Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Autoliv Development Ab

Shawn Gregory Ryan

Scott David Thomas

James Lloyd Webber

Mark Thomas Winters

Laura Adelle Hawthorn

Stephanie L Dunkle

Allen Richard Starner

Ryan Todd Pinsenschaum

Robert Raymond Niederman

John Paul Sparkman

Joachim Borowski

Patrick W Schatz

Margaret Ann Fisher

Steven Aurel Damian

Gary R Greib

Ann L Kneisly

Conrad Oehlerking

Matthew A Ault

Ruprecht Sinnhuber

Charles M Woods

Graham Thornton Spencer

Jeffrey Allen Welch

Michael Joseph Vendely

Michael Allen Schenck

Connie M Hardig

Chantal S Parenteau

Alex Scott Damman

Bryan T Waid

Srinivasan V Raman

Ruprecht Sinnuber

Stephanie L Taylor

Michael J Wolanin

An inflation device for an airbag module, the inflation device comprising: a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having a first volume of inflation gas and the second chamber having a second volume of inflation gas; a first inflation opening for allowing the first volume of inflation gas to pass therethrough and a first sealing member, the first sealing member sealing the first inflation opening; a second inflation opening for allowing the second volume of inflation gas to pass therethrough and a second sealing member, the second sealing member sealing the second inflation opening, the second inflation opening being substantially smaller than the first inflation opening; a conduit member for providing fluid communication with the first inflation opening and the second inflation opening; an initiator for removing a portion of the first sealing member from the first inflation opening; and a puncture device disposed within the conduit member, the puncture device being configured to remove a portion of the second sealing member when the portion of the first sealing member is removed from the first sealing opening, wherein the first volume of inflation gas glows from the first volume at a first flow rate and the second volume of inflation gas flows from the second volume at a second flow rate, the second flow rate being smaller than the first flow rate, wherein the second inflation gas flows from the second volume for a period of time longer than the first volume flows from the first volume.

Apparatus and method for providing extended inflator output

An inflatable cushion and method of making an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle, comprising: a first inflatable portion having an opening providing fluid communication into a low permeable inflation chamber of the first inflatable portion; a second inflatable portion having an opening providing fluid communication into a low permeable inflation chamber of the second inflatable portion; a fluid dispersing conduit being in fluid communication with the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion, the fluid dispersing conduit comprising an inlet opening configured to receive an inflation force for inflating the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion, wherein the fluid dispersing conduit traverses a gap between the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion; and a non-inflatable member disposed in the gap between the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion, wherein the non-inflatable member reduces the required size of the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion.

Side airbag and method of manufacture

A combustible gas inflator and a method for filling and sealing the inflator are provided. The inflator includes an enclosure configured to receive and store the combustible gas under pressure. The enclosure has an outer wall comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a fill aperture extending therethrough. The fill aperture has a first aperture portion and a second aperture portion. The first aperture portion is proximate the exterior surface and the second aperture portion is proximate the interior surface, wherein the first aperture portion is larger than the second aperture portion. The inflator further includes a sealing member configured to seal the fill aperture. The sealing member has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to sealingly engage a portion of the second aperture portion and the second portion is configured to sealingly engage a portion of the first aperture portion. The first portion seals the combustible gas within the enclosure and the second portion is configured to be welded to the enclosure by a welding process that would ignite the combustible gas if the combustible gas were exposed to the welding process.

Apparatus and method for providing combustible gas inflator

An assembly of efficient construction and operation to hold restraining air bag tethers to a shortened operative length under a first set of conditions and to extend such tethers under a second set of conditions. The extension of the restraining tethers is carried out in conjunction with the delivery of an increased volume of inflating gas to the air bag cushion. The air bag assembly may be operated using as few as two activatable initiators to activate inflation stages while simultaneously controlling tether length to effect delivery of a proper volume of inflation gas for a desired cushion profile.

Inflation assembly for variable profile air bag

An airbag module, having a housing; an inflatable cushion being stored in an un-deployed position in the housing; an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion, the inflator being in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion; a tension device; a tether element being secured to the inflatable cushion at one end and the tension device at the other; the tension device applies tension to the tether after the inflatable cushion is inflated to a first configuration by the inflator.

Apparatus and method for controlling an inflatable cushion

An airbag module is provided. The module includes a housing, an inflator, an inflatable cushion, a vent aperture defined in the housing, and a gas deflecting member. The vent aperture places the interior of the housing in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing. The vent aperture is offset from exhaust ports of the inflator. The gas deflecting member is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a first portion of the deflecting member deflects a first amount of the inflation gas to the exterior of the housing. In the second position, a second portion of the deflecting member deflects the inflation gas towards the inflatable cushion. A second amount of the inflation gas is ventable from the housing through the vent aperture when the deflecting member is in the second position.

Apparatus and methods of venting gas in an airbag module

An automobile hood assembly for disposition in overlying relation to a vehicle storage compartment in an automotive vehicle. The hood assembly includes an exterior show surface member, a support frame at a position below the exterior show surface member and at least one extensible tether element operatively connecting the exterior show surface member and the support frame. At least one inflatable air bag cushion is housed intermediate the support frame and the exterior show surface member. Upon introduction of inflation gas the inflatable air bag cushion is inflatable to an expanded profile forcing at least a portion of the exterior show surface member away from the support frame to define an energy absorbing impact surface.

