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Posts Tagged ‘Airbags’

Airbags are one of the most advanced car safety technologies that have revolutionized the car industry in the recent years. These are flexible and inflatable cushions built into the car interiors mainly on the steering wheel or the dashboard designed in a way to rapidly expand in case of a car accident. Earlier these were only fitted on the steering wheel but with further advancements airbags are now also found on the door interior, roof, and under the car seat.

History

The history of airbags dates back to 1950s when John W Hetrick, a former naval engineer, came out with the concept of airbags. Later in 1960s Allen Breed introduced a crash sensing technology by inventing a reliable ball-in-tube crash sensor. This was believed to be the first electromechanical airbag in the automotive industry.

Ford Motors was the first car manufacturer to test the reliability and effectiveness of this new technology in 1971. Later on, General Motors, in 1973, made airbags available to general public. Further to that, many modifications were done by skilled engineers to create the most reliable airbags available in the present. Airbags made a quick and gentle move from the Western countries to India through luxury cars tagged to Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW. Gradually, the technology has also shifted to all the car segments in India.

Types

The basic types of airbags available in Indian car industry are frontal airbags and side impact airbags. There are others as well but those are categorized under the main categories defined below:

Frontal Airbags: These types are either fitted on the steering wheel or on the dashboard. Frontal airbags are deployed in just a span of few milliseconds making it a sure life saver in case of a frontal crash.
Side Airbags: These are fitted on the door trim, side of the car seats, and on the roof to protect injury to the chest, head and neck in case of a rear end collision or a rollover accident.

Working

Airbags works on a crash testing technology that enables the installed sensor to detect an accident. These sensors further send an electric current to a wire that heats up and charges the inflator. Charging of the inflator undergoes a chemical reaction to fill create gas and inflate the flexible cushions positioned on the steering wheel or the dash or rear compartment in case of side-impact airbags. As the gas expands and fully inflates the airbag it starts deflating, thereby cushioning the impact.

Functions

The primary function of airbags is to reduce injuries in case of a car accident. This function follows laws of motion that states that all moving objects have speed and impetus.

With this law, airbags help protect the occupants in case of an accident when the moving car suddenly comes in contact with an outside force. This I because even if the car stops in such a case, the moving objects including the passengers within the car will keep on moving unless and until some powerful force is not applied to restrain the impact. Here, airbags help to restrain the impact. In short, this car safety technology proves to be a perfect life saver.

Airbags were invented and patented in the 1950s to cushion the impact and prevent or lessen injuries sustained in auto accidents. Studies show that thousands of lives have been saved by air bags, with fatalities reduced by up to 46 percent in airbag-equipped vehicles, but it is difficult to determine an exact number.

Airbags help prevent an occupant’s head from striking some part of the inside of the vehicle, and help distribute crash forces more evenly across the victim’s body. However, their rapid deployment can cause injuries or death.

After an impact, it takes only 1/20 of a second for an airbag to inflate and each bag is filled with gas. The first crash-sensing detector was introduced in the late 1960s, leading to airbag systems where the sensor or accelerometer triggers ignition of a gas generator to rapidly inflate the bag. The bag then absorbs some of the deceleration forces experienced when the occupant collides with and collapses it while the gas escapes through small vent holes during the next 3/10 of a second.

In the 1970s, Ford, GM and Chrysler offered airbags in select cars as a seatbelt replacement, and they became more common in the 1980s. In 1984, the U.S. government required all cars produced after April 1, 1989 to have driver’s side air bags, and in 1998, dual front airbags were mandated (1999 for light trucks). De-powered, second-generation airbags were required, because first-generation airbags designed for occupants not wearing seatbelts were causing injuries. Advances continue to improve airbag performance.

Today, many cars have additional airbags designed to protect occupants’ heads, protect from side impact, and protect passengers in the back seat. Various manufacturers have called their products Supplementary/Secondary Restraint Systems (SRS), Air Cushion Restraint Systems (ACRS) or Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR).

Why wear a safety belt? It’s important to wear a safety belt, even when in a vehicle equipped with air bags. Those not wearing seatbelts may slide or be thrown forward against the airbag module, and be seriously injured or killed if the airbag deploys. Most air bags only inflate once, and do not provide protection past an initial impact. Standard front-impact air bags do not deploy for side or rear impact crashes, or rollovers. In addition to airbags, one of the most important safety precautions in a vehicle is the seat belt, which when worn properly will prevent harmful injuries that can be caused by the airbag as well as from the collision of a car itself. What other airbag safety factors exist? Injuries and deaths associated with airbag deployment follow several trends. First is the presence of first-generation airbags. Later-generation, multi-stage bags deploy more slowly, and with less force, and better respond to crash forces and occupant size. Improved technology and education helped reduce airbag-related fatalities from 1996 to 2000 by more than 90 percent for children and by 60 percent for adults.

Still, people suffer abrasions, hearing damage from the explosive deployment, head injuries, eye damage (while wearing glasses), and broken noses, fingers, hands or arms. Additionally, items protruding from the mouth can cause harm including food items and smoking tobacco products. ‘ can cause additional injury, as can anything loose in the car in contact with the airbag module.

