Apparatus and method for making motor vehicle air bags, and air bags made by same
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method of manufacturing a plurality of air bags for use in a motor vehicle, and air bags made by same. First and second fabric layers of a type of fabric suitable for use in a vehicle air bag are fed into a seaming station. At the seaming station, the fabric layers are seamed together according to a predetermined seaming pattern so as to produce a composite textile structure defining a plurality of individual air bags to be cut therefrom. Depending on the application, the seaming may be accomplished by stitching or welding. If the fabric layers are not precoated, a suitable coating material may then be applied to both outer surfaces of the composite textile structure so as to render the air bags substantially impermeable to passage of air. Finally, the plurality of individual air bags are cut from the composite textile structure.
1. A method of manufacturing a plurality of air bags for use in a motor vehicle, said method comprising steps of:
drawing a predetermined quantity of fabric from a first fabric roll and a second fabric roll to respectively yield a first fabric layer juxtaposed to a second fabric layer, said fabric layers being drawn together from a location upstream of a seaming station into said seaming station, each of said fabric layers being of a type suitable for use in a vehicle air bag;
seaming said first and second fabric layers together at said seaming station according to a predetermined seaming pattern so as to produce a composite textile structure defining a plurality of individual air bags to be cut therefrom; and
roiling said composite textile structure onto a take-up roll for storage and transportation.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first and second fabric layers are layers of uncoated fabric.
3. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein both of said first and second fabric layers comprise a base fabric precoated with a coating material.
4. A method as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer are juxtaposed such that respective coated sides thereof will be face-to-face.
5. A method as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said coating material is a silicone coating material.
6. A method as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said coating material is a urethane coating material.
7. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said seaming step is accomplished by stitching.
8. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said seaming step is accomplished by RF welding.
9. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said seaming step is accomplished by ultrasonic welding.
10. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said individual air bags comprise side curtain air bags.