United States Patent
`4,021,058
`(1)
`Suzukiet al.
`
`[45] May3, 1977
`
`119)
`
`SAFETY BAG DEVICE FOR VEHICLE
`
`3,847,412
`
`11/1974 Mattson wees 280/736
`
`Primary Examiner—Kenneth H. Betts
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Cushman, Darby &
`Cushman
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`In a safety bag device for use in a vehicle and of the
`type wherein a rupture plate is interposed between a
`high pressure gas container and a conduit leading to an
`inflatable safety bag. A nozzle having a plurality of
`nozzle holes opened into the conduit is interposed be-
`tween the rupture plate and the conduit. A spool is
`slidably fitted to the nozzle in such a way that it may
`normally close a predetermined number of nozzle
`holes, but may be displaced away from the nozzle to
`open them in responseto the increasein pressure in the
`nozzle chamber when the ruptureplate is ruptured in
`case of a collision, whereby the flow rate of the high
`pressure gas flowing into the inflatable safety bag may
`be suitably controlled so as to prevent very rapid ex-
`pansion of the bag resulting in the injury to an occu-
`pant.
`
`4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
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`[73]
`[22]
`[21]
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`[30]
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`[52]
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`{51]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`Inventors: Mikio Suzuki, Hekinan; Yoshiyuki
`Hattori, Nagoya, both of Japan
`Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc., Nishio, Japan
`Filed:
`Oct. 28, 1975
`
`Appl. No.: 626,565
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Oct. 30,1974
`Japan oe ceseeeetees 49-125740
`US. CL. ice eteteeeeeeeteeees 280/737; 222/3;
`137/68 A; 137/516.11; 137/71
`Int. Ch? oe eceseeeeceeeseesneees B6OR 21/08
`Field of Search .......... 280/735, 736, 741, 742,
`280/737; 137/68 A, 71, 516.11, 543.15;
`222/3
`
`References Cited
`
`3,093,155
`3,777,772
`3,797,853
`3,813,007
`
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`6/1963)
`Dawes ween 137/516.11 X
`42/1973. Arnold et al. occ 280/737
`
`3/1974
` Groschetal.
`tresses 137/71
`5/1974
`Doin et al.ec 280/736
`
`
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`U.S. Patent May 3, 1977
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`Sheet 1 of 3
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`4,021,058
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`U.S. Patent May 3, 1977
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`Sheet 2 of 3
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`U.S. Patent May 3, 1977
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`Sheet 3 of 3
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`4,021,058
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`FPRESSUREINCONTAINER
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`PRESSUREINCONTAINER
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`FIG. 4
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`of the rupture of said rupture means, wherebythe flow
`rate of the high pressure gas flowing into the safety bag
`maybe suitably controlled so as to prevent the sudden
`expansion ofthe safety bag.
`The. above and other objects, features and advan-
`tages of the present invention will become more appar-
`ent from the following description of one preferred
`embodiment thereof take in conjunction with the ac-
`companying drawing.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`FIG. 1 is a schematic view, partly in section, of a
`safety bag device in accordance with the present inven-
`tion;
`_ FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view thereofillus-
`trating a spool in normalposition immediately after the
`rupture of a rupture plate;
`FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, butillustrates the
`spoolin retracted position; and
`FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams used for the explanation
`of the mode of operation of the device in accordance
`with, the present invention.
`Same reference numerals are used to designate simi-
`lar parts throughoutthe figure.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`Referring first to FIG. 1 illustrating one preferred
`embodiment of the present invention, a high pressure
`container constituting a high pressure gas source 1 has
`its outlet opening closed with a rupture plate assembly
`2 including an electric detonator 3 electrically con-
`nected to collision detecting devices and a power sup-
`ply (both not shown) through lead wires. The rupture
`plate assembly 2 has externally threaded screws and
`screwed into the internally screw threaded opening of
`the high pressure container 1, and the electronic deto-
`nator 3 is adapted to be ignited in responseto the out-
`putsignals from the collision detecting devices, thereby
`causing the rupture on the rupture plate assembly 2 so
`as to permit the discharge of the high pressure gas from
`the high pressure gas container 1 into an inflatable
`safety bag B through a nozzle 4 and a conduit 12 aswill
`be describedin detail hereinafter. The portion 2’ to be
`ruptured, namely rupture plate, of the rupture plate
`assembly 2 is formed thinner or defined by an annular
`groove so that the ruptured opening with a predeter-
`mined opening area may be provided. In the instant
`embodiment, the high pressure gas container 1 con-
`tains the high pressure nitrogen. However,it is to be
`understood that it may contain any suitable high pres-
`sure gas with or without a gas-forming agent.
