Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1998-04-30
2000-06-27
Culbreth, Eric
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
280741, B60R 2126
Patent
active
060797398
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to the field of motor-vehicle safety and deals more specifically with pyrotechnic gas generators for inflating air bags.
Current gas generators as described in numerous patents generally have a combustion chamber containing a propergol which generates gas which may, in the case of "hybrid" generators, be associated with a reserve of compressed gas. These generators are generally initiated by means of an electrical initiator. By way of example, PCT Patent Application WO 92/22441 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,978 correspond to these "hybrid" generators.
Recently, new so-called "progressive" generators have appeared and these, by means of two electric initiators placed in two separate combustion chambers, allow the flow rate of the generator to be adapted as a function of various parameters such as the temperature, the nature and the intensity of the impact, size and position of the passenger. The triggering of the two initiators is generally offset in time by a few milliseconds. This offset is achieved electronically and in a way that can be programmed in time in order to optimize the flow rate from the generator and therefore the pressure level obtained in the bag. U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,545, which forms the basis of the preamble of claim 1, describes a "passenger" gas generator. This generator comprises two chambers with pyrotechnic charge, separated by a consumable partition, and each containing an initiator. Depending on the intensity of the impact, the triggering of the two initiators which are connected to one single electrical supply may occur at different instants. When a low-voltage electrical signal is emitted, only one chamber is fired using an electric igniter, the second being fired when the partition separating the two chambers is consumed. On the other hand, when a high-voltage electrical signal is emitted, the two electric igniters are activated, and this causes simultaneous firing in both chambers. Furthermore, it is clear from this that the volume of gas released in both cases is identical. This generator is therefore indeed progressive and furthermore allows the two pyrotechnic charges to be ignited simultaneously.
Another type of progressive generator, more particularly designed to protect a passenger, is disclosed in Patent Application EP-A-382 552. This generator consists of a single-piece cylindrical part split into two parts by an internal partition and has two combustion chambers each containing a pyrotechnic charge and an initiator, each initiator being connected to a separate electrical supply, which increases the cost and size. In operation, the two chambers are fired, under all circumstances, in a way which is offset over time so as to optimize the flow rate of gas and therefore the pressure level obtained in the air bag.
These systems display numerous drawbacks, such as their bulk and their cost, and this considerably restricts their application, particularly for "driver" systems. The generators described today in patents and in publications relate essentially to "passenger" gas generators which are less restricted in terms of size and weight than "driver" generators. Patent Application EP 0 609 981 defines a "driver" gas generator which makes it possible to vary the duration of combustion of the pyrotechnic charge by using two initiators which can be fired in succession or simultaneously. However, the use of two independent and separate initiators requires electrical supplies which are also separate and this increases the cost and size.
All of these problems mean that such technologies are very difficult to apply to generators of a low cost and small size, and therefore in particular to "driver" generators.
Those skilled in the art therefore have no solutions available to them that will allow the same functions to be obtained using means which are better suited to cost and size constraints.
The object of the invention is precisely to propose such a generator.
The invention therefore relates to: and comprising in particular a hollow body comprising a lid and a side
REFERENCES:
patent: 3407732 (1968-10-01), Przybylik et al.
patent: 3724870 (1973-04-01), Kurokawa et al.
patent: 3773352 (1973-11-01), Radke
patent: 3773353 (1973-11-01), Trowbridge et al.
patent: 3904221 (1975-09-01), Shiki et al.
patent: 3972545 (1976-08-01), Kirchoff et al.
patent: 5301978 (1994-04-01), Munzel et al.
patent: 5400487 (1995-03-01), Gioutsos et al.
Bourcart Denis
Perotto Christian
Culbreth Eric
Livbag S.N.C.
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