Automobile side curtain airbag modules comprising polyester airbag with gas inflators
OwnerThomas E. Schmitt, Todd C. Barnesinventors
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Abstract
Disclosed is an airbag module comprising a polyester airbag and a gas inflator, where the gas inflator provides a gas temperature that does not exceed the critical gas temperature of the polyester airbag. This design allows for the substitution of polyester airbags for nylon airbags in side curtain airbag modules and other airbag deployment applications, where the gas inflator temperature does not exceed the critical gas temperature. Also disclosed is a method that will facilitate the matching of specific polyester fabrics with gas inflators to create an airbag module that will not suffer catastrophic failure.
Claims22
An article comprising an airbag module;
- said airbag module comprising a polyester airbag having a critical gas temperature and a gas inflator;
- wherein said gas inflator provides a gas temperature between about 230K and about 750K that does not exceed the critical gas temperature of the polyester airbag.
An article comprising an airbag module;
- said airbag module comprising a polyester airbag and a gas inflator;
- wherein said polyester airbag comprises polyester yarns with 100° C. Instantaneous Thermal Creep (ITC) values greater than 0.5%.
A method of designing an airbag module comprising:
- (a) selecting a polyester airbag having a critical gas temperature;
- (b) determining the critical gas temperature of said polyester airbag;
- (c) providing a gas inflator that provides a gas temperature which does not exceed the critical gas temperature of the polyester airbag;
- and
- (d) combining said polyester airbag with said gas inflator to provide said airbag module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.