Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1993-01-05
1995-01-03
Tyson, Karin L.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
222 5, 422165, B60R 2126
Patent
active
053780183
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a process for quickly inflating a gas cushion in a safety system of the air bag type in which at least two pressurized filling gases are stored being shielded from each other. Instead of the filling gases, initially only the starting material(s) of one or both filling gases can be stored. In case of need, for instance upon a crash-characteristic signal, the filling gases are released from their reservoirs; if necessary, the starting material(s) of one or more filling gases is/are first ignited due to the crash-characteristic signal and then produce(s) the filling gas. The released filling gases are then concentrated and finally inflate the gas cushion or air bag (generic title of claim 1).
The invention also relates to a safety system comprising a gas cushion of the air bag type which is quickly inflatable if need be, for instance in the above-mentioned case of crash, in particular for carrying out the aforementioned process. The safety system comprises at least two pressure tanks, each storing a pressurized filling gas or possibly at first only the starting material(s) thereof. In addition, in the case of crash gas outlets adapted to be forced open are provided to release and concentrate the filling gases. If, instead of the filling gases, only the starting materials thereof are stored, they are initially ignited in the case of crash to produce the filling gases (generic title of claim 10).
Safety systems of the air bag type are generally adapted to be used, also within the present invention, for inflatable life vests, life-boats, signal balloons or the like. They are known in particular as so-called passive safety systems for motor vehicles, for example from DE-PS 21 18 817 as well as DE-OS 21 18 816, DE-OS 21 31 902, DE-OS 21 43 165, DE-OS 21 43 166 and DE-OS 22 37 461 filed by the applicants.
A gas cushion, also referred to as air bag, is generally spoken a flexible, bag-like envelope which can be inflated very quickly in the case of accident. In motor vehicles an air bag safety system is intended to inflate the air bag very quickly in the case of accident and to position the inflated air bag between the driver and the steering wheel (driver system) or between a passenger and the dashboard or other parts of the vehicle body (front passenger system). Hereby the passengers of the vehicle are to be received softly in the case of accident. It is a substantial requirement of such a safety system that the air bag must be inflated quickly, for instance within 30 ms. After inflation the air bag is regularly deflated into the passenger compartment again.
Safety systems which operate exclusively on the basis of solid matter generators, as they are called, are known. In that case, a pyrotechnical charge, for instance sodium azide (NAN.sub.3) is ignited and then burns off rapidly, while combustion gases are developed. The combustion gases, also referred to as generator gas, have a temperature of about 1200.degree. C. They are used to inflate the air bag.
Pure solid matter generator systems have drawbacks. The hot combustion gases require a special configuration of the air bag so that it is adapted to resist the high temperatures. Herefor the air bag is provided at its inside with a temperature-resistant rubber coating to protect the air bag from thermal destruction. Moreover, the rubber coating acts as an insulating layer to prevent the person to be received by the air bag from suffering burns. In order to keep the rubber coating of the air bag soft and operative, the surface thereof is powdered with talcum. When inflating the air bag, the talcum is swirled up and escapes together with the hot combustion gases into the passenger compartment, when the air bag is deflated. As a consequence, the driver's visibility is obstructed. This may result in a so-called secondary crash.
It is a substantial further drawback of solid matter generator systems that only a 60 to 70% combustion of the pyrotechnic charge takes place. The unburnt residue is discharged with the combustion gases from the solid m
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Brigitte Ketterer
Conzelmann Ralf
Fritz Raimund
Ketterer, deceased Dieter
Moeller Tilo
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