Roof rail airbag system

A vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle body defining an occupant compartment;
• and
• a roof rail airbag system secured to the vehicle body in the occupant compartment, the roof rail airbag system including:
• a side cushion airbag;
• a roof cushion airbag;
• an inflator operably connected to both the side cushion airbag and the roof cushion airbag and configured to inflate both the side cushion airbag and the roof cushion airbag;
• and
• a Y-valve to connect the inflator to the side cushion airbag and the roof cushion airbag, the Y-valve including:
• a first airflow outlet to direct a first airflow into the side cushion airbag;
• and
• a second airflow outlet to direct a second airflow into the roof cushion airbag;
• wherein a cross-sectional size of the first airflow outlet differs from a second cross-sectional size of the second airflow outlet such that the side cushion airbag is filled with the first airflow before the roof cushion airbag is filled with the second airflow.

A method of operating a roof rail airbag system of a vehicle, comprising:

• inflating a side cushion airbag of the roof rail airbag system via an inflator operably connected thereto;
• and
• inflating a roof cushion airbag of the roof rail airbag system via the same inflator;
• wherein the roof cushion airbag is configured, when inflated, to extend across a roof of the vehicle between a roof panel and a headliner of the vehicle;
• and
• wherein the side cushion airbag is configured, when inflated, to extend across a side window of an occupant compartment of the vehicle;
• wherein the inflator is operably connected to the side cushion airbag and the roof cushion airbag via a Y-valve;
• and
• wherein a first inflation rate of the roof cushion airbag is different from a second inflation rate of the side cushion airbag, such that the side cushion airbag is filled before the roof cushion airbag is filled.