Curtain airbag, airbag system, and vehicle

Abstract

This invention discloses a curtain airbag, an airbag system, and a vehicle. The curtain airbag includes a secondary chamber and a primary curtain chamber. The secondary chamber includes a first end and an opposing second end, the first end having a first inflation port. The primary curtain chamber is connected to the second end of the secondary chamber. Both the secondary chamber and the primary curtain chamber have an deployed state and a retracted state. The secondary chamber is configured to deploy before the primary curtain chamber during inflation. The curtain airbag, airbag system, and vehicle of this invention can reduce the possibility of the curtain airbag being punctured by glass or interior trim.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of airbag technology, and more particularly to a curtain airbag, an airbag system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of automotive safety technology in China, people are paying increasing attention to occupant safety in high-speed collisions. As third-party evaluation regulations for automotive safety are updated, the speed and barriers in side-impact collision tests have also changed. The 2021 C-NCAP includes a 32kph side-impact pole collision test. Compared to the previous deformable barrier test, the pole collision test in the third-party evaluation regulations is more stringent and severe, which, while beneficial to consumers, also increases the challenges in developing occupant protection performance. Specifically, the severity of the collision can lead to window shattering during the collision. During deployment, the side curtain airbags interact with the shattered window glass fragments, causing cuts that affect airbag pressure and resulting in hard contact between the occupant's head and the interior, increasing the risk of injury. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes a curtain airbag, an airbag system, and a vehicle that can reduce the possibility of the curtain airbag being punctured by glass or interior trim.

[0004] The present invention also proposes a curtain-type airbag, the curtain-type airbag comprising:

[0005] The auxiliary chamber includes a first end and an opposite second end, the first end having a first air inlet for connecting a gas generator;

[0006] The main curtain chamber is connected to the second end of the secondary chamber, wherein both the secondary chamber and the main curtain chamber have an unfolded state and a retracted state;

[0007] The secondary chamber is configured to unfold before the main curtain chamber during inflation.

[0008] The curtain-type airbag according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0009] By incorporating a secondary chamber, with a first inflation port at one end and a second end connected to the main curtain chamber, airflow enters the secondary chamber through the first inflation port during inflation until the secondary chamber is in its deployed state (maximum volume). At this point, the secondary chamber, supported by the internal airflow, forms a relatively stable semi-rigid state, limiting the position of the end connecting the main curtain chamber to the secondary chamber. Since the curtain airbag's gas generator is located at the top of the vehicle, the curtain airbag deploys downwards upon impact. The vehicle sidewalls generally slope inwards from bottom to top along the vehicle's height. This results in a greater gap between the main curtain chamber and the vehicle sidewall as the main curtain chamber is positioned downwards. By deploying the secondary chamber first, the end connecting the main curtain chamber to the secondary chamber is positioned away from the gas generator, increasing the gap between the main curtain chamber and the vehicle sidewall. This increased gap prevents the main curtain chamber from deploying against the vehicle sidewall, reducing the probability of it being punctured by the vehicle's interior trim and glass.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the curtain airbag is disposed in a vehicle, and in the deployed state, the distance between the upper end of the sub-chamber and the side wall of the vehicle is smaller than the distance between the lower end of the sub-chamber and the side wall of the vehicle.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the unfolded state, the volume of the main curtain chamber is larger than the volume of the secondary chamber.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the unfolded state, the length of the secondary chamber is 50mm-70mm.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the unfolded state, along the vehicle height direction, the second end of the sub-chamber extends beyond the window glass of the vehicle side wall, and the extended portion is less than or equal to 20% of the window glass's dimension in the vehicle height direction.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the secondary chamber includes a secondary chamber portion and a channel portion connected together, the first air inlet is located in the chamber portion, the channel portion is connected to the main curtain chamber, and the channel portion communicates the chamber portion and the main curtain chamber, wherein, in the unfolded state, the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel portion is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the chamber portion.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the unfolded state, the secondary chamber portion is elongated cylindrical.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the unfolded state, the channel portion is elongated cylindrical.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, when both the secondary chamber and the main curtain chamber are in the retracted state, the secondary chamber is rolled up around the outside of the main curtain chamber.

