Autoliv Development Ab

Ernst Wittmann

Joachim Huber

Ralf Zauritz

Rainer Wallentin

Christoph Goertz

Udo Laube

Jutta Schlosser

Peter Lechner

A side airbag () for a motor vehicle comprises an airbag shell that surrounds a gas compartment and has at least one opening. A hose () has an outlet opening () and is located on the outside of the airbag shell. When the hose is in a state in which it is not under pressure, the hose connects the opening () to the outlet opening (), and thereby to the surrounding area. The hose () comprises a first section (), which is situated at the height of the opening (), and a second section (), which connects the first section () to the outlet opening (). The ventilation arrangement composed of the opening () and the hose () is used to make the side airbag hard for a large occupant and soft for a small occupant. In order to improve the behavior of the side airbag for a small occupant, without impairing the behavior thereof for a large occupant, the maximum cross-section of the first section () is larger than the minimum cross-section of the second section ().

Side airbag having hose as ventilation opening

A side air-bag for use in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The side air-bag is formed from two superimposed layers () of a laminar material such as fabric. Each layer () has a leading edge () and a trailing edge (). The air-bag includes at least one internal tether () which extends from the leading edges () to the trailing edges (), with the length d of the tether being less than the width D of the elements () forming the airbag between the leading edge () and a trailing edge () at a point where the tether () is positioned.

Air-bag

Described is a gas generator unit comprising of a cylindrical gas generator (), the lateral surface () of which demonstrates emission holes () arranged in a thrust-neutral manner within a ring-shaped area (), and a deflector element (), which is rigidly connected to the gas generator () and is made of a heat resistant material and at least surrounds the ring-shaped area () at least partially. To make the gas generator harmless in the event of a fire, the deflector element () demonstrates, in an inflow area () opposite the ring-shaped area (), borings (), which are sealed by at least one blocking element () made of a meltable or combustible material, the borings being arranged in such a manner that the gas generator unit is thrust-neutral in the absence of the blocking element ().

Gas generator unit

An airbag for use in motor vehicles having two or more chambers, which is simple to manufacture, low-cost and not susceptible to disturbances. The airbag is configured such that the chambers can have different internal pressures in case of airbag activation since a dividing seam between the chambers of the airbag is configured to act as a gas stream divider and direct differing quantities of gas into the chambers.

Air-bag assembly for a motor vehicle

A fastening arrangement for an airbag module in motor vehicles wherein the gas generator is fastened by means of at least one stay bolt and nut screwed thereupon. The bolt is designed for the gas generator and penetrating through at least one hole of a retaining member that serves for mounting the airbag module and fastening to a vehicle part. An electrical insulating shell and washer are arranged between the gas generator and the retaining member to prevent spurious voltage signals from communicating with the gas generator, which can lead to inadvertent airbag deployment.

Growing community of inventors

Hebertshausen, Germany

Ernst Wittmann