Airbags can present a serious danger to infants, small children and small adults. All adult drivers and passengers should move their seat back as far as possible, with drivers still at a comfortable distance to safely operate the vehicle. Individuals are advised to sit 10 inches away from the airbag and all the way back in their seats. Those with asthma should be aware that powders (cornstarch or talcum powder) used to lubricate the airbag as it deploys may trigger an asthma attack. Seek treatment after an accident involving airbag deployment.

Infants and children under 12 should never ride in the front passenger seat, even in a child safety seat or booster chair. It is dangerous to allow a child to sit in the front seat of a car because of the harmful affects an airbag can have on them, but it is unavoidable in many two-seater trucks with no back seats, which is why many truck companies have created a switch device that can turn an airbag off for a passenger — in the instance of a child in the front seat.

For vehicles without such switches, they can be installed to accommodate people with medical conditions or who can’t sit far enough back to stay 10 inches away from the airbag, or for those who need to transport infants or children and have no back seat or a back seat too small to fit a child seat.

Even after an accident when the airbags have not deployed, victims and rescue personnel must be cautious. Airbags can deploy some time after the initial impact, causing injury and death.

Airbags that have never been deployed from an accident should actually be replaced as a car begins to age in order to offer drivers and passengers the safest driving experience. Timing varies, but a 14-year life for an un-deployed airbag is typical. When there is a problem with an airbag, an indicator light usually located on the dashboard will become lit, but most airbags are self-tested prior to the vehicle being started.

If you have suffered injury from improper airbag deployment or a car crash, you may wish to consult with an experienced auto accident or personal injury attorney about your case. Your personal injury attorney may be able to help you receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and/or future medical care.

Airbags were invented and patented in the 1950s to cushion the impact and prevent or lessen injuries sustained in auto accidents. Studies show that thousands of lives have been saved by air bags, with fatalities reduced by up to 46 percent in airbag-equipped vehicles, but it is difficult to determine an exact number.
Airbags help prevent an occupant’s head from striking some part of the inside of the vehicle, and help distribute crash forces more evenly across the victim’s body. However, their rapid deployment can cause injuries or death.
An airbag is a flexible bag inflated by a gas in less than 1/20 of a second after an impact. The first crash-sensing detector was introduced in the late 1960s, leading to airbag systems where the sensor or accelerometer triggers ignition of a gas generator to rapidly inflate the bag. The bag then absorbs some of the deceleration forces experienced when the occupant collides with and collapses it while the gas escapes through small vent holes during the next 3/10 of a second.
In the 1970s, Ford, GM and Chrysler offered airbags in select cars as a seatbelt replacement, and they became more common in the 1980s. In 1984, the U.S. government required all cars produced after April 1, 1989 to have driver’s side air bags, and in 1998, dual front airbags were mandated (1999 for light trucks). De-powered, second-generation airbags were required, because first-generation airbags designed for occupants not wearing seatbelts were causing injuries. Advances continue to improve airbag performance.
Today, many cars have additional airbags designed to protect occupants’ heads, protect from side impact, and protect passengers in the back seat. Various manufacturers have called their products Supplementary/Secondary Restraint Systems (SRS), Air Cushion Restraint Systems (ACRS) or Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR).
Why wear a safety belt?
It’s important to wear a safety belt, even when in a vehicle equipped with air bags. Those not wearing seatbelts may slide or be thrown forward against the airbag module, and be seriously injured or killed if the airbag deploys. Most air bags only inflate once, and do not provide protection past an initial impact. Standard front-impact air bags do not deploy for side or rear impact crashes, or rollovers.

Seat belts reduce risk in many types of crashes, keep occupants in the position where they receive the most benefit from the air bag, and protect against multiple collisions, or collisions where the air bags are not triggered.
What other airbag safety factors exist?
Injuries and deaths associated with airbag deployment follow several trends. First is the presence of first-generation airbags. Later-generation, multi-stage bags deploy more slowly, and with less force, and better respond to crash forces and occupant size. Improved technology and education helped reduce airbag-related fatalities from 1996 to 2000 by more than 90 percent for children and by 60 percent for adults.
Still, people suffer abrasions, hearing damage from the explosive deployment, head injuries, eye damage (while wearing glasses), and broken noses, fingers, hands or arms. Anything in the mouth: a pipe, cigarette, toothpick, etc. can cause additional injury, as can anything loose in the car in contact with the airbag module.
Airbags can present a serious danger to infants, small children and small adults. All adult drivers and passengers should move their seat back as far as possible, with drivers still at a comfortable distance to safely operate the vehicle. They should also sit back in their seat, keeping at least 10 inches between the breastbone and the airbag module.
Additionally, those with asthma should be aware that powders (cornstarch or talcum powder) used to lubricate the airbag as it deploys may trigger an asthma attack. Seek treatment after an accident involving airbag deployment.
Infants and children under 12 should never ride in the front passenger seat, even in a child safety seat or booster chair. Manufacturers of pickup trucks and other vehicles with no back seat have begun including a switch to allow drivers to disable the passenger air bag when a child must ride in the passenger seat.
For vehicles without such switches, they can be installed to accommodate people with medical conditions or who can’t sit far enough back to stay 10 inches away from the airbag, or for those who need to transport infants or children and have no back seat or a back seat too small to fit a child seat.
Even after an accident when the airbags have not deployed, victims and rescue personnel must be cautious. Airbags can deploy some time after the initial impact, causing injury and death.
Most car manufacturers recommended airbags, if never deployed due to an accident, be replaced as their cars age, to ensure proper performance in the case of an accident. Timing varies, but a 14-year life for an un-deployed airbag is typical. Airbags typically run a self-test when the vehicle is started, and a dashboard indicator lights up when there is a problem.
If you have suffered injury from improper airbag deployment or a car crash, you may wish to consult with an experienced auto accident or personal injury attorney about your case. Your personal injury attorney may be able to help you receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and/or future medical care.

