Device for controlling the deflation of a bag of an airbag

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing ring for a connector (303) for connecting a cartridge (7) of a gas generator (301) to a bag (200) of an airbag (300), characterised in that it includes: - a first axial flange (101) having a shape complementing an O-ring seal (9) of the connector (303), forming a partial bearing recess for the O-ring seal (9) when the sealing ring (10) is positioned between the O-ring seal and the cartridge (7); and - a second opposite axial flange (103) forming a lip, configured to be pressed against a shoulder (e) of the cartridge (7) when the sealing ring (10) is positioned between the O-ring seal (9) and the cartridge (7).

Description

[0001] AIRBAG POCKET DEFLATION CONTROL DEVICE

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The invention relates to the field of airbags or safety pockets in the event of an accident, in particular of the type integrated into an item of clothing such as a vest or a suit for vehicle drivers, skiers or horse riders. The invention relates in particular to maintaining the inflation and controlling the controlled deflation of these airbags, for example to reduce their rigidity and allow the driver to resume his race.

[0004] In the case of a portable airbag, integrated into clothing, it is important that the bladder remains inflated for several seconds to protect the body from secondary impacts and to maintain the body in position in the event of serious injuries. This requires having an airbag with a very good gas-tightness, unlike so-called "open" airbags in vehicles such as cars, where the bladder only remains inflated for a fraction of a second, from a few thousandths to tenths of a second.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] Airbags are known to be integrated into clothing, typically a jacket, vest, or rider's suit, particularly for motorized bicycles such as motorcycles, or in horse riding or ski protection. Clothing incorporating such airbags is particularly intended for athletes and professional riders.

[0007] In sporting events, a driver may suffer a fall that triggers the airbag in his clothing, without his machine being damaged to the point of compromising his continued race.

[0008] For example, in races such as the Dakar Rally, a motorcycle rider may drive their front wheel into loose sand and fall over their vehicle. The resulting fall triggers the airbag, but the motorcycle is still in working order. The rider may then wish to resume the race after freeing their vehicle.

[0009] However, airbags are too stiff once inflated to allow the driver to move comfortably, and can compromise the safety of the driver by restricting his or her movements. In particular, the legislation of most races and regional and national standards provide in most cases for redundancy in airbag vests that allows the device to be activated twice in succession. It would therefore be interesting to be able to implement a device allowing the airbag that has triggered to automatically evacuate at least part of the gas that has inflated the pocket with a deflation over several seconds. Thus, the driver could see the stiffness of the airbag decrease until he or she regains sufficient freedom of movement to allow him or her to finish the stage or race, without even having to manipulate his or her airbag system.

[0010] Furthermore, if the airbag must remain inflated, for example to support a limb or the spine of an injured pilot while help arrives, the slightest leak is undesirable.

[0011] In particular, the Applicant noted that there is a possibility of leakage at the connector of the gas cartridges, which have an envelope made by stamping or striking, with an inhomogeneous and bumpy outer surface. When inflating at high pressure, even the presence of an O-ring may not be sufficient to maintain a sufficient seal.

[0012] There is therefore a need for an inflated and deflated state monitoring device that addresses the above technical issues.

[0013] Brief summary of the invention

[0014] In order to meet this dual need, the invention proposes a sealing ring for the connector of the gas generator cartridge to the airbag pocket forming a sealing reinforcement for controlling deflation, characterized in that it comprises:

[0015] - a first axial rim of a shape complementary to an O-ring of the connector, forming a partial housing by support for said O-ring when the sealing ring is placed between the O-ring and the cartridge,

[0016] - a second opposite axial rim forming a lip, configured to come to rest against a shoulder of the cartridge when the sealing ring is placed between the O-ring and the cartridge.

[0017] Thus, the O-ring is supported over a larger surface area, and the lip-forming rim can deform to fit the imperfect shape of a cartridge forming a gas generator casing.

[0018] For increased deformation, the ring is advantageously made of brass or polymer material.

[0019] The axial edge forming a lip may have a convex, pointed or rounded section, and / or be covered with a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon).

[0020] The sealing ring according to the invention may further be used to enable automatic and controlled deflation of the airbag pocket. For this purpose, it may be provided with gas paths comprising grooves on its inner periphery, connected to holes on the outer periphery of the ring, enabling controlled deflation of the pocket when installed between the O-ring and the cartridge.

[0021] In particular, it may include a plurality of gas passages, more particularly between three and four, regularly distributed around its perimeter.

[0022] The grooves on the inner periphery may in particular have a radial depth of between 0.8 and 1.5 millimeters, more particularly between 1 and 1.3 millimeters.

[0023] This size allows deflation over several seconds with a low risk of particles from the gas generator blocking said gas passages.

