Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-26
2001-01-23
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176518
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. In particular, the present invention relates to an inflator having a temperature responsive valve for controlling flow of inflation fluid out of the inflator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, is inflated upon the occurrence of a vehicle crash. The air bag is part of an apparatus which further includes a crash sensor and an inflator. The crash sensor senses vehicle conditions that indicate the occurrence of a crash. When the crash sensor senses a crash-indicating condition of at least a predetermined threshold level, the inflator is actuated and emits inflation fluid that inflates the air bag into the vehicle occupant compartment. The air bag can then engage a vehicle occupant to help restrain the occupant.
The manner in which the air bag engages the vehicle occupant can be influenced by the inflation fluid pressure in the air bag. The inflation fluid pressure, in turn, can be influenced by the ambient temperature.
The manner in which the air bag engages the vehicle occupant can also be influenced by conditions such as the force with which the occupant moves against the air bag. Those conditions, in turn, can be influenced by vehicle conditions, such as the severity of the crash, and/or by vehicle occupant conditions, such as the size, weight and position of the occupant. Therefore, it may be desirable to regulate the inflation fluid pressure in the air bag in response to one or more of these conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and a container that contains a source of inflation fluid. A valve is located outside the container in an inflation fluid flow path extending from the container to the protection device. An initiator is actuatable to initiate a flow of the inflation fluid from the container to the valve along the flow path.
The valve includes a metering member and a thermostatic metal element. The thermostatic metal element engages the metering member to move the metering member in the flow path under the influence of changes in the ambient temperature prior to initiation of the flow of inflation fluid from the container to the valve.
The present invention is also an apparatus comprising an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and a container which contains a source of inflation fluid. A valve is located outside the container in an inflation fluid flow path extending from the container to the protection device. An initiator is actuatable to initiate a flow of the inflation fluid from the container to the valve along the flow path. The valve includes a metering member and a thermostatic metal element engaging the metering member to move the metering member in the flow path under the influence of changes in the ambient temperature prior to initiation of the flow. The metering member normally has an initial position defining an initial outlet flow area. The valve further includes pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, produces combustion products that develop a thrust which moves the metering member to a subsequent position defining a subsequent outlet flow area greater than the initial outlet flow area.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4006919 (1977-02-01), Neuman
patent: 4227646 (1980-10-01), Hart et al.
patent: 5433476 (1995-07-01), Materna et al.
patent: 5479786 (1996-01-01), Giasson et al.
patent: 5551723 (1996-09-01), Mahon et al.
patent: 5609359 (1997-03-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5613702 (1997-03-01), Goetz
patent: 5820162 (1998-10-01), Fink
patent: 6062598 (2000-05-01), Faigle
patent: WO9734785 (1997-09-01), None
Texas Instruments Clad Thermostat Metals Brochure, pp. 2-7, date unknown.
Rice Kenneth R.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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