1-40. (Canceled)
41. A gas flow distributor for a lateral airbag module, comprising:
a holder configured to surround outflow openings of a gas generator,
wherein the holder includes an impact element and a gas-guiding duct,
wherein the gas-guiding duct is configured to guide gas flowing between the impact element and the gas generator,
wherein the impact element is configured so that a gas flow emerging from the outflow openings of the gas generator impacts against the impact element and is thereby deflected and divided into a first gas flow and a second gas flow,
wherein the first gas flow is deflected in a first direction along a circumferential surface of the gas flow distributor toward a first gas outlet region and the second gas flow is deflected in a second direction along the circumferential surface of the gas flow distributor toward a second gas outlet region,
wherein the first and second gas flows emerge from the gas outlet regions along a tube axis of the gas generator, and
wherein the first and second gas outlet regions are opposite one another.
42. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas-guiding duct runs essentially between an outside of the gas generator and an inside of the impact element.
43. The gas flow distributor of claim 42, wherein the gas-guiding duct runs essentially between an outside of a region of the holder that surrounds the gas generator and an inside of the impact element.
44. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the impact element has an essentially circular cross section.
45. The gas flow distributor of claim 44, wherein the gas generator comprises a tubular gas generator and the tube axis of the gas generator and a cross-sectional axis of the impact element are spaced apart from each other.
46. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the impact element is formed as a single piece with an end portion of the holder.
47. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas-guiding duct essentially has a circular ring-shaped cross section andor a crescent-shaped cross section.
48. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas outlet regions of the gas-guiding duct andor the outlet openings of the holder lead into at least one gas bag.
49. The gas flow distributor of claim 48, wherein the gas outlet regions of the gas-guiding duct andor the outlet openings of the holder lead in each case into different chambers of the gas bag andor into different gas bags.
50. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the impact element andor the holder serve to separate two gas bag chambers.
51. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein at least two gas bags are attached to the impact element andor the holder and in each case at least one gas-guiding duct andor at least one outlet opening leads into one gas bag in each case.
52. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the holder comprises a dimensionally stable material so that the holder is not deformed by the gas flow emerging from the gas generator.
53. The gas flow distributor of claim 52, wherein the holder comprises metal or a die casting.
54. The gas flow distributor of claim 53, where the holder is configured to hold a tubular gas generator.
55. The gas flow distributor of claim 54, wherein the holder includes a holding region for surrounding a tubular gas generator.
56. The gas flow distributor of claim 55, wherein the holding region comprises a tubular shape.
57. The gas flow distributor of claim 56, wherein a cross section of the holding region comprises a continuous curve.
58. The gas flow distributor of claim 57, wherein the continuous curve comprises a a circular shape or a polygonal shape.
59. The gas flow distributor of claim 56, wherein the holding region comprises an essentially hollow, cylindrical shape.
60. The gas flow distributor of claim 55, where the holder is configured to allow gas flowing along a circumferential surface of the holding region in a direction of extent of the tubular gas generator into a gas bag.
61. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the holder includes holder outlet openings through which gas which has flowed into an interior of the holder can emerge from the gas generator and can flow into a gas bag to thereby inflate the gas bag.
62. The gas flow distributor of claim 61, wherein at least one holder outlet opening is provided in a casing of the holding region.
63. The gas flow distributor of claim 61, wherein a size of the holder outlet opening can be set.
64. The gas flow distributor of claim 61, wherein the holder outlet opening is at least partially closed by a covering which is opened by the gas flow emerging from the gas generator.
65. The gas flow distributor of claim 61, wherein at least one holder outlet opening is configured to conduct the gas flow emerging from the gas generator along a circumferential surface of the holding region in a direction of extent of the gas generator.
66. The gas flow distributor of claim 55, wherein the holder is configured so that the gas flow emerging from the gas generator is held in the holding region and is at least in part initially reflected against an inner wall of the holding region before the gas flow emerges from the holder.
67. The gas flow distributor of claim 55, wherein the inner wall of the holding region is spaced apart from the gas generator at least in a rejoin of the gas generator outflow openings.
68. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the holder is configured to be connected directly to a supporting part of a motor vehicle.
69. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the holder is configured to be connected to a supporting part of a motor vehicle indirectly via a further assembly.
70. The gas flow distributor of claim 69, wherein the further assembly comprises a subassembly of an airbag module.
71. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas flow distributor is configured to serve as a generator support and includes a connecting region for connecting the generator support to a supporting part of a motor vehicle.
72. The gas flow distributor of claim 71, wherein the connecting region includes fastening points for fastening the generator support to a further subassembly.
73. The gas flow distributor of claim 72, where the connecting region includes a flange.
74. The gas flow distributor of claim 73, wherein the flange protrudes from a holding region of the generator support.
75. The gas flow distributor of claim 74, wherein the holding region and the connecting region of the generator support comprise a single-piece design.
76. The gas flow distributor of claim 51, wherein a separating gap running between two gas bags runs in a region of the impact element andor the holder.
77. The gas flow distributor of claim 76, wherein the separating gap is configured to be braced in a gastight manner via the impact element.
78. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein a function of the impact element andor of the holder is maintained during plastic deformation.
79. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the gas flow distributor is included in a lateral airbag module.
80. The gas flow distributor of claim 41, wherein the first and second gas outlet regions are the sole gas outlet regions.
