Description

The window airbag is a practical supplement to the side airbag for passenger protection. In the event of a side collision, angular collision or the vehicle rolling it protects the heads of the front and rear passengers on the affected side. It prevents the head from snapping in one direction immediately following a collision thereby eliminating forces acting on the neck.

Moreover, it protects the passengers against penetrating objects/splinters in the event of an accident.

The window airbag achieves its maximum volume in the inflated state for approx. 3 to 5 s ensuring that its protective effect is present for a sufficient amount of time during rollover.

The window airbag consists of a gas generator with squib and air tube. The air tube is subdivided into a number of vertical air chambers.

In the inflated state it has a total volume of approx. 20 liters and fills the area between the side window and vehicle passenger on the driver/passenger side.

In the event of a side collision, angular collision or vehicle rollover the left window airbag/right window airbag is actuated simultaneously with the left front side airbag/right front side airbag and left rear side airbag/right rear side airbag when the actuation threshold is exceeded.

This is accomplished by an electrical pulse generated by the airbag control module (N2/7) sent to the squib in the gas generator for the window airbag. The squib ignites the solid propellant in the gas generator. The solid propellant burns developing gas which flows explosively under high pressure into the air tube folded up in the roof frame. Under the pressure of the gas flowing in the inflating air tube tears open the inner paneling on the side roof frame and inflates in the passenger compartment. After approx. 25 ms the air tube reaches its maximum volume which it retains for 3 to 5 s. The pressure then begins to decrease. The gas escapes from the airbag through a filter and the airbag collapses.