[0018] An airbag system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a curtain-type airbag and a gas generator, the gas generator being connected to a first inflation port.

[0019] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a vehicle includes the airbag system, vehicle body, and seat described above. The airbag system is disposed on the top of the vehicle body. In the deployed state, the curtain airbags are distributed between the seat and the vehicle body along the width direction of the vehicle body, and the distance between the upper end of the sub-chamber and the side wall of the vehicle is greater than the distance between the lower end of the sub-chamber and the side wall of the vehicle.

[0020] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an existing curtain-type airbag;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the curtain-type airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure label:

[0025] 10. Curtain-type airbag; 100. Secondary chamber; 100a. First end; 100b. Second end; 200. Main curtain chamber; 300. Passage;

[0026] 20. Gas generator; 1. Vehicle body; 2. Vehicle window glass. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0028] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0029] In the description of this invention, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0030] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0031] In the description of this invention, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0032] For related technologies, please refer to Figure 1 A car collision can cause the windows to shatter, especially in vehicles where the windows are not made of laminated glass. The interior of the vehicle is also prone to sharp breaks due to deformation during a collision. Since the side curtain airbag 01 is installed on the roof 03, it will extend downwards along the inner side wall of the vehicle during deployment. At this time, the broken window glass 02 and the interior with sharp breaks may puncture the side curtain airbag 01, causing the internal pressure of the side curtain airbag 01 to decrease, which in turn affects the protection of the occupant's head.

[0033] Please refer to the following for details. Figure 2 This application provides a curtain-type airbag, the curtain airbag 10 including a secondary chamber 100 and a main curtain chamber 200.

[0034] The secondary chamber 100 includes a first end 100a and an opposing second end 100b, the first end 100a having a first air inlet. It is understood that the first end 100a of the secondary chamber 100 is connected to the gas generator 20 through the first air inlet, and the airflow from the gas generator 20 flows into the secondary chamber 100 from the first air inlet.

[0035] The main curtain chamber 200 is connected to the second end 100b of the secondary chamber 100. That is, the main curtain chamber 200 is connected to the end of the secondary chamber 100 that is away from the gas generator 20. The main curtain chamber 200 is the main chamber of the curtain airbag 10, which is used to support and cushion the person in a collision scenario.

[0036] Both the secondary chamber 100 and the main curtain chamber 200 have an extended state and a retracted state. In the retracted state, inflating the secondary chamber 100 and the main curtain chamber 200 allows them to switch to the extended state, where they expand to their maximum size. In the retracted state, the secondary chamber 100 and the main curtain chamber 200 are rolled up, with the end of the main curtain chamber 200 furthest from the secondary chamber 100 serving as the starting point for the roll-up, and is rolled inside.

[0037] During inflation, the secondary chamber 100 unfolds before the main curtain chamber 200. That is, when the secondary chamber 100 unfolds to its maximum volume, the main curtain chamber 200 is still unfolding.

[0038] In the above embodiment, by setting a secondary chamber 100, the first end 100a of the secondary chamber 100 has a first inflation port, and the opposite second end 100b is connected to the main curtain chamber 200. During inflation, airflow flows into the secondary chamber 100 from the first inflation port until the secondary chamber 100 is in the deployed state, that is, in the state of maximum volume. At this time, the secondary chamber 100 has formed a relatively stable semi-rigid state under the support of the internal airflow, which can limit the position of the end of the main curtain chamber 200 connected to the secondary chamber 100. Since the gas generator 20 of the curtain airbag 10 is located on the top of the vehicle, the curtain airbag 10 deploys downwards during a collision. The window glass 2 generally tilts inwards from bottom to top in the vehicle height direction. This makes the gap between the main curtain chamber 200 and the window glass 2 larger as the position of the main curtain chamber 200 is lower.