`The nozzle 4 is interposed between the rupture plate
`assembly 2 and the conduit 12, and has a plurality of
`small-. and large diameter nozzle holes 13 and 14
`openedinto the conduit 12. The small-and-large diam-
`eter nozzle holes 13 and 14 are arrayed in circumferen-
`tial rows, respectively, and the row of the small diame-
`ter nozzle holes 13 is located closer to the rupture plate
`assembly 2 than the row of the large diameter nozzle
`holes 14.
`_
`Within a guide6 in the form of a cylinder attached to
`the conduit 12 at a right angle relative to the axis
`thereof is slidably fitted. a spool 5 which is slidable
`between the inner wall of the guide 6 and the outer wall
`surface of the nozzle 4, and is biased by a bias spring 7
`so as to normally. close the large diameter holes 14.
`Therefore, immediately after the rupture of the portion
`
`SAFETY BAG DEVICE FOR VEHICLE
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to generally a safety
`bag device for protecting the occupants in a vehicle in
`case ofa collision, and more particularly to a safety bag
`device provided with a flow control device for control-
`ling the flow rate of thehigh pressure gasto be injected
`into an inflatable safety bag..
`There has.been devised and demonstrated a safety
`bag device of the type comprising an inflatable safety
`bag,a high pressure gas container, a conduit adapted to
`lead the high pressure gas discharge out of the con-
`tainerinto the safety bag, a rupture plate interposed
`between the container and the conduit, a cylindrical
`spool guide disposed within the container, the opened
`end of said spool guide. being fitted into the outlet
`opening of the container and closed with the rupture
`plate, said spool guide having a plurality of holes
`formed through the side wall thereof for admitting
`therein the high pressure gas in. the container, and a
`spool slidably fitted into the spool guide in such a way
`as to open andclose the holes, thereby controlling the
`flow rate of the high pressure gas flowinginto the safety
`bag when the rupture plate is ruptured in case of a
`collision of the vehicle. In the safety bag device of the
`type described,an electric detonatoris placed adjacent
`the rupture plate so thatin case ofa collision, the deto-
`natoris ignited to explode to rupture the rupture plate.
`- As a result, the high pressure gas in the container flows
`through theholesof the guide into the conduit and then
`into the safety bag. However, the safety bag device of
`the type described has some defects that when the
`space between the guide and the spool slidably fitted
`therein is too small, the fragmentsof the ruptured plate
`impinge against the spool and that the impact of the
`explosion is exerted to the spool. As a result, the
`smoothdisplacement of the spool is adversely affected
`so that the satisfactory flow controlof the high pressure
`gas cannot be attained. Further, when the space is
`increased in order to overcomethe above problem,the
`flow rate of the high pressure gas increases resulting in
`‘very rapid expansionof.the safety bag, thus causing the
`injury to the occupant.
`:
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Oneof the objects.of the present invention is there-
`fore to provide.a safety bag device wherein the flow
`rate of the high pressure gas chargedinto the safety bag
`in case of a collision: may: be suitably controlled,
`whereby the injury to the occupant bythe sudden ex-
`pansion ofthe safety bag may bepositively prevented.
`. The above and other objects may:be attained by a
`safety bag device in accordance with the presentinven-
`tion comprising an inflatable safety bag, a high pressure
`_ gas source, a conduit adapted to lead the gas dis-
`charged from the; gas source into the safety bag, rup-
`. ture plate means interposed between the gas source
`_and the conduit for normally interrupting the commu-
`nication therebetween except for the case ofa collision
`of the vehicle, a nozzle interposed between the rupture
`plate means and the conduit and having a plurality of
`nozzle holes opened into the conduit, and spool means
`Slidably fitted to the nozzle for closing a predetermined.
