Crash statistics indicate the risk of significant injury to occupants is greater in side-impact crashes than any other planar crash mode. Deployment timing of a side airbag is a critical factor for occupant protection in these crash events. Currently, deployment timing of side airbags is principally determined by factors as airbag configuration, distance of the inflator from the airbag and the inflator mass flow characteristics. Other performance factors as system integrity and out-of-position (OOP) risks increase disproportionately. This study describes an innovation designed to reduce the deployment timing of a roof-rail-airbag (RRAB) by approximately 30 % without the trade-offs typically associated with conventional attempts to reduce deployment time. The approach consists of inflating an airbag by means of a small flexible pyrotechnic cord placed within the RRAB and extending through the length of the airbag. The linear charge of the DCI is ignited almost instantaneously (approximately 2ms) along its length when the crash signal initiates the gas generator. Gas generation takes place uniformly along the length of the airbag to provide reduced time-to-functional-position. The DCI also incorporates a sustainer charge that maintains bag pressure for protection in secondary crash events or rollovers. The comparison of testing data shows that the unique deployment characteristics of the DCI confounds some of the traditional tradeoffs associated with RRAB performance and OOP injury risk. The DCI is able to address concerns related to timing and protection without creating an increased and/or unacceptable OOP risk.
An innovative inflator designed to reduce inflation time for roof-rail airbags
Reduzierung der Entfaltungszeit von Airbags im Dachholm
15 Seiten, 13 Bilder, 4 Tabellen
Conference paper
English
An innovative inflator designed to reduce inflation time for roof-rail airbags
Automotive engineering | 2002
|An Innovative Inflator Designed to Reduce Inflation Time for Roof-Rail Airbags
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002
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