ALWAR INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY

A PRESENTATION ON
SAFETY AIR BAGS
PRESENTED BY:
RITESH KUMAR(12EIAME041)
IV YEAR (ME)
IET, ALWAR

PRESENTED TO:
PROF. AMIT MALIK
HOD, MECHANICAL
IET, ALWAR

AIRBAGS

INTRODUCTION TO AIRBAGS
An air bag is an inflatable cushion
designed to
protectautomobileoccupants from
serious injury in the case of a
collision.
The air bag is also known as an air
cushion restraint system (ACRS) or
an air bag supplemental restraint
system (SRS).
This is because the air bag is
designed to supplement the
protection offered by seat belts.

A car air bag

DEVELOPMENT OF AIR BAGS

First patent on an inflatable crash-landing device for airplanes
was filed during World War II.
In the 1980s the first commercial air bags appeared in
automobiles.
Ever since 1988, it became a binding.
Efforts to adapt the airbag was stranded due to prohibitive
prices and technical hurdles.

WHAT ARE AIRBAGS ?

Supplementary Restraint System for driver and/or
passenger safety in case of a crash.
Basic Mechanism: A thin nylon bag in the steering
wheel / above glove compartment inflates in the event
of an impact and prevents the driver/passenger from
hitting the steering wheel/dashboard.
3 Main Components:
1) Airbag module
2) Diagnostic Unit
3) Crash sensors

DIAGNOSTIC UNIT
Enables inflator unit and sensors when vehicle is turned on,
performs self check.
Constantly monitors airbag readiness and indicates
malfunctioning through an indicator on dashboard
Usually stores electricity to activate airbag in the event that a
crash damages the battery / link to battery

AIR BAG MODULE

Contains both inflator unit and light-weight fabric airbag and is

located either inside:
1) Steering wheel hub
2) Above glove compartment
3) Near side compartment (as separate/combined
head/side/window-curtain airbag)

SENSORS
Several crash sensors located in the front of vehicle and in
the passenger compartment
Each senses the sudden deceleration or impact in the event
of a crash and flips a mechanical switch to indicate a crash.

BALL AND MAGNET TYPE SENSOR

SPRING AND ROLLER TYPE

WORKING OF AIRBAGS
Air Bags are designed to inflate in frontal impacts in which the
car strikes about 16 Kilometers per hour .
After collision , sensors sends an electric current to igniter
system.
The electric current heats a filament (wire), which ignites a
capsule which in turn ignites the gas-generating pallets.
The gas expands quickly and inflation of airbags thereby
takes
place, which breaks through a plastic cover in the
steering wheel

FINAL ASSEMBLY OF AIR BAG MODULE

The air bag is then mounted to the
tested inflator assembly.
Next, the air bag is folded, and the
breakaway plastic horn pad cover is
installed.
Finally,
the
completed
module
assembly is inspected, tested and
packaged.
Assembly of an air bag module

INFLATION SYSTEM
NaN3 + KNO3 = produce large volume of
nitrogen gas.
Hot Blasts of the nitrogen inflate the air
bag from its storage site up to 322Kmph.

AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

Before deployment

A front air bag

After deployment

A side air bag deployed

The airbag system ignites a solid

propellant (NaN3), which burns
extreme rapidly to create a large
volume of Nitrogen gas to inflate
the bag. The bag then
literally bursts from its storage
site and a second later, the gas
quickly dissipates through tiny
holes in the bag, thus
deflating the bag.

11

It is possible to be injured by an airbag. Usually this is

caused by the passenger hitting the airbag early. For full
protection, it is important that nobody sit with his face
directly in line with an expanding airbag. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends
that passengers set at least 18 inches from an airbag.

FUTURE OF AIR BAGS

SMART SYSTEMS
Weight Sensors:
Determine what type of occupant is in the seat, i.e. adult or
child.
Infrared Occupant detection:
To detect the distance the passenger is from the airbag.
Capacitive Reflective Occupant Sensing:
Identify the distance passengers from the dashboard.
To discriminate between a human occupant and inanimate
objects.

Updated sensors :
Deploys the seat belt pretensioners faster to
get benefits of the airbags.
Centralized electronic Control Unit:
The new sensor technology through new
software.

CONCLUSION
Air bags are of greater importance in todays
vehicles since safety of human life is of prior
importance.
So far safe riding and for saving the precious
life the safety bags must be implemented.
Lets hope every automobile manufacturer
implement the same.

THANK YOU !!

ANY QUERIES ??