`number of the nozzle holes when the ruptureplate is
`not ruptured and for opening the nozzle holes in re-
`sponse to the pressure increase in the nozzle as a result
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`provided, the pressure changeis very rapid as indicated
`2’ of the rupture plate assembly 2, the flow rate of the
`by the curve a in FIG. 4. However, when the flow con-
`high pressure gas discharged out of the high pressure
`trol device is provided in such way that S> S’orS =
`gas container 1 and flowing into the inflatable bagBis
`5S’, the pressure change is slow as indicated by the curve
`controlled by the small diameter nozzle holes 13. A seal
`c or b. Thus,the injuries to the occupants by the sudden
`ring 8 is interposed between the nozzle 4 and the spool
`expansion of the safety bag B may be very effectively
`5. The space 17 within the nozzle 4 is communicated
`preventedby the provision ofthe flow control device in
`with the space 11 defined between the nozzle4 and the
`accordance with the present invention.
`spool § through a plurality of small diameter holes 9
`Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the ratio S/S’
`axially formed through the cylindrical side wall of the
`is suitably selected, the pressure change in the con-
`nozzle 4 so that the high pressure gas may be intro-
`tainer 1 may be suitably controlled after the time ft
`duced into the space 11. The space 15 defined by the
`when the large-diameter nozzle holes 14 are wide
`spool 5 and the guide 6, is communicated, not with the
`conduit 12, but with the surrounding atmosphere
`opened..
`When the ratio. S/S’ is so selected as to obtain the
`through a hole 10 formed through the wall of the guide
`pressure change curve b and when the total opening
`6 so that the pressure in the space 15 equals the atmo-
`area S'' of the holes 9 is changed, the pressure curves
`spheric. pressure.
`as shownin FIG.5 are obtained. Thatis, the curve b’
`The outlet of the conduit 12 is joined by welding to.a
`represents when the total opening area S”’ is smaller
`diffuser D with a plurality of slits S through which is
`while the curve b’’, when the total opéning area S’’ is
`charged the high pressure gas into the bag B. Within
`larger. It is seen that whenthe total openingarea S"’ is
`the diffuser D are disposed a tubular perforated plate P
`larger, both the time ¢,'’ when the large diameter noz-
`andafilter F consisting of a few layers of wire screens
`zle holes 14 are started to be opened and the time /,”’
`wound in the form of a tube in order to prevent the
`when the large diameter nozzle holes 14 are wide
`passage into the bag B of the smaller fragments pro-
`openedare faster than the corresponding time ¢,'’ and
`duced by the ignition and explosion of the electric
`the time #,’ when the total opening area S’’ is smaller.
`detonator 3 and the rupture of the portion 2’ of the
`Thus, the desired expansionorinflation characteristics
`rupture plate assembly and a retainer R which is made
`of the safety bags may beattained by suitably selecting
`of, for instance, rubber, and is supporting the electric
`the ratio among the opening areas S, S' and $’’ and the
`delonator3.
`pressure of the bias spring 7.
`In the instant embodiment, the inflatable bag B is
`So far the nozzle holes 13 and 14 of the nozzle 4 have
`madeof plain weave nylon cloth sheet and of the con-
`been described as having the different diameters or
`ventional type provided with suction holes (not shown)
`opening areas, butit is to be understood that they may
`for introducing the surrounding air, and is normally
`have the same diameter or opening area if the pitches
`folded as shownin FIG.1.
`of the nozzle hole rowsare different, that is, the num-
`Next the mode of operation of the air safety bag
`ber of nozzle holes 14 is larger than that‘of nozzle holes
`device with the above construction will be described
`13.