[0024] For the same reason, the holes on the outer periphery of the ring may have a circular shape, with a diameter between 0.8 and 1.5 millimeters, more particularly between 1 and 1.3 millimeters.

[0025] The ring may also have an annular recess, into which all grooves and holes open. Thus, even if a hole or groove were to become blocked, the corresponding groove or hole can still contribute to deflation.

[0026] The invention relates to the gas generator connector to an associated airbag pocket, the gas generator comprising a cartridge with a shoulder ending in a nozzle through which the gas exits comprising:

[0027] - a socket or plug, configured to be secured to an airbag pocket, forming a gas inlet into said pocket, and respectively a plug or socket, configured to be secured to the gas generator, the socket and the plug forming a mechanical connector from the gas generator to the pocket,

[0028] - an O-ring, at the level of a rim of the plug, characterized in that it comprises a sealing ring as described above, arranged between the O-ring and the shoulder of the cartridge.

[0029] Finally, the invention also relates to the airbag comprising:

[0030] - a pocket, which protects a part of the user's body when inflated,

[0031] - a gas generator which comprises a cartridge with a shoulder ending in a nozzle through which the gas exits,

[0032] - a control unit which actuates the gas generator when an accident situation is detected, characterized in that it further comprises a connector as previously described. If the airbag has a plurality of gas generators each with a connector, it is further possible that at least one of the connectors comprises a sealing ring with airways and at least one of the connectors comprises a sealing ring without airways.

[0033] By varying the number of rings with and without airways, deflation control is possible.

[0034] Brief description of the figures

[0035] The invention will be better understood in light of the description of the figures among which:

[0036] - figure 1 is a schematic representation of an airbag comprising ring connectors according to the invention,

[0037] - figure 2 is an exploded sectional view of one of the connectors of figure 1,

[0038] - figure 3 is a sectional view in the assembled state of the connector of figures 1 and 2,

[0039] - figure 4 is a three-quarter view of the connector sealing ring,

[0040] - Figure 5 is a three-quarter sectional view at the level of an airway of the connector sealing ring,

[0041] - Figure 6 is a sectional representation of the ring in the assembled state between the O-ring and the shoulder of the gas cartridge,

[0042] - Figure 7 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the sealing ring without airways.

[0043] The figures are given for illustrative and non-limiting purposes. Other embodiments of the invention may be derived from those shown by variations and combinations of features.

[0044] Detailed description of the figures

[0045] Figure 1 shows an airbag 300 before integration into a safety garment. The airbag is composed of the pocket 200, which is in the form of an enclosure made of woven or non-woven textile material, possibly coated with a layer of silicone or other polymer. The pocket 200 has seams separating its interior volume into elongated tubes, and thus give the shape once inflated of the airbag 300.

[0046] The airbag 300 comprises one or more gas generators 301, connected to the bag by connectors 303, here in particular reversible. Actuation generates the gas allowing the inflation of the bag 200. The gas generators 301 are for example so-called "cold" generators using compressed gas, or else hybrid generators combining a compressed gas reservoir and a pyrotechnic capsule, using an explosive combustion reaction to propel the gas.

[0047] The gas generators 301 are electronically connected to a control unit UC which triggers said gas generators when a dangerous situation is detected.

[0048] The pocket 200 here has a neck-forming recess 201 and two holes 203 for the user's arms to pass through. It is thus suitable for integration into a vest or suit-type garment, and is configured to protect the user's torso during inflation.

[0049] Figures 2 and 3 show a connector 303 in more detail, in particular in section and exploded view in Figure 2, and assembled in Figure 3.

[0050] The connector 303 comprises a socket 1, integral with the pocket 200, forming a gas inlet into said pocket 200, and a plug 3, integral with the gas generator 301. By cooperating, the socket 1 and the plug 3 form a mechanical connector from the gas generator 301 to the pocket 200. The gas generator mechanism and / or the gas reservoir is contained in a cartridge 7 forming an outer casing, obtained for example by stamping or drawing.

[0051] The gas generator 301 is essentially composed of the cartridge 7 and a nozzle 5 located at one end of the cartridge 7 and through which the gas generated or contained in the cartridge 7 exits. The nozzle 5 is here a tube pierced on its periphery with a multitude of holes forming gas outlets, said nozzle 5 being housed in the socket 1 when the gas generator 301 is connected to the gas pocket 200 of the airbag 300. The socket 1 has a threaded hole 11, and the plug 3 is here a threaded rod at the end of the nozzle 5.

[0052] The gas generator 301 is therefore connected to the bag 200 by inserting the end piece 5 into the socket 1 and then screwing the threaded rod forming a plug 3 into the tapped hole 11. Around the tapped hole 11 are arranged gas passages 13 towards the bag, through which the gas is blown into the bag 200.

