Ammunition and explosives – Igniting devices and systems – Electrical primer or ignitor
Utility Patent
1999-04-06
2001-01-02
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Igniting devices and systems
Electrical primer or ignitor
C102S216000, C102S202500, C102S202000, C102S200000, C102S530000, C102S531000, C280S740000, C280S741000, C280S743100
Utility Patent
active
06167808
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, and particularly relates to an electrically actuatable initiator for an air bag inflator.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
It is known to inflate an inflatable device, such as an air bag, to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of an impact to the vehicle of a magnitude above a predetermined threshold. The air bag is inflated by inflation fluid from an inflator. The inflation fluid may be stored gas which is released from the inflator and/or gas generated by ignition of combustible gas generating material in the inflator.
The inflator uses an electrically actuatable initiator to open the container to release the stored gas and/or to ignite the gas generating material. It is typical to provide an electrical short circuit between the terminals of the initiator, prior to assembly of the inflator into the vehicle, to prevent accidental firing of the initiator due to stray electrical currents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an initiator for use in a vehicle having electric circuitry to be electrically connected with the initiator by an electrical connector. The initiator comprises first and second coaxial. terminals engageable by the electrical connector to connect the terminals electrically with the vehicle circuitry. Electrical insulation electrically insulates between the first and second terminals. The initiator also comprises a spring made of an electrically conductive material. The spring has a first portion electrically connected with the first terminal. The spring has a first condition, when the first and second terminals are not connected with the electrical connector, in which a second portion of the spring is in electrical contact with the second terminal, thereby shorting the initiator. The spring has a third portion which is engageable by the electrical connector upon connection of the electrical connector with the first and second terminals and which is moved by the electrical connector to move the spring from the first condition to a second condition in which the second portion of the spring is spaced apart from and not in electrical contact with the second terminal.
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patent: 3457382 (1969-07-01), Boswell
patent: 3529549 (1970-09-01), Hazelet
patent: 3580176 (1971-05-01), Boswell
patent: 3685452 (1972-08-01), Held
patent: 3858516 (1975-01-01), Rabinow
patent: 3885223 (1975-05-01), Green
patent: 4267567 (1981-05-01), Nygaard et al.
patent: 4831934 (1989-05-01), Golay et al.
patent: 5012740 (1991-05-01), Hardt
patent: 5054395 (1991-10-01), Vetter et al.
patent: 5350194 (1994-09-01), Fohl
patent: 5636865 (1997-06-01), Riley et al.
Jordan Charles T.
S{acute over (a)}nchez Glenda L.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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