`with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In case ofa collision,
`As described above, in a safety bag device for use in
`in response to the output signals from the collision
`a vehicle and of the type in which arupture plate is
`detecting devices (not shown), the electric detonator 3
`interposed between a high pressure gas container and a
`is ignited and exploded to rupture the portion 2’ of the
`conduit communicating the container with the bag,
`rupture plate assembly 2 so that the rupture opening 16
`according to the present invention, a nozzle having a
`is formed. Asaresult, the high pressure nitrogen gas is
`plurality of circumferential
`rows of nozzle holes
`discharged outof the container 1 into the nozzle 4, and
`openedinto the conduit is interposed between the rup-
`larger explosion and rupture fragments are received in
`ture plate and the conduit, and a spoolis slidably fitted
`the space 17 in the nozzle 4. The discharged high pres-
`to the nozzle in such a way that a predetermined num-
`sure nitrogen gas flows into the conduit 12 as indicated
`ber of nozzle holes of the nozzle may. be closed and
`by the arrows through the small diameter nozzle holes
`opened in response to the pressure in the nozzle,
`13. Concurrently, the high pressure nitrogen gas flows
`wherebythe flow rate of the high pressure gas flowing
`through the holes 9 into the space 11, thereby forcing
`into the safety bag may be controlled. Therefore the
`the spool 5 to. retract away from the large diameter
`rapid and dangerous expansion of the safety bag after
`nozzle holes 14 against the bias spring 7 so that the
`the rupture of the rupture plate may be positively pre-
`large diameter holes 14 are gradually opened. As a
`vented, and the desired safety bag expansion orinfla-
`result, the flow rate of the high pressure nitrogen gas
`tion characteristics may be attained. Furthermore, the
`flowing into the conduit 12 through the nozzle 4 is
`flow rate control of the high pressure gas is not ad-
`gradually increased. Until the large diameter nozzle
`versely affected by the larger fragments produced by
`holes 14 are wide open, the expansionofthe bagB is so
`the explosion and rupture.
`:
`slow that the injuries to the occupant due to the sudden
`Whatis claimedis:
`expansion of the bag B are completely prevented.
`1. In a safety bag device for use in a vehicle and of the
`Whenthe large diameter nozzle holes 14 are wide open
`type comprising an inflatable safety bag, a high pres-
`as shownin FIG. 3, the flow rate of the high pressure
`sure gas source, a conduit for leading the gas dis-
`nitrogen gas is increased so that the bagBis inflated
`charged from said gas source into said bag, and rupture
`fully within a short time to protect the occupant.
`plate means interposed between said gas source and
`Nextreferring to FIG. 4, the relationship between the
`said conduit for normally interrupting the communica-
`area S of the ruptured opening 16 (See FIGS.2 and 3)
`tion between said gas source and said conduit unless
`and the total area S’ of the small-and-large diameter
`said rupture plate means is ruptured in case ofa colli-
`nozzle holes 13 and 14, on the one hand, and the pres-
`sion of the vehicle, the improvement comprising:
`sure variation in the nitrogen gas in the container1 will
`a nozzle member interposed between said rupture
`be described. When the flow control device consisting
`plate means and said conduit and having a nozzle
`of the nozzle 4, the spool 5, and bias spring 7 is not
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`chamberand a plurality of nozzle holes opening
`into said conduit from said nozzle chamber for
`conducting gas from said source to said conduit
`following rupture of said rupture plate means, said
`nozzle memberalso having a head portion and at
`least one communication hole formedin said head
`portion and opening into said nozzle chamber;
`spool means fitted to said nozzle member so as to
`define outside the head portion of said nozzle
`membera spool chamber communicating with said
`nozzle chamber through said communicationhole,
`said spool means closing a predetermined number
`of said nozzle holes when said rupture plate is not
`ruptured and being slidable with respect to said
`nozzle memberandin a first direction to open the
`predetermined numberof nozzle holes when pres-
`sure in said spool chamber reaches a predeter-
`mined valueas gas is introduced through said com-
`munication hole into said chamber in response to
`an increase in pressure in said nozzle chamberas a
`result of the rupture of said rupture plate means;
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`guide means attached to said conduit for guiding
`sliding movement of said spool means; and
`a bias spring disposed between said spool means and
`said guide means for urging said spoolin a direc-
`tion opposite to said first direction, whereby the
`flow rate of the high pressute gas into said safety
`bag maybe controlled to be low at theintitial stage
`and higher thereafter.
`2. An improvementas set forth in claim 1, wherein
`said plurality of said nozzle holes are arrayed in a plu-
`rality of rows.
`3. An improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein
`said rows comprises a first row and a second row, the
`first row includes a plurality of small diameter nozzle
`holes while the second row,a plurality of large diame-
`_ter holes.
`4. An improvementas set forth in claim 1, wherein a
`space is formed in said nozzle at one end portion
`thereof in opposed relation with the inlet port thereof,
`whereby the fragments produced by the rupture of said
`rupture plate means may be carried by the high pres-
`sure gas flow and received in said space.
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