External airbag system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355152-A1
Application number	US-201415103316-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2014
Priority date	Dec 17, 2013
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides for an advantageous external side airbag system (1), comprising at least one airbag (3, 3a-3c) with at least one dedicated inflator (5a-5c). The external airbag system is characterised in that at least one airbag has in a folded state an elongated shape that extends in a longitudinal direction (L) and is configured to be integrated in a side structure (19) of a vehicle, and in particular between a rocker panel (21) and a sill cover (31) of a vehicle.

First claim

1 . An external airbag system ( 1 ), comprising at least one airbag ( 3 ) with at least one dedicated inflator ( 5 a - 5 c ),
wherein the at least one airbag ( 3 ) has in a folded state an elongated shape that extends in a longitudinal direction and is configured to be integrated in a side structure of a vehicle (K) outside of the vehicle's occupant compartment, and in particular between a rocker panel ( 21 ) and a sill cover ( 31 ) of a vehicle.

2 . The external airbag system according to claim 1 , wherein fixation means ( 7 a - c ) are provided for fixing the at least one inflator ( 5 a - 5 c ) and the at least one airbag ( 3 ) to the rocker panel ( 21 ) of a vehicle (K).

3 . The external airbag system according to claim 1 , wherein the size and shape of the at least one airbag ( 3 ) in an inflated state is such that it is adapted to cover at least partially the doors and the B-pillar ( 25 ) of a vehicle.

4 . The external airbag system according to the claim 1 , wherein there are at least three inflators ( 5 a - 5 c ) provided that are substantially regularly distributed over the entire length of the at least one airbag ( 3 ) in the longitudinal direction (L) thereof.

5 . The external airbag system according to the claim 1 , wherein at feast one airbag ( 3 ) comprises at least one internal tether ( 35 , 35 ′) that is attached to the inner walls ( 41 a, 41 b ) of the at least one airbag ( 3 ) and constructed such that the at least one airbag ( 3 ) deploys in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) of the at least one airbag ( 3 ).

6 . The external airbag system according to claim 5 , wherein at least one internal tether ( 35 , 35 ′) extends in the inflated airbag in a vertical direction (V) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) of the folded airbag and is attached to internal airbag walls ( 41 a, 41 b ) that are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a plane (C) that cuts a longitudinal axis of the at least one airbag ( 3 ).

7 . The external airbag airbag system according to claim 5 , wherein a plurality of internal tethers ( 35 , 35 ′) is provided that are strap-shaped and substantially regularly distributed in at least one row over the entire length of the at feast one airbag ( 3 ) in the longitudinal direction (L) thereof.

8 . The external airbag system according to claim 5 , wherein the internal tethers ( 35 , 35 ′) are arranged in at least two layers that are arranged in a distance from each other in a vertical direction (V) of the at least one airbag ( 3 ).

9 . The external airbag system according to claim 1 , wherein the interior of the at least one airbag ( 3 ) comprises a single chamber which is adapted to receive an inflation gas from the at feast one inflator ( 5 a - 5 c ), and in particular from a plurality of inflators, to establish a substantially uniform pressure level in the single chamber.

10 . The external airbag system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one airbag ( 3 ) comprises two or more separate chambers ( 47 , 47 ′, 47 ″), wherein each chamber receives inflation gas from a dedicated inflator such that different chambers may contain different pressure levels in the inflated state of the airbag.

11 . The external airbag system according to to claim 10 , wherein the two or more separate chambers ( 47 , 47 ′, 47 ″) are arranged adjacent to each other and are distributed uniformly or non-uniformly over the entire length of the at least one airbag ( 3 ) in the longitudinal direction (L) thereof, wherein different chambers may contain different sizes and shapes, in particular different heights in the vertical direction (V) of the at least one airbag ( 3 ).

12 . The external airbag system according to claim 1 , wherein two or more separate airbags ( 3 a - 3 b ) are provided and arranged adjacent lo each other in a longitudinal direction (L) of the airbags. which are adapted to cover in an inflated state different parts of a side vehicle structure ( 19 ), wherein, preferably, the two or more separate airbags ( 3 a - 3 c ) arranged adjacent to each other are preferably connected to each other via a non-inflatable fabric ( 53 ).

13 . the external airbag system according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a pre-crash sensing system being adapted to detect a collision object and upon detection to fully deploy the at least one airbag before physical contact with the collision object, wherein, preferably, the pre-crash sensing system comprises at least one sensor for sensing a collision object, in particular a camera and/or a radar and/or lidar system.

14 . The external airbag system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one airbag comprises a double-layer fabric.

15 . A vehicle, comprising an external airbag system according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Dalphi Metal Espana Sa
• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Perez Garcia Azucena
• Core Almarza Emiliano
• Casanova Mateo Andres
• Weiss Christian
• Pichler Michael

Classifications

• B60R21/36 Primary

  using airbags · CPC title

• B60R21/23138

  specially adapted for side protection (B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60R2021/23382

  Internal tether means · CPC title

• B60R2021/0006

  Lateral collision · CPC title

• B60R21/26

  characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow {(arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10)} · CPC title