ACTUATOR AND VEHICLE PROTECTION SYSTEM
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator, especially for a vehicle protection system, comprises at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) the wire (14) is heated and experiences a change of length. The vehicle protection system is, for example, an airbag system comprising an airbag and a regulating mechanism for the internal airbag pressure, wherein the wire (14) of the actuator (10) is connected to the regulating mechanism so that a change of shape of the wire (14) exerts a force on the regulating mechanism.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1-22. -22. (canceled)
- 23. An actuator, especially for a vehicle protection system, comprising at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length, wherein the pyrotechnical element (12) is a shock tube.
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32. An actuator, especially for a vehicle protection system, comprising at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length,
wherein the pyrotechnical element (12) comprises a coating applied to the wire (14) and made from pyrotechnical material (20).
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33. A vehicle protection system comprising an actuator (10) comprising at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length,
wherein the vehicle protection system is an airbag system comprising an airbag (130) and includes a regulating mechanism (22; -
122-522) for the internal airbag pressure, wherein the wire (14) of the actuator is connected to the regulating mechanism (22;
122-522) so that a change of shape of the wire (14) exerts a force (F) on the regulating mechanism (22;
122-522). - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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122-522) for the internal airbag pressure, wherein the wire (14) of the actuator is connected to the regulating mechanism (22;
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40. A vehicle protection system comprising an actuator (10) having at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length,
wherein the actuator (10) is connected to an unlocking device (880) which is configured to release a loaded component (668) upon activation of the actuator (10).
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41. A vehicle protection system comprising an actuator (10) having at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length,
wherein the actuator (10) can be additionally heated by applying an electric voltage.
Specification