Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-17
2001-03-27
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C137S068220
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206420
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a device to allow pressurized gas into a vehicle safety device, preferably an airbag.
For example, how to inflate an airbag with gas escaping from a pressurized gas container is known from GB 2 277 984 A The pressurized gas container has openings via which the pressurized gas can escape in case of a crash in order to inflate the airbag. These openings are sealed gas-tight by means of a disk or film. The disks or film sealing the openings are dimensioned such that they would burst under the force of expansion from the compressed gas contained therein. They are therefore supported by means of a piston that lies outside the openings such that they cannot be destroyed based on the force of expansion of the compressed gas contained in the pressurized gas container. In case of a crash, the pistons supporting the disks or film are moved away so that the disks or film is/are burst by the force of expansion of the compressed gas and the compressed gas is released to inflate the airbag. This safety system presents the disadvantage that the piston serving to support the disk or film cannot be moved away fast enough or cannot be moved at all away from the openings due to existing friction or the risk of tilting so that a delayed and thus too-late inflation of the airbag occurs or, in an extreme case, the airbag cannot be inflated at all in a serious case.
Another device of the type mentioned at the beginning is also known, in which the disks or film is/are dimensioned such that they resist the force of expansion of the compressed gas. In this method of embodiment, in case of a crash, the disks or film is/are destroyed by a punch from a sharp tool controlled by means of a corresponding trigger arrangement so that the compressed gas can be released.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is, based on the state of the art pursuant to GB 2 277 984 A, to improve a generic device such that it is protected from malfunction with greater security.
Pursuant to the invention, this task is solved by the combination of characteristics in which a device to allow pressurized gas into a vehicle safety device, preferably an air bag, is provided with a pressurized container for compressed gas with at least one opening sealed with a gas-tight film covering, where the film covering is supported, over at least a large portion of its free surface, in a plane by a support device that is retractable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the opening. The support device is supported, in turn, on the pressurized container. The compressed gas produces a force through the film covering perpendicular to the plane of opening and directed outwardly that acts upon the support device. This force is in equilibrium with the force of reaction of the supporting support device that is retractable. A trigger arrangement can be activated in case of an accident which causes retraction of the support device in a manner such that the force of reaction fails, while after activation of the trigger arrangement, the support device is first moved a short distance relative to the diameter of the opening, in parallel to the plane of the opening, and can then move freely over a longer distance perpendicular to the plane of the opening. According to this, the device, to allow compressed gas to flow into a vehicle safety device, has a pressurized container for compressed gas with at least one opening that is sealed with a gas-tight film covering. This film covering is supported over at least a large part of its surface in a plane by a destructible or retractable support device that is attached, in turn, to the pressurized container. The compressed gas exerts a force perpendicular to the plane of the opening and directed outward that acts on the support device, where this force is in equilibrium with the power of reaction from the support device retractable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of opening. Furthermore the device has a trigger arrangement that can be activated in case of an accident, that causes the retraction of the support device in such manner that the force of reaction fails, while the support device is moved a short distance relative to the diameter of the opening, in parallel to the plane of opening and can then move freely over a longer distance perpendicular to the plane of the opening. This means that the support device is first moved a short distance to the side based on a forced movement, where this distance is determined such that the support device is no longer supported, but rather can fall freely into a corresponding space perpendicular to the plane of opening.
Based on the device pursuant to the invention, it is ensured that the device supporting the film can be moved rapidly and with no risk of hanging in case of a crash, so that the film sealing the opening is destroyed based on the force of expansion of the compressed gas and the release of the opening.
The support device can consist, pursuant to a particular method of embodiment of the invention, of a chassis firmly connected to the pressurized container and a support part connected with it. The support device can be supported by at least three points and the support can be removable at at least one point in the case of a crash so that the support device collapses and releases the film. As an alternative, the support device can be supported along at least two lines on the support frame and the support can be removable along at least one line, whereby again at least one opening of the pressurized container is also released.
At least one portion of the support device can advantageously form a wall component of a chamber that is provided with a pyrotechnic charge that is ignited following a crash so that this wall component is blown away by the pressure created by the ignited pyrotechnic charge, whereby again, the support device is torn away from the position supporting the film covering.
Pursuant to a method of embodiment of the invention that is advantageous in terms of design, the support device has a back-pressure plate essentially forming the support part that is firmly connected to a first part or formed as a unit therewith. In this method of embodiment, the support device also includes a second part that is connected to the chassis supporting the first part, whereby at least the first part extends, in the mounted position, perpendicular to the plane of opening. The support device is destroyed in that the first part is shifted parallel to the plane of opening in relation to the second part and that opposite to the second part, a recess is provided to accept the first part after destruction of the support device. This ensures that this first part cannot clamp underneath the film covering so that the desired release of the film covering is ensured in case of a crash.
In this design embodiment, the first part of the destructible support device can be advantageously formed as a unit with the back-pressure plate in such manner that, together, they form an L-shaped component.
The back-pressure plate can be formed such that its middle region is flattened in accordance with the impact of pressure by means of a safety pressure, i.e., the nominal pressure, that can be set, in such manner that the first part of the support device is moved from its initial position far enough that the entire support device is destroyed.
In the middle region of the first part of the support device, a weakened line running parallel to the plane of opening can be provided so that when a defined stress is exerted on it, the first part folds along the weakened line.
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patent: 3209937 (1965-10-01), Hirst et al.
patent: 3743318 (1973-07-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 4203616 (1980-05-01), Okada
patent: 4289327 (1981-09-01), Okada
patent: 5290060 (1994-03-01), Smith
patent: 5458368 (1995-10-01), Cermak
patent: 5474432 (1995-12-01), Nilsson
patent: 5642903 (1997-07-01), Headley
patent: 2224617 (1973-03-01), None
patent: 4311276 (1994-10-01), None
patent: 1352053 (1974-05-01), None
Ranjbar Mehrdad
Skanborg Torbjörn
Autoliv Development AB
Dilworth & Barrese
Dunn David R.
Swann J. J.
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