Displaceable automotive hood assembly

An air bag module is provided for inflating an air bag cushion at dual rates in response to rapid deceleration of a motor vehicle. The air bag module includes an air bag housing for receiving an inflator. The air bag cushion is secured to a peripheral flange of the housing in a folded position. Upon actuation of the inflator, heated gas passes selectively from the inflator through a plurality of openings in the housing. A controller generates an ignition signal to the inflator in response to velocity responsive sensors. In response to the ignition signals, the inflator releases an appropriate predetermined volume of gas into the air bag cushion. The level of deployment or inflation of the air bag cushion is dependent on the actuation of a slide slidably arranged to selectively block the openings of the air bag housing to restrict gas flow to the air bag cushion. The housing further includes venting apertures to permit gas flow from the housing and thereby redirect the gas away from the air bag cushion.

Adaptive venting for an air bag module

An air bag assembly having an inflatable cushion selectively deployable to a controlled geometry with a controlled venting character. The venting characteristics are adjusted by selective displacement of vent blocking elements based upon measured occupant and/or crash severity characteristics such that an air bag cushion of desired volume and venting capacity is available to protect a range of occupants under different conditions during impact events of various levels of severity.

Variable venting air bag assembly

An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a vehicle during an impact event. The air bag assembly includes an inflator activatable to discharge inflation gas upon the occurrence of predetermined vehicle conditions and an air bag cushion including an interior surface in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is inflated to a deployed state. At least one profile restraining tether element is operatively connected to the air bag cushion such that the profile restraining tether element restrains the expansion of the air bag cushion upon introduction of the inflation gas to the air bag cushion. The profile restraining tether element is also releasably anchored to a substantially stationary retaining member so as to shorten the operative length of the profile restraining tether element such that the air bag cushion is inflatable to a first restrained depth when the profile restraining tether element is anchored to the retaining member. The profile restraining tether element is releasable from the retaining member upon the occurrence of predetermined occupant conditions at the time the air bag cushion is deployed such that the air bag cushion is inflatable to a second depth which is greater than the first restrained depth.

Variable profile air bag restraint

An air bag assembly for use in a vehicle at a location exterior to the passenger compartment. The air bag assembly includes an inflator for discharging inflation gas and a gas receiving expansible air bag cushion disposed in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon release of inflation gas from the inflator, the air bag cushion is deployed across a region immediately below the windshield of the vehicle as well as over the lower portion of the windshield and adjacent frame pillar elements surrounding the windshield. The extent of coverage over the windshield is such that the vehicle operator retains a degree of visibility over the deployed air bag cushion after deployment has taken place.

Scuttle area air bag for pedestrian protection

An air bag assembly including an inflator for discharging inflation gas and a gas receiving expansible air bag cushion of winged geometry disposed in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon release of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is deployed substantially over the windshield of an automobile as well as the pillars adjacent the windshield. View ports are present within the interior of the air bag cushion so as to maintain a degree of visibility for the vehicle operator after deployment has taken place. Mesh netting or a like material which does not unduly restrict visibility may extend across the internally formed view ports.

Windshield frame air bag for pedestrian protection

A release mechanism of efficient construction and operation is provided to hold profile restraining air bag tethers in a shortened operative condition under a first set of predetermined conditions and to extend such tethers under a second set of predetermined conditions. The extension of the restraining tethers may be carried out in conjunction with the delivery of an increased volume of inflating gas to the air bag cushion utilizing a gas emitting inflator in conjunction with a dynamic variable inflation device to effect delivery of a proper volume of inflation gas while releasing the tethers from a restrained length condition.

Air bag tether release assembly

An air bag module includes an air bag and an inflator being activatable to discharge inflator gas for inflating the air bag. The inflator has at least one discharge port through which inflator gas is discharged. A housing includes at least one inflator vent opening aligned with the discharge port. A variable inflation device is mounted on the inflator and includes a movable member alignable with the vent opening. The movable member is movable relative to the vent opening for opening and closing the vent opening at a predetermined time during inflator activation to control the amount of inflator gas discharged into the air bag and the amount of inflator gas expelled out through the vent opening of the housing. Preferably, the variable inflation device includes an initiator device being activatable during activation of the inflator to move the movable member relative to the vent opening at the predetermined time during inflator activation.

Air bag module with variable inflation

A side-impact air bag having an internal self-tensioning tether/lace interlaced within the side air bag. The side air bag is secured to the vehicle along the roof rail between the front and rear pillars. The tether or lace is secured to the air bag and traverses a plurality of predetermined guide points disposed within the air bag. When the side impact air bag is inflated the distance between the guide points increases and any slack in the tether/lace is taken up. Moreover, the air bag assembly is formed with a pair of legs that are either pulled into or clustered about the airbag during inflation to enhance curtain stability. Thus, the stability of the air bag is improved.

Growing community of inventors

Dayton, OH, United States of America

Shawn Gregory Ryan