[0053] At the base of the socket 1 is an O-ring 9, made of a vulcanized rubber-type polymer material. The O-ring 9 is deformable and has a rounded section. The O-ring 9 is partially housed in a housing 91 at the base of the socket 1.

[0054] Between the O-ring 9 and the cartridge 7 is inserted a sealing ring 10, which on the one hand reinforces the sealing at the connector 303 and can on the other hand be used to carry out a controlled deflation of the bag 200.

[0055] The sealing ring 10 forms on one side a bearing surface for the O-ring 9, and comes to bear on the other side against a shoulder e of the cartridge 7 of the gas generator 301. The sealing ring 10 is shown in three-quarter view in Figure 4, in three-quarter section in Figure 5, and in axial section in Figure 6, with the seal 9 and the shoulder e.

[0056] The sealing ring 10 has an upper axial rim 101 of a shape complementary to the O-ring 9. This upper rim 101 thus forms a partial housing for said O-ring 9 when the ring 10 is put in place.

[0057] The opposite axial rim 103 has a pointed section, forming a lip which, in the mounted state of the sealing ring 10, bears forcefully and thus crushes against the shoulder e of the cartridge 7 of the gas generator 301.

[0058] To this end, the sealing ring 10 is made of brass or polymer, softer and more deformable than the aluminum or steel of the cartridge 7. According to a variant, the axial rim 103 forming the lip has a rounded or more generally convex section.

[0059] To increase the sealing at the connector 303, said axial rim forming a lip 103 may additionally or alternatively be covered with a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon). In addition or alternatively, the shoulder e may be covered with a flat annular seal or coated with a specific coating, made of rubber or polytetrafluoroethylene, into which the axial rim forming a lip 103 is embedded.

[0060] The sealing ring 10 can easily be incorporated into connectors 303 of existing gas generators 301, and forms a sealing connection which completes the annular seal 9 for which it partly forms a housing.

[0061] The particular embodiment of figures 4 to 6 also serves to create a controlled deflation of the airbag 300, in particular with a progressive deflation and a period of several seconds of inflation sufficient to have a stiffness of the pocket 200 significant enough to avoid secondary impacts, for example from a motorcyclist having fallen, then slipped and hit an obstacle materializing the edge of the track.

[0062] To do this, the sealing ring has gas passages comprising grooves 105 on its inner periphery, connected to holes 107 on the outer periphery of the sealing ring 10.

[0063] The path of the gas through the air channel 105, 107 is represented by two arrows in figure 6.

[0064] In particular, the sealing ring may comprise a plurality of gas paths 105, 107, regularly distributed over its internal surface and its external periphery. Advantageously, it comprises between two and eight, more particularly three or four such gas paths 105, 107. Indeed, with a single gas path, it is likely to become blocked with particles, coming from the gas generator 301.

[0065] Indeed, pyrotechnic gas generators 301 emit combustion particles, and most pyrotechnic, cold gas and hybrid gas generators 301 have filing filters, from which particles can escape. As seen in Figure 6, the O-ring 9 is slightly crushed against the upper rim 101 which lifts it, which slightly closes the grooves 105.

[0066] Said grooves 105 have a radial depth of between 0.8 and 1.5 millimeters, more particularly between 1 and 1.3 millimeters, which makes it possible to prevent them from becoming blocked too quickly due to the particles emitted by the gas generator 301.

[0067] Likewise, the holes 107 on the outer periphery of the ring 10 have a circular shape, with a diameter of between 0.8 and 1.5 millimeters, more particularly between 1 and 1.3 millimeters.

[0068] The angular width of the 105 grooves allows for the speed of deflation to be managed. With the sizes previously indicated and three 105 grooves each covering a 20° angle for a ring with a diameter of approximately 40 millimeters, we obtain an inflation that keeps the bag sufficiently stiff for 5 to 6 seconds, followed by a rapid deflation allowing sufficient freedom of movement to be regained when resuming a race after 10 to 15 seconds, and an almost complete deflation (more than 70 to 80 percent of gas evacuated) after 30 seconds.

[0069] The sealing ring 10 of the embodiment shown further has an annular recess 109, forming a chamber into which all the grooves 105 and all the holes 107 open. Thus, if one of the grooves 105 or one of the holes 107 were to become blocked, the hole 107 or respectively the associated groove 105 could still allow the passage of gas from the other gas paths 105, 107 and thus contribute to deflation.

[0070] In the embodiments shown, the grooves 105 are each associated with a hole 107, the grooves 105 being axially aligned with their associated hole 107. However, two or more grooves 105 may open into the same hole 107, and several holes 107 may be connected to the same groove 105. In particular, the presence of the annular recess 109 makes it possible to choose independently the number and positioning of the grooves 105 and holes 107. A gas path then comprises several grooves 105 or holes 107

[0071] Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment without grooves 105 or holes 107, which significantly slows down deflation by reinforcing the sealing of the connector 303.

