21 things you did not know about airbags in cars

The airbags are one of the most important elements of passive safety in a car. They are hiding many secrets that perhaps do not know. Know them below.

1. The airbags are fabric bags, synthetic polyamide fiber or nylon, that fill with nitrogen at the time that the sensors arranged in the vehicle (small steel balls, moving, closes an electrical circuit) the fired from impacts register 3 g.

2. In addition to the boom to produce the ignition of the pyrotechnic system, upon inflation it remains in the passenger compartment air one white powder: is talc which facilitates tissue deployed airbag, because this mineral (lowest hardness Mohs) prevents sticking.

3. The target of airbags is cushion vehicle occupants impact against various rigid elements of their interior, as the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield, and side pillars crystals, etc. It is only really effective if used together belt.

4. airbags reduce by 30 percent the risk of death respect to vehicles that do not have them, in which the only retainer is the seat belt.

5. It is mandatory for the vehicles, Since 2006, the two front airbags. They protect in frontal to the head and chest of the driver and passenger impact. The first is always situated in the core of the steering wheel; The second, usually on the dashboard above the glove box. In some cars the latter can also be deployed from the top of the roof, for example; or even the bottom of the dashboard.

6. Not only front, a car can have many more airbags, and side. Front or rear, are deployed from the outer petals of the seats and cushion the impact against the chest side of the passenger compartment.

7. airbags ceiling or curtain head protection against impacts occupant side windows or pillars. They also prevent the intrusion of objects. They unfold, usually from the side pillars.

8. There are other airbags less common, as the knee; It is protecting, when inflated under the steering column, joints driver impacts the dashboard. Much more are other exotic as the trailing curtain, in the Toyota iQ, is mounted behind the rear seat and displayed on the sides and above the rear headrests if rear scope.

9 rarest airbags perhaps the ones who, in some GM models are deployed between the occupants of the front seats, to avoid the impact of each other. Protect the head and thorax

10. It also can be mounted airbags belts, as some models Ford, as the Mondeo, in the Spanish market. They are integrated into the seat belt and his work is to extend the clamping area in case of impact. Very useful, especially in the case of use by children, because by increasing their size, the surface on which dissipates the force is greater.

11. Not only in the cabin, but also There are airbags located in the body. Is the case of airbags for pedestrians. They unfold under the hood and protect of the windshield, so that the head of a pedestrian, should be run over, receive less damage.

12. All airbags swell by a pyrotechnic effect. Closing an electrical circuit, a small chip of sodium azide (NaN3) decomposes in thousandths second and causes a chemical reaction resulting nitrogen inflating airbag: no bottles of this harmless gas in coches.13. The bag deployment is very fast: in about 30 milliseconds, up to 10 more for the front passenger. And the sides are even faster. But the really effective to cushion the impact is the progressive deflation, which takes about 50 milliseconds. So not, as in some films, the airbag is not inflated upon impact, since the gas inside escape by grids arranged in the fabric.

13. The deployment of airbag It is a approximate speed of 400 km / h. That is, to 111 m / s.

14. The larger airbag is usually the front passenger, that can have a volume of up 120 liters. Those of American cars tend to be larger Europeans: the other side of the Atlantic is not required to wear the belt and its size tries to alleviate this deficiency.

15. The force with which swell is similar to that of a a boxer punch: 340 kg.

16. The first mark which sold one of its cars with an airbag, in this case installed on the steering wheel, Mercedes was: in 1981. However, in 1967 there were already pioneering designs were developed and in 1973 the earliest. In 1977 Bosch is the designer who would be the first installed in a production car.

17. Some airbags expire, as yoghurts. But like these, which can be eaten they exceeded the date printed on the packaging, have passed 10 years (which is the guaranteed life for the first generations of airbags) does not mean that they will not function properly after that time. In modern models they are typically designed to last the life of the car.

18. It is necessary to review the airbags. And it is normal that this revision is indicated after five years of the car or after reaching 120,000 km. Of course, if activated, they should be replaced: they are not reusable.

19. To prevent accidental deployment of airbags upon impact, a common measure of fire departments is disable the battery terminals. However, although this measure reduces the risk of inflation, the airbags may swell even without the electricity and, in fact, the cartridges are still active. Hence it is essential to know (especially in the case of releases) where they stand. So in the vehicle brands can be found with the words “airbag” or “SRS” (safety restraint system).

20. It should be noted that the front passenger airbag is incompatible with the use of child seats, On the other hand, occupation prohibited by the rules. However, there are exceptions to this occupation: if the car has no rear seats, if the rest of the seats are already occupied by children under exceeding size 135 cm or if the rear seats do not allow you to install the child restraint system. Of a child placed in their rear-facing passenger seat in the chair, we keep in mind we only do this if you can disable the front airbag.

21. Some Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota, have made a recent call a recent review of its vehicles (Corolla and Yaris) for manufacturing defects in their airbags. However, it is not the only brand using Takata airbags, but they can also be found, as well as in other Japanese brands, American or even Ferrari models. The Japanese manufacturer of airbags is currently considering filing for bankruptcy in subsidiaries such as the United States and seeking guarantees that allow them to face the huge costs involved reviewing and withdrawing 100 million units installed in vehicles, as well as cope with millions in fines.

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