81. A lateral airbag module, comprising:
a gas generator for inflating a gas bag; and
a gas flow distributor including a holder configured to surround outflow openings of the gas generator,
wherein the holder includes an impact element and a gas-guiding duct,
wherein the gas-guiding duct is configured to guide gas flowing between the impact element and the gas generator,
wherein the impact element is configured so that a gas flow emerging from the outflow openings of the gas generator impacts against the impact element and is thereby deflected and divided into a first gas flow and a second gas flow,
wherein the first gas flow is deflected in a first direction along a circumferential surface of the gas flow distributor toward a first gas outlet region and the second gas flow is deflected in a second direction along the circumferential surface of the gas flow distributor toward a second gas outlet region,
wherein the first and second gas flows emerge from the gas outlet regions along a tube axis of the gas generator, and
wherein the first and second gas outlet regions are opposite one another.
82. The lateral airbag module of claim 81, further comprising a gas bag configured to be inflated by the gas generator, wherein a holding region of the gas flow distributor is arranged within the gas bag.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A cavitation system, comprising:
a cavitation chamber, wherein at least one wall of said cavitation chamber comprises a flat external surface;
an acoustic driver assembly coupled to said cavitation chamber, comprising:
at least one piezo-electric transducer;
a tail mass adjacent to a first side of said at least one piezo-electric transducer;
a head mass with a first end surface and a second end surface, wherein said first end surface of said head mass is adjacent to a second side of said at least one piezo-electric transducer and said second end surface of said head mass is adjacent to a portion of said flat external surface, wherein said second end surface of said head mass has a curvature which defines a ring of contact between an outer perimeter of said second end surface of said head mass and said flat external surface;
means for assembling said acoustic driver assembly; and
means for attaching said acoustic driver assembly to said flat external surface.
2. The cavitation system of claim 1, wherein said assembling means and said attaching means comprise a centrally located threaded means coupling said tail mass, said at least one piezo-electric transducer and said head mass to said flat external surface, wherein said centrally located threaded means is threaded into a corresponding threaded hole in said flat external surface, wherein said threaded hole extends at least part way through said cavitation chamber wall.
3. The cavitation system of claim 2, said centrally located threaded means further comprising a corresponding threaded nut, wherein said threaded nut compresses said tail mass, said at least one piezo-electric transducer and said head mass against said flat external surface.
4. The cavitation system of claim 2, wherein said threaded hole extends completely through said cavitation chamber wall, and wherein said acoustic driver assembly further comprises a sealant interposed between said centrally located threaded means and said threaded hole.
5. The cavitation system of claim 2, further comprising an insulating sleeve surrounding a portion of said centrally located threaded means, wherein said insulating sleeve is interposed between said centrally located threaded means and said at least one piezo-electric transducer.
6. The cavitation system of claim 1, said assembling means further comprising a first centrally located threaded means coupling said tail mass, said at least one piezo-electric transducer and said head mass together, wherein said first centrally located threaded means is threaded into a corresponding threaded hole in said head mass.
7. The cavitation system of claim 6, said first centrally located threaded means further comprising a corresponding threaded nut, wherein said threaded nut compresses said tail mass and said at least one piezo-electric transducer against said head mass.
8. The cavitation system of claim 6, said attaching means further comprising a second centrally located threaded means, wherein a first end portion of said second centrally located threaded means is threaded into said head mass and a second end portion of said second centrally located threaded means is threaded into a corresponding threaded hole in said flat external surface.
9. The cavitation system of claim 6, said attaching means further comprising an epoxy bond joint.
10. The cavitation system of claim 6, said attaching means further comprising a braze joint.
11. The cavitation system of claim 6, said attaching means further comprising a diffusion bond joint.
12. The cavitation system of claim 6, further comprising an insulating sleeve surrounding a portion of said first centrally located threaded means, wherein said insulating sleeve is interposed between said first centrally located threaded means and said at least one piezo-electric transducer.
13. The cavitation system of claim 1, said head mass further comprising a first head mass portion and a second head mass portion, wherein said first head mass portion includes said first end surface and said second head mass portion includes said second end surface, and wherein a first threaded means couples said first head mass portion to said second head mass portion.
14. The cavitation system of claim 13, said assembling means further comprising a second threaded means coupling said tail mass, said at least one piezo-electric transducer and said first head mass portion together, wherein said second threaded means is threaded into a corresponding threaded hole in said first head mass portion.
15. The cavitation system of claim 14, said second threaded means further comprising a corresponding threaded nut, wherein said threaded nut compresses said tail mass and said at least one piezo-electric transducer against said first head mass portion.
16. The cavitation system of claim 13, said attaching means further comprising a third threaded means, wherein a first end portion of said third threaded means is threaded into said second head mass portion and a second end portion of said third threaded means is threaded into a corresponding threaded hole in said flat external surface.
17. The cavitation system of claim 13, said attaching means further comprising an epoxy bond joint.
18. The cavitation system of claim 13, said attaching means further comprising a braze joint.
19. The cavitation system of claim 13, said attaching means further comprising a diffusion bond joint.
20. The cavitation system of claim 14, further comprising an insulating sleeve surrounding a portion of said second threaded means, wherein said insulating sleeve is interposed between said second threaded means and said at least one piezo-electric transducer.
21. The cavitation system of claim 1, wherein a surface corresponding to said ring of contact is shaped to increase an area corresponding to said ring of contact.
22. The cavitation system of claim 1, wherein said at least one piezo-electric transducer is comprised of a first and a second piezo-electric transducer, wherein adjacent surfaces of said first and second piezo-electric transducers have the same polarity.
23. The cavitation system of claim 22, further comprising an electrode interposed between said adjacent surfaces of said first and second piezo-electric transducers.
24. The cavitation system of claim 1, wherein said tail mass and said head mass are of approximately equal mass.
25. The cavitation system of claim 1, wherein said tail mass and said head mass are comprised of stainless steel.
26. The cavitation system of claim 1, further comprising a void filling material interposed between at least two adjacent contact surfaces of said acoustic driver assembly.
27. The cavitation system of claim 1, further comprising a void filling material interposed between said second surface of said head mass and said flat external surface.