[0072] The airbag 300 shown in Figure 1 comprises two connectors 303 and two gas generators 301. For more or less rapid deflation, the user could implement in these two connectors 303:

[0073] - two sealing rings 10 without grooves 105 or holes 107, for long-term inflation, corresponding to use of a motorcycle on open roads outside of racing, where it is desirable that the stiffness is maintained until help arrives, - two sealing rings 10 with grooves 105 and holes 107, for rapid deflation allowing one to get back on a motorcycle quickly, for example for a track race in a controlled environment where secondary collisions are unlikely to last more than a few seconds,

[0074] - a sealing ring 10 with grooves 105 and holes 107, and a sealing ring 10 without, for deflation during an intermediate time, for example for training or for an outdoor race.

[0075] Furthermore, the use of sealing rings 10 without grooves 105 or holes 107 on the airbags 300 with multiple gas generators 301 and connectors 303 on all but one of the connectors 303, allows the use of a sealing ring 10 with grooves 105 and holes 107 sized for a desired deflation time regardless of the total number of connectors 303.

[0076] By only changing this sealing ring 10 with grooves 105 and holes 107 for a sealing ring 10 with more grooves 105 and holes 107 or larger grooves 105 and holes 107, the user can adapt the deflation time to his wishes.

[0077] The sealing ring 10 according to the invention thus makes it possible to control the deflation of the pocket of an airbag 300 of the type integrated into a garment for use by sportsmen such as motorcycle or cycle riders or horse riders.

[0078] With the airways 105, 107, a more or less rapid and automatic deflation is obtained, allowing the athlete to resume his activity more or less quickly and without intervention after his fall. Conversely, without the airways 105, 107, the sealing ring 10 greatly reinforces the sealing at the connector 303, which makes it possible to maintain the inflated state, for example until help arrives, or until the user operates a manual deflation valve.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Sealing ring for connector (303) of a cartridge (7) of gas generator (301) to a pocket (200) of airbag (300), characterized in that it comprises: - a first axial rim (101) of a shape complementary to an O-ring (9) of the connector (303), forming a partial housing by support for said O-ring (9) when the sealing ring (10) is placed between the O-ring and the cartridge (7), - a second opposite axial rim (103) forming a lip, configured to come to rest against a shoulder (e) of the cartridge (7) when the sealing ring (10) is put in place between the O-ring (9) and the cartridge (7).

2. Ring according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of brass or polymer material.

3. Ring according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the axial rim (103) forming a lip has a convex, pointed or rounded section.

4. Ring according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the axial rim (103) forming a lip is covered with a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene.

5. Ring according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises gas paths comprising grooves (105) on its internal periphery, connected to holes (107) on the external periphery of the ring (10), allowing controlled deflation of the pocket (200) when installed between the O-ring (9) and the cartridge (7).

6. Ring according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises between two and eight gas passages (105, 107), more particularly between three and four.

7. Ring according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that the grooves (105) on the internal periphery have a radial depth of between 0.8 and 1.5 millimeters, more particularly between 1 and 1.3 millimeters.

8. Ring according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the holes (107) on the external periphery of the ring have a circular shape, with a diameter between 0.8 and 1.5 millimeters, more particularly between 1 and 1.3 millimeters.

9. Ring according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that it comprises an annular recess (109), into which all the grooves (105) and all the holes (107) open.

10. Gas generator connector (301) to an airbag pocket (200), the gas generator comprising a cartridge (7) with a shoulder (e), ending in a nozzle (5) through which the gas exits, comprising: - a socket (1) or a plug (3), configured to be integral with the airbag (300) pocket (200), forming a gas inlet into said pocket (200), and respectively a plug (3) or socket (1), configured to be integral with the gas generator (301), the socket (1) and the plug (3) forming a mechanical connector of the gas generator (301) to the pocket (200), - an O-ring (9), at a rim of the plug (1), characterized in that it comprises a sealing ring (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Airbag comprising: - a pocket (200), which protects a part of the user's body when inflated, - a gas generator (301) comprising a cartridge (7) with a shoulder (e), ending in a nozzle (5) through which the gas exits, - a control unit (UC) which activates the gas generator when an accident situation is detected, characterized in that it further comprises a connector (303) according to the preceding claim.

12. Airbag according to the preceding claim, comprising a plurality of gas generators (301) each with a connector (303), characterized in that at least one of the connectors (303) comprises a sealing ring (10) according to claim 5 and at least one of the connectors (303) comprises a sealing ring (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4 without airways (105, 107).

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