Air-bag system
AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorHideo Omura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflator is connected to an air-bag proper for inflating the same upon electric energization thereof. The inflator and the air-bag proper are so connected and designed as to make a rapid pressure reduction in the air-bag proper just after a rapid increase of the pressure, due to the force of inertia of the expanding air-bag proper. A control device is used for controlling, after the rapid increase of the pressure in the air-bag proper, the pressure in a manner to reduce a shock which is produced when a passenger collides against the inflated air-bag proper.
Claims10
An air-bag system in a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a container;
- an expandable air-bag proper contained in said container, said container being broken upon inflation of said air-bag proper;
- inflator means for inflating said air-bag proper upon electric energization thereof in response to an application of an abnormal shock to the vehicle, wherein upon inflation of said air-bag proper by said inflator means, the pressure in said air-bag proper being immediately reduced due to the force of inertia of the expanding air-bag proper;
- and
- pressure control means for controlling the pressure in said air-bag proper after the sudden pressure reduction to retain the pressure in said air-bag proper at a predetermined level to control the pressure in the air-bag proper after sudden increase of the pressure in the air-bag proper caused by an occupant colliding said air-bag proper to reduce impact to said occupant,
- wherein said pressure control means includes:
- a first relief valve for communicating the interior of said air-bag proper with the atmosphere when the internal pressure of said air-bag proper reaches a first given pressure;
- a second relief valve for communicating the interior of said air-bag proper with the atmosphere when the internal pressure of said air-bag proper reaches a second given pressure, said second given pressure being higher than said first given pressure;
- sensor means for issuing information signals representative of the condition of the vehicle at the time when a vehicle collision occurs;
- and
- a control unit for controlling the characteristics of said first and second relief valves in accordance with the information signal from said sensor means.
An air-bag system in a vehicle, comprising:
- a breakable container;
- an expandable air-bag proper contained in said container;
- inflator means for inflating said air-bag proper upon electric energization thereof in response to a vehicle collision;
- and
- pressure control means for relieving pressure in said air-bag proper just after a sudden increase in the pressure caused by said inflator means and for relieving pressure in the air-bag proper after further sudden increase of the pressure in the air-bag proper caused by an occupant colliding said air-bag proper to reduce impact to said occupant, said pressure control means comprising:
- a first relief valve for releasing pressure in said air-bag proper to the atmosphere when the internal pressure of said air-bag proper reaches a first given pressure;
- a second relief valve for further releasing pressure in said air-bag proper to the atmosphere when the internal pressure of said air-bag proper reaches a second given pressure, said second given pressure being higher than said first given pressure;
- sensor means for issuing information signals representative of the condition of the vehicle at the time of a vehicle collision;
- and
- a control unit for controlling said first and second relief valves in accordance with said information signals from said sensor means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.