Air bag arrangement with gas filtration

US6186541A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Autoliv Development AB · SE

Inventors

• Hans-Peter Ruge · Wardenburg, DE
• Manfred Veigl · Poing, DE
• Markus Schels · Munich, DE
• David Stow · Gothenburg, SE
• Franck Lebaudy · Lardy, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 5, 1999
• Grant date: Feb 13, 2001
• Expiry date: Feb 5, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R21/2644
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An air bag arrangement is provided, and includes a gas generator to which is connected an air bag. The gas generator has a combustion chamber for composite propellant, and walls of the combustion chamber are provided with discharge openings. A first filter unit is disposed in the gas generator housing and a second filter unit is disposed beyond the housing and surrounds the same at a distance to form a cooling and pressure-reduction zone for a gas stream coming from the first filter unit. The second filter unit separates out gaseous and/or liquid impurities resulting in a gas stream during combustion of the composite propellant in the combustion chamber. By reducing the temperature level of the gas stream and its pressure level to within the range of atmospheric pressure, the second filter unit effects a phase change of the gaseous and/or liquid impurities, whereby liquid and/or solid impurities are filtered out in the second filter unit. The gas stream then enters the air bag from the second filter unit.