Volkswagen Passat '97, User Manual

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10
Vehicle safety
Side airbag design
The side airbags are integrated in the front
seat backrests.
The folded airbag and gas generator are
accommodated inside the plastic housing.
When the side airbag is triggered, the gas
cartridges in the gas generator are opened
and the pyrotechnical charge ignites. The
highly pressurised gas contained inside
the cartridge expands instantaneously,
inflating the airbag.
While expanding, the gas cools and mixes with
the hot gas of the pyrotechnical charge. The
temperature of the gas mixture is therefore so
low that there is no risk of burning.
The side airbag has a capacity of approx. 12
litres.
Housing
Air bag
Gas generator
with gas cartridge and
pyrotechnical charge
SSP 192/005