SELF-CONTAINED PASSENGER RESTRAINING SYSTEM

• US 3,663,035 A
• Filed: 01/27/1970
• Issued: 05/16/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ensign Bickford Aerospace Co., Hendricks C Louise SOLE HEIR of The Estate of William E Hendricks Dec'D, Leory Irvin, Robert Braden, Virginia L. Blackwell
• Original Assignee: Thomas W. Norton
• Inventors: Norton, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/006,111
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 280/150 102/73,78,39,70 23/281
• US Class Current: 280/734
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/335 Connections between collision detecting means and inflators using pyrothechnic transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

An inflatable self-contained passenger restraining system independent of the electrical system of the vehicle is provided for restraining movement of an occupant upon rapid deceleration or impact of the vehicle. The system comprises an inflatable bag movable between a collapsed deflated position and an expanded deployed position, a pyrotechnic gas generator operatively associated with the bag for inflation thereof, the generator containing solid, granular, gas-generating charges in a multistage arrangement. An inertia sensing device responsive to impact force above about 4 g triggers an explosive signal transmission cord for actuating the pyrotechnic gas generation of the inflating gas.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system for restraining movement of an occupant upon the occurrence of a collision condition, said system being self-contained, independent of the electrical system of the vehicle and comprising an occupant restraining member movable between a collapsed inoperative position and a deployed position;

deployment means operatively associated with the occupant restraining member for moving said member out of its collapsed inoperative position toward its deployed position, said deployment means comprising a pyrotechnic gas generator containing a gas-generating charge of compact granular pyrotechnic material selected from the group consisting of black powder and ammonium nitrate;

inertia sensing means responsive to a rapid deceleration force above a predetermined value; and

an explosive signal transmission line operatively connecting the inertia sensing means and the deployment means and being substantially instantaneously responsive to the inertia sensing means for activating the deployment mean and causing deployment of the restraining member.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the explosive signal transmission line comprises an elongated explosive cord including a confining structure of sufficient strength to fully contain the detonation products of the explosive.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the occupant restraining member is an inflatable crash bag and the pyrotechnic charge is responsive to an energy signal initiated by the inertia sensing means for transmission along the explosive signal transmission line for igniting the pyrotechnic charge and rapidly supplying gas to the inflatable bag.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal transmission means comprises a percussion detonator, an elongated detonating cord operatively associated with the detonator for actuation thereby and a pyrotechnic igniter operable in response to an explosive energy signal received froM the detonating cord.

5. In an inflatable passenger restraining system for vehicles comprising an inflatable confinement, a gas delivery assembly for delivering gas to the confinement and effecting inflation thereof, an impact sensor and a signal transmission line operatively connecting the impact sensor and the gas delivery assembly, the combination wherein the gas delivery assembly includes a pyrotechnic gas generator having a plurality of compact gas-generating charges comprised of solid granular pyrotechnic material, at least two of the gas-generating charges being elongated columns extending in parallel spaced relationship within the generator, at least one of said gas-generating charges being a generally cylindrical pyrotechnic charge, the gas generator including still another gas-generating pyrotechnic charge disposed in concentric relationship to said cylindrical charge.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein at least two of the gas-generating charges are elongated columns extending in parallel spaced relationship within the generator.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the signal transmission line includes a confined column of high explosive material having a velocity of detonation of about 5,000 to 8,000 meters per second.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the gas generator is located exteriorly of the inflatable confinement and in fluid flow communication with the interior thereof.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the inflatable confinement is provided with a gas inlet port and the gas generator is positioned adjacent said inlet port for rapidly delivering gas thereto, the compact gas-generating charges being present in an amount sufficient to fully inflate the confinement and provide an internal pressure of at least about 5 to 20 psi.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein the gas generator is a multistage unit and the stages are adapted for sequential ignition.

11. The system of claim 5 wherein the impact sensor is a directionally responsive device having a firing pin;

the signal transmission line comprises a detonator operable in response to impact by said firing pin, a detonating cord positioned for actuation by said detonator and a pyrotechnic initiator operable in response to an energy signal received from the detonating cord.