OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM

• US 3,713,667 A
• Filed: 08/27/1971
• Issued: 01/30/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Houston F. Blanchard
• Original Assignee: Houston F. Blanchard
• Inventors: Blanchard, Houston F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Steube, George
• Application Number:
  US05/175,577
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 222/3 137/67,68
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01558 monitoring crash strength
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle body occupant restraint system includes a source of pressure fluid, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a passage communicating with the cushion and having an orifice of predetermined flow area. An end wall of the pressure vessel includes a pair of plugs, each comprising an externally threaded hollow body threaded into a threaded opening of the end wall. The bores of the plugs are located parallel of each other and communicate in series with the passage orifice through an antechamber of a member containing the passage and opening to the bores of the plugs. The bore of one plug is of lesser predetermined flow area than the passage orifice, and the bore of the other is of greater predetermined flow area than the passage orifice. Each plug bore is closed to the pressure vessel by a diaphragm rupturable by electrically fired detonators. At vehicle impacts above a predetermined minimum level of intensity and below a predetermined maximum level, the detonators of the one plug are fired and the bore of the one plug controls the flow rate to the cushion. Upon impact levels of intensity above the predetermined maximum, the detonators of both plugs are fired and the passage orifice controls the rate of flow to the cushion. The latter rate of flow is the normal rate of flow so that the cushion inflates during the normal time period. The former rate of flow is reduced so that the time period of inflation is increased.

Claims

1. In a vehicle occupant restraint system including sensor means operative to sense the intensity of vehicle body impacts, a source of pressure fluid, and an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, the combination comprising, an outlet orifice of predetermined flow area communicating with the cushion, a first inlet orifice communicating in series with the outlet orifice and being of lesser predetermined flow area than the outlet orifice to control the flow of pressure fluid therethrough from the source to the cushion, a second inlet orifice in parallel with the first inlet Orifice and in series with the outlet orifice, the outlet orifice having a flow area less than that of the second inlet orifice to control the flow of pressure fluid therethrough from the source to the cushion, and control means directing the flow of pressure fluid through the first and second inlet orifices in accordance with predetermined levels of intensity sensed by the sensor means, the control means directing the flow of pressure fluid through the first inlet orifice upon a level of intensity above a predetermined minimum and below a predetermined maximum being sensed by the sensor means, the control means additionally directing the flow of pressure fluid through the second inlet orifice upon a level of intensity above the predetermined maximum being sensed by the sensor means.