document_0900452a81b1b9de.book Seite 207 Donnerstag, 26. Juli 2007 9:16 09
Airbag system
How the head-protection airbags work
207
Head-protection airbags (sideguard)
When fully inflated, the airbags reduce the risk of head or
chest injury in a side collision.
Description of head-protection airbags
The head-protection airbags work together with the side
airbag system to give extra protection in a side impact.
Fig. 221 Head-protec-
tion airbags in inflated
condition
Fig. 220 Location of
head-protection
airbags above the
doors
In certain types of side collisions the head-protection airbag is trig-
gered together with the side airbag on the impact side of the vehicle
⇒ fig. 221.
The head-protection airbags are located above the doors on the left
and right sides of the vehicle ⇒ page 207, fig. 220. The locations of
the airbags are marked with the word “AIRBAG”.
When the system is triggered, the airbag fills with a propellant gas
and covers the entire area in front of the side windows, including
the door pillars. In this way the system is able to protect both the
front and the rear occupants on the side of the vehicle where the
impact occurs. The head-protection airbag inflates to soften the
impact if an occupant strikes parts of the interior or objects outside
the vehicle with their head. By reducing the head impact and
restraining uncontrolled movement of the head, the airbag also
reduces the forces acting on the neck. In addition, since it covers the
front door pillar when fully inflated, the head-protection airbag also
gives extra protection if the car should collide with an obstacle at an
oblique angle.
In conjunction with the three-point seat belts and side airbags, the
head-protection airbags give the occupants additional protection
against head and neck injuries in a severe side collision ⇒
“Important safety notes on the head-protection airbags” on
page 208.
in
Together with other design features (including cross-braces in the
seats and the overall strength of the body structure), the sideguard
system offers an effective further improvement to occupant protec-
tion in side impacts.
The front airbags, side airbags and head-protection airbags may be
triggered together in certain types of accident.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the
airbags have to inflate extremely rapidly (within fractions of a
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