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Airbag fabric possessing very low cover factor

a fabric and cover factor technology, applied in the field of airbag fabric, can solve the problems of affecting the safety of passengers, and the availability of different woven fabric structures as the base airbag, and achieve the effects of low density, simple, inexpensive method, and low cos

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-06-14
MILLIKEN & CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The solution provides a cost-effective, low-density airbag fabric with reduced air permeability, ensuring effective inflation and deflation while maintaining fabric integrity and preventing yarn movement during collisions.

Problems solved by technology

Inflatable protective cushions used in passenger vehicles are a component of relatively complex passive restraint systems.
Inflatable cushions for use in the protection of passengers against frontal or side impacts must generally have a more complex configuration since the position of a vehicle passenger may not be well defined and greater distance may exist between the passenger and the surface of the vehicle against which that passenger might be thrown in the event of a collision.
The utilization of such coatings, however, has limited the availability of different woven fabric structures as the base airbag fabric.
If the density of such fabric were any lower, the standard coatings would not properly coat the fabric surface; most likely the coating materials would leak through the fabric and not provide any real barrier to air.
Also, without the utilization or presence of coating on the surface of low cover factor (low density) airbag fabrics, the air permeability would be much too high for such fabric to function properly.
Thus, there has been no disclosure or fair suggestion in the past or within the prior art of trying to incorporate low density (low cover factor) fabrics within airbag cushions.
Although such weave structures could be highly cost-effective (due to a reduction in the need for specialized, difficult weaving procedures, and lower denier yarns), again, the prior art has not accorded any instruction or mention to the ordinarily skilled artisan regarding the possible or proper utilization of such low cover factor fabrics within airbag cushions.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0018]A fabric substrate was produced having a cover factor of about 1560 was produced on a water-jet loom. This fabric comprised nylon-6,6 yarns having deniers of about 100 packed together to form 78 picks / inch and 78 ends / inch. The woven fabric was then coated with a common isocyanate bonding agent, in an amount of about 0.6 ounces per square yard of fabric. A film of polyurethane having about 2-3 mils average thickness was then laminated to the surface of the treated fabric substrate and heated to a temperature of about 325° F. The composite was then allowed to cool and was then tested for its air permeability at 124 Pa at about 25° C. Such permeability was measured to be 0.

example 2

[0019]A fabric substrate was produced having a cover factor of about 1594 was produced on a water-jet loom. This fabric comprised nylon-6,6 yarns having deniers of about 210 packed together to form 55 picks / inch and 55 ends / inch. The woven fabric was then coated with a common isocyanate bonding agent, in an amount of about 0.6 ounces per square yard of fabric. A film of polyurethane having an average thickness of 2-3 mils was then laminated to the surface of the treated fabric substrate and heated to a temperature of about 325° F. The composite was then allowed to cool and was then tested for its air permeability under 124 Pa at about 25° C. Such permeability was measured to be 0.

example 3

[0020]A fabric substrate was produced having a cover factor of about 1597 was produced on a water-jet loom. This fabric comprised nylon-6,6 yarns having deniers of about 315 packed together to form 45 picks / inch and 45 ends / inch. The woven fabric was then coated with a common isocyanate bonding agent, in an amount of about 0.6 ounces per square yard of fabric. A film of polyurethane having an average thickness of about 2-3 mils was then laminated to the surface of the treated fabric substrate and heated to a temperature of about 325° F. The composite was then allowed to cool and was then tested for its air permeability under 124 Pa at about 25° C. Such permeability was measured to be 0.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an airbag fabric which is woven in such a manner as to possess a cover factor of less than about 1900 but which simultaneously, through the presence of a film (laminate) or coating, possesses an extremely low air permeability. The utilization of such a loosely constructed fabric within airbag cushions has heretofore not been possible, even with the application of standard airbag coatings (such as silicones) over the fabric surface since such coatings with not easily remain in contact over the loosely constructed fabric surface (i.e., the coating would leak through the fabric). The coupling of a low cover factor fabric with a laminate film (or with a coating wherein the cover factor is at least 1600), however, solves such a problem and permits the utilization of inexpensively produced woven fabrics within airbag applications.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an airbag fabric which is woven in such a manner as to possess a cover factor of less than about 1900 but which simultaneously, through the presence of a film (laminate) or coating, possesses an extremely low air permeability. The utilization of such a loosely constructed fabric within airbag cushions has heretofore not been possible, even with the application of standard airbag coatings (such as silicones) over the fabric surface since such coatings would not easily remain in contact over the loosely constructed fabric surface (i.e., the coating would leak through the fabric). The coupling of a low cover factor fabric with a laminate film (or with a high-viscosity coating wherein the cover factor is at least 1600), however, solves such a problem and permits the utilization of inexpensively produced woven fabrics within airbag applications.BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART[0002]All U.S. patent cited herein are hereby fully incor...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B32B5/08A47L15/20B32B5/02B32B27/12B32B27/40B60R21/16B60R21/235D03D1/02D06N3/00D06N3/14
CPCB32B27/12B32B27/40B60R21/235D03D1/02D06N3/0002D06N3/14B60R2021/23514Y10T442/30Y10T442/2893Y10T442/2861Y10T442/2762Y10T442/3301Y10T442/3179Y10T442/2139Y10T442/2811Y10T428/1307Y10T428/1314Y10T428/1317Y10T428/1362Y10T428/1321
Inventor KESHAVARAJ, RAMESH
Owner MILLIKEN & CO