in particular dependent on the intended purpose and the intended mounting position of the airbag 12 of the respective airbag module 10 can be brought about in a simple and low-cost manner by an adaptation to the outer housing 18. Accordingly, the outer housing 18 is adapted preferably by an adaptation of the number and/or the size of the outflow openings 20 associated with the first and second axial zones 38a and 38b in the outflow area 22 of the outer housing 18 of the gas generator 14.