Since their invention in the 1950s, up through development during the 1970s and finally institution as a required feature in the 1980s, airbags have become an important factor in decreasing injuries of those involved in automotive accidents.

Airbags function as supplemental safety devices designed to work with seat belts to minimize injuries in vehicle accidents. Airbags are designed, in theory, to reduce the chance of an individual striking against the interior of a car thus reducing injury supposedly. In a moderate to severe automobile accident, both side and frontal impact airbags will likely deploy.

During a car accident various sensors throughout the vehicle determine the severity of the crash. An onboard computer, called the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), processes the information and, in an event of moderate to severe crash, it sends a signal to the inflater inside the air bag module. At that point the airbag is supposed to inflate, protecting the vehicle’s occupants from serious injury as a result of striking the vehicle’s interior.

As a result of the effectiveness of initial driver and passenger front airbags, the adoption of rear-passenger and side-impact curtain airbags has become more common over the last decade, in an attempt to create the highest degree of safety possible.

Unfortunately, as the number of airbags being placed in new cars has increased, so has the overall need for the airbags themselves. Thus, more airbags are manufactured and the overall quality of the airbags produced has seen some degree of decline.

Because of the increase of defective airbags from both abroad and in the United States, the overall quality has decreased with this contributing to the quality decrease. Because drivers usually never have the chance to test the airbags in their vehicle until the airbag’s functionality becomes a matter of life or death, the possibility of defective airbags has lead manufacturers of a variety of automobiles to issue manufacturers recalls for the airbags in the vehicles, if there exists a possibility that the airbags might malfunction or there might occur airbag failure.

The following is a non-comprehensive list of airbag failure-related automobile recalls instituted in April through June of 2007 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

April 2007

BMW is recalling 225 MY 2007 6-Series passenger vehicles for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, ‘Occupant Crash Protection.

The front passenger seat has a sensing system that detects if the seat is occupied. This sensing is programmed to detect if the seat is occupied by a small adult or certain child restraint seats. In some vehicles, airbag deactivation occurs automatically when child seats are placed in the front. In some cases, the sensing system may misinterpret a properly seated small adult as one of these specific child seats, resulting in deactivation of the front passenger airbag when the airbag might be beneficial for the adult, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

May 2007

DaimlerChrysler is recalling 270,958 MY 2005 Town and Country and Dodge Caravan minivans originally sold in or currently registered in the 27 states plus the District of Columbia that use greater amounts of salt for winter road deicing. The up-front (UF) airbag sensors that contain brass bushings installed in these vehicles may corrode and crack allowing water to enter the sensor. These sensors provide enhanced air bag performance in certain types of frontal crashes.

In one of these crashes, with one or both of the vehicle?s UF sensors inoperative, the occupants will not benefit from the enhanced air bag protection that these sensors would provide.

Hyundai de Puerto Rico is recalling 2,967 MY 2005-2007 Tucson vehicles. Static airbag deployment testing conducted by NHTSA using fifth percentile female dummies indicated that a small stature adult driver not wearing a seat belt and involved in a frontal or near frontal crash, the deployment of the driver air bag may result in an insufficient margin of compliance as measured by the test dummy used in the NHTSA test. However, this may actually increase a chance of injury depending on the conditions associated with the driver during the car crash.

June 2007

DaimlerChrysler is recalling 798 MY 2007-2008 Sebring and MY 2008 Dodge Avenger vehicles. The front seat track position sensors utilized for the air bag system may not function properly. This could increase the risk of injury to front seat occupants during certain crash conditions.

DaimlerChrysler is recalling 39 MY 2007 Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 trucks. The window airbag module diffuser material may contain hairline cracks. In the case of a crash with a trigger signal for the window airbag module, it is possible that such a diffuser may crack at the beginning of the airbag activation.

As previously described, there is always a risk for an automobile airbag to fail during an accident, which often sparks a recall if it does fail. The NHTSA continually monitors and provides information all vehicle airbag and safety recalls.