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RESERVOIR IN THE STEERING COLUMN

  • US 3,632,135 A
  • Filed: 09/15/1969
  • Issued: 01/04/1972
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1969
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition for restraining movement of the occupant during an accident and a closed elongated fluid reservoir for storing fluid for inflating said confinement to expand said confinement from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition, the improvement comprising a drive means drivingly connected with a first end of the reservoir and for driving connection to a steering wheel to transmit steering rotation from the steering wheel to the reservoir to rotate the entire reservoir, the reservoir having a second end for driving connection to a drive shaft for steering the vehicle, said drive means including first and second drive members, one of said drive members having a drive connection with said first end of said reservoir and means for clamping the steering wheel between said first and second drive members, a housing means supporting said reservoir and first and second drive members for rotation relative thereto, electrically operated means carried by said reservoir to effect flow therefrom, and roller bearing means interposed between said housing means and said first drive member for supporting said reservoir for rotation and operating to provide electrical energy to said electrically operated means.

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