Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi – Assembling or disassembling of distinct members
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-14
2001-06-19
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi
Assembling or disassembling of distinct members
C053S116000, C053S244000, C053S427000, C053S449000, C493S244000, C493S405000, C493S940000, C280S728100, C280S743100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06248052
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for the folding of an inflatable airbag for motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Methods and apparatuses of this kind serve to fold together an inflatable airbag to a size which permits the folded airbag to be mounted in a vehicle as a part of an airbag module for example as a driver's, a passenger's or a side airbag. In this the airbag must be folded in such a manner that it can unfold as quickly as possible and without damage to the airbag jacket in the event of a collision.
It is known from DE 195 36 625 A1 to fold an airbag in ring shape, with the open and the closed end of the airbag already being brought together at the beginning of the folding process.
It is known from DE 195 35 564 A1 to gather together an airbag which is spread out on a horizontal surface within a fixed height profile in the direction towards a centre.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problem (object) lying at the basis of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for the folding of an inflatable airbag by means of which an airbag can be folded as simply and rapidly as possible in such a manner that it can unfold ideally in the event of a collision.
The solution of this problem takes place through the features of claim
1
, which relates to the folding method, and in particular in that an airbag to be folded is fastened with its open end at a carrier; in that a preferably substantially cylindrical piston is pushed forward into the airbag through an opening in the carrier and against the closed end of the airbag; and in that the carrier and the piston are introduced into a sleeve, with the airbag being pressed together irregularly.
Through the pushing in of the piston into the airbag, when the carrier and the piston have been introduced into the sleeve, there is a ring space between the inner wall of the sleeve and the piston which serves as a folding space and in which the airbag jacket is pressed together to the desired height in a direction parallel to the piston. The ring-shaped folding of the airbag which thereby arises permits a radial unfolding of the airbag jacket.
In accordance with the invention the folding of the airbag need not take place within a space with a predetermined height. In addition the airbag or the airbag jacket respectively is not necessarily laid together in a defined and predictable manner, but is pressed or crumpled together so that an admittedly ring-shaped but otherwise arbitrary or “chaotic” folding arises; which nevertheless permits a rapid and ideal unfolding of the airbag in the radial direction. Furthermore, through the provision of the piston during the pressing together of the airbag, the gas generator need not be involved.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the piston is pressed forward against the closed end of the airbag until one or more preferably band-like connection elements which are arranged in the interior of the airbag and which connect the closed end of the airbag to the open end of the airbag or to the carrier are tensioned.
Through this the closed end of the airbag is held firmly on a folding axis defined by the piston during the folding process so that it defines a centre about which the airbag jacket is laid in folds in ring shape. The danger that the closed end of the airbag arrives into a position which is laterally displaced with respect to the folding axis and thus into the region of the airbag jacket, which is folded in the shape of a ring, which would lead to an indefinite, no longer radial unfolding of the airbag, is avoided in this way.
In accordance with a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, prior to the folding together of the airbag to its final packing size the piston is moved into a final position in the vicinity of a base element and preferably so close to the base element that a region of the closed end of the airbag is pressed against the base element.
Through this it is ensured that only a single layer of the airbag jacket is located between the base element and the gas generator, which is placed into the space which is held free by the piston after the completion of the folding process.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention the airbag is pressed into a covering of an airbag module, with the covering comprising a base element and a wall section which is connected to the base element.
The manufacture of an airbag module which is ready for mounting is considerably accelerated in this way, since after the completion of the folding process the pressed together airbag is already located in its housing, which is formed by the covering and in which it is mounted in the vehicle.
In accordance with a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention the airbag is pressed together about the piston prior to the introduction of the carrier into the sleeve and is preferably pushed approximately in the horizontal direction in the direction towards the piston by pusher elements which are distributedly arranged about the piston.
It is thereby ensured that the airbag is not clamped in between the carrier and a boundary region which borders on an introduction opening of the sleeve when the carrier is introduced into the sleeve.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention the preferably pressed together airbag is allowed to fall downwardly into the sleeve prior to the introduction of the carrier into the sleeve.
Prior to the pressing together of the airbag to the final packing size the airbag consequently hangs down from the carrier in ring shape about the piston so that it can first unfold already as a result of its own weight alone and can then be pressed together to the desired height in particular without undercutting.
The solution of the problem (object) lying at the basis of the invention also takes place through the features of claim
12
, which relates to the folding apparatus, and in particular in that a carrier at which an airbag to be folded can be fastened with its open end, a preferably substantially cylindrical piston which can be pushed forward into the airbag through an opening which is formed in the carrier and against the closed end of the airbag, and a sleeve are provided into which the carrier and the piston can be introduced, with the carrier, the piston and/or the sleeve being movable relative to one another for the pressing together of the airbag.
Through the invention a simply constructed and variably applicable folding apparatus is created which provides a space with variable height and by means of which the airbag or the airbag jacket respectively can be pressed together to an arbitrary height without it being necessary to involve the gas generator in this.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention a carrier element of the carrier is releasably connected to a subassembly of an airbag module which preferably comprises a base plate and/or a preferably ring-shaped holder element, with the base plate preferably corresponding to the free inner cross-sectional surface of the sleeve in regard to shape and size.
The carrier for the fastening of the airbag to be folded is formed in this by the base plate, the holder element and the carrier element so that when the connection between the carrier element and the base plate or the holder element respectively is released after the completion of the folding process, a substantial subassembly of the airbag module is finished.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention relating both to the folding method and to the folding apparatus are set forth in the subordinate claims, in the description and in the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5803483 (1998-09-01), Lunt
patent: 5960611 (1999-10-01), Aigner et al.
patent: 5984852 (1999-11-01), Heudorfer et al.
patent: 6115998 (2000-09-01), Reh et al.
patent: 195 36 625 A1 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 195 46 232 A1 (1995-12-01), None
patent: 19516264C1 (1996-05-01), None
patent: 196 48 654 A1 (1996-11-01), None
patent: 19535564 (1997-03
Kleeberger Peter
Shaw William Thomas
Strasser Christian
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Desai Hemant M
Marra Kathryn A.
Vo Peter
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for the folding of an inflatable airbag does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for the folding of an inflatable airbag, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for the folding of an inflatable airbag will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2439957