[0039] By first deploying the secondary chamber 100, the end of the main curtain chamber 200 connected to the secondary chamber 100 is positioned away from the gas generator 20, thereby increasing the distance between the main curtain chamber 200 and the side of the window glass 2. This increased distance prevents the main curtain chamber 200 from deploying while pressed against the side wall of the vehicle, thus reducing the probability of it being punctured by the interior trim and the window glass 2.

[0040] In some embodiments, the curtain airbag is installed in the vehicle, and in the deployed state, the distance between the upper end of the sub-chamber 100 and the side wall of the vehicle is smaller than the distance between the lower end of the sub-chamber 100 and the side wall of the vehicle. The side wall of the vehicle includes the interior trim and the window glass. By making the distance between the upper end of the sub-chamber 100 and the side wall of the vehicle smaller than the distance between the lower end of the sub-chamber 100 and the side wall of the vehicle in the deployed state, the distance between the main curtain chamber 200 and the adjacent window glass 2 and the interior trim side is increased. This increased distance prevents the main curtain chamber 200 from deploying while still attached to the side wall of the vehicle.

[0041] It is understood that the volumes of the secondary chamber 100 and the main curtain chamber 200 are not limited. In some embodiments, the volume of the main curtain chamber 200 is larger than the volume of the secondary chamber 100 in the deployed state. It is understood that by making the volume of the secondary chamber 100 relatively small, the time for the secondary chamber 100 to switch from the retracted state to the deployed state can be reduced, thereby allowing the secondary chamber 100 to enter the deployed state in a shorter time, and thus, in the event of a vehicle collision, the main curtain chamber 200 to be positioned away from the gas generator 20 in less time.

[0042] In some embodiments, the length of the secondary chamber 100 in the unfolded state is 50mm-70mm. In this unfolded state, the secondary chamber 100 is in a roughly vertical position, and its length is approximately the same as the downward displacement of the main curtain chamber 200 from its unfolding starting position.

[0043] In some embodiments, in the deployed state, along the vehicle height direction, the second end of the secondary chamber 100 extends beyond the window glass of the vehicle side wall, and the extended portion is less than or equal to 20% of the window glass's dimension in the vehicle height direction. Thus, the starting position of the main curtain chamber 200's deployment is as far away from the vehicle's roof as possible, while not affecting the main curtain chamber 200's support and protection for the occupants.

[0044] Understandably, there are no restrictions on the way the main curtain chamber 200 is inflated.

[0045] In some embodiments, the secondary chamber 100 includes a secondary chamber portion and a channel portion 300 connected together, a first inflation port is located in the chamber portion, the channel portion 300 is connected to the main curtain chamber 200, and the channel portion 300 connects the chamber portion and the main curtain chamber 200. In the unfolded state, the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel portion 300 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the chamber portion.

[0046] The second end of the secondary chamber 100 is connected to the main curtain chamber 200, and a portion of the second end of the secondary chamber 100 is closed. A channel 300 is formed between the adjacent closed areas, and the channel 300 connects the main curtain chamber 200 and the secondary chamber 100. Airflow can flow from the secondary chamber 100 into the main curtain chamber 200 through the channel 300.

[0047] During inflation, airflow flows into the secondary chamber from the first inflation port, and the secondary chamber begins to expand. Part of the airflow flows into the main curtain chamber 200 from the channel 300, and the main curtain chamber 200 begins to expand. Since the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel 300 is smaller than that of the secondary chamber, part of the airflow is obstructed, thereby accelerating the expansion speed of the secondary chamber, allowing the secondary chamber to expand rapidly until it is in the expanded state. Furthermore, because the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel 300 is small, the secondary chamber 100 can be better supported by the internal airflow and kept in the expanded state.

[0048] It should be noted that when the secondary chamber is in the deployed state, all the airflow flows through the channel 300, which makes the airflow through the channel 300 relatively large per unit time. The airflow can play a supporting role and make the channel 300 in a semi-rigid state. In this state, the channel 300 has the ability to resist bending and can limit the main curtain chamber 200 from tilting toward the side of the window glass 2, thereby further reducing the probability of the main curtain chamber 200 being punctured.

[0049] The shape of the secondary chamber 100 is not limited. In some embodiments, the secondary chamber is elongated in the unfolded state. It is understood that the elongated shape of the secondary chamber 100 can reduce its volume and, in the unfolded state, has better bending strength and is less likely to bend toward the side of the window glass 2.

[0050] In some embodiments, the channel portion 300 is elongated cylindrical. Thus, in its unfolded state, the channel portion 300 has good bending strength and is less prone to bending towards the side of the vehicle window glass 2.

[0051] In some embodiments, the secondary chamber 100 and the main curtain chamber 200 are wound up and stored, with the secondary chamber 100 located outside the main curtain chamber 200 in the stored state. The first air outlet is located at the end of the wound structure for easy connection to the gas generator 20.

[0052] This application also provides an airbag system, including a curtain-type airbag 10 and a gas generator 20, wherein the gas generator 20 is connected to a first inflation port. The gas generator 20 is disclosed in the prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0053] This application also provides a vehicle, including an airbag system, a vehicle body 1, and a seat. The airbag system is located at the top of the vehicle body 1. When deployed, curtain airbags 10 are distributed between the seat and the side wall of the vehicle body 1. This provides protection for the head during a side impact.

[0054] In the deployed state, the gap between the upper end of the secondary chamber 100 and the vehicle side wall is smaller than the gap between the lower end of the secondary chamber 100 and the vehicle side wall. The vehicle side wall includes the interior trim and window glass. Therefore, in the deployed state, the gap between the main curtain chamber 200 and the adjacent window glass 2 and interior trim side increases. This increased gap prevents the main curtain chamber 200 from deploying while pressed against the vehicle side wall, thus significantly reducing the possibility of broken window glass or interior trim with sharp edges puncturing the curtain airbag.

[0055] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof can be combined with each other unless otherwise specified.

Claims

1. A curtain-type airbag, characterized in that, The curtain-type airbag includes: The secondary chamber includes an upper end and an opposite lower end, the upper end having a first air inlet for connecting a gas generator; The main curtain chamber is connected to the lower end of the secondary chamber, wherein both the secondary chamber and the main curtain chamber have an unfolded state and a retracted state; The secondary chamber is configured to be in the deployed state before the main curtain chamber during inflation. In the deployed state, the distance between the upper end of the secondary chamber and the vehicle side wall is smaller than the distance between the lower end of the secondary chamber and the vehicle side wall.

2. The curtain-type airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the unfolded state, the volume of the main curtain chamber is larger than the volume of the secondary chamber.

3. The curtain-type airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the unfolded state, the length of the secondary chamber is 50mm-70mm.

4. The curtain-type airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the unfolded state, along the vehicle height direction, the lower end of the secondary chamber extends beyond the window glass of the vehicle side wall, and the extended portion is less than or equal to 20% of the window glass's dimension in the vehicle height direction.

5. The curtain-type airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that, The secondary chamber includes a secondary chamber portion and a channel portion connected together. The first air inlet is located in the secondary chamber portion. The channel portion is connected to the main curtain chamber. The channel portion connects the secondary chamber portion and the main curtain chamber. In the unfolded state, the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel portion is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the secondary chamber portion.

6. The curtain-type airbag according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the unfolded state, the secondary chamber is elongated cylindrical; and / or, in the unfolded state, the channel is elongated cylindrical.

7. The curtain-type airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that, When both the secondary chamber and the main curtain chamber are in the retracted state, the secondary chamber is rolled up around the outside of the main curtain chamber.

8. An airbag system, characterized in that, Includes the curtain-type airbag and gas generator as described in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the gas generator is connected to the first inflation port.

9. A vehicle, characterized in that, The system includes the airbag system as described in claim 8, a vehicle body, and a seat. The airbag system is located on the top of the vehicle body. In the deployed state, the curtain airbags are distributed between the seat and the side wall of the vehicle body, and the distance between the upper end of the sub-chamber and the side wall of the vehicle body is smaller than the distance between the lower end of the sub-chamber and the side wall of the vehicle body.

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