OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM

• US 3,718,332 A
• Filed: 08/27/1971
• Issued: 02/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trevor O. Jones
• Original Assignee: Trevor O. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Trevor O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friaglia, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/175,576
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 180/103,82,91 293/2,4 340/61
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343

Abstract

An inflatable occupant restraint cushion is inflated at predetermined levels in accordance with predetermined levels of intensity of impact forces applied to the vehicle. When the impact forces are at a low level, above a predetermined minimum and below a predetermined maximum, a low level system initiates low level inflation of the cushion at a predetermined rate greater than normal. When the impact forces exceed the predetermined maximum, a high level system initiates high level inflation of the cushion at the predetermined normal rate. The low level system includes an anticipatory sensor, such as a transducer actuated by the relative rate of movement of telescopic members of an energy absorbing bumper system, and a low level inertial sensor, mounted on the telescopic members or on the vehicle body, and connecting low level detonators across a source of power when the impact forces exceed the capability of the energy absorbing bumper system and there is the likelihood of the onset of vehicle deformation. The high level system includes the low level inertial sensor, and a high level inertial sensor, actuated by vehicle deformation resulting from impact forces exceeding the predetermined maximum, and connecting high level detonators across a source of power. The low level and high level detonators control selective actuation of flow control orifices to obtain the predetermined rates of inflation.

Claims

1. The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle subject to low level impacts below a predetermined limit of intensity and high level impacts equal to or exceeding such predetermined limit of intensity, a source of pressure fluid, an occupant restraint cushion inflatable from the source for engagement by vehicle occupants upon the occurrence of said low level and high level impacts, first inflating means operable to inflate the cushion at a relatively slow rate, second inflating means operable to inflate the cushion at a relatively rapid rate, first sensor means operable to sense the likelihood of the vehicle being subjected to said low level impacts for actuating the first inflating means to inflate the cushion at the relatively slow rate, and second sensor means operable to sense high level impacts to which the vehicle is subjected for actuating the second inflating means to inflate the cushion at the relatively rapid rate.

2. The combination comprising an automotive vehicle having a source of pressure fluid and an inflatable cushion, first means for inflating the cushion from the source at a first relatively slow rate, second means for inflating the cushion from the source at a second relatively rapid rate, an energy absorbing bumper system including an impact bar and means for absorbing the energy of impact forces applied to the impact bar below a predetermined upper limit of absorption delineating the onset of vehicle deformation, first control means responsive to lower level impact forces applied to the impact bar and exceeding the predetermined upper limit for actuating said first inflating means prior to the onset of vehicle deformation to inflate the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the first rate, and second control means responsive to higher level impact forces and the resultant vehicle deformation for actuating said second inflating means to inflate the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the second rate.

3. The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a source of pressure fluid and an inflatable cushion, first means for inflating the cushion from the source at a first relatively slow rate, second means for inflating the cushion from the source at a second relativelY rapid rate, first control means responsive to the application of impact forces to the vehicle exceeding a predetermined limit delineating the onset of vehicle deformation for actuating said first inflating means to initiate inflation of the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the first rate prior to the onset of vehicle deformation, and second control means responsive to the application of impact forces to the vehicle exceeding a predetermined higher limit and resultant vehicle deformation for actuating said second inflating means to initiate inflation of the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the second predetermined rate.

4. The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a source of pressure fluid and an inflatable cushion, first means for inflating the cushion from the source at a first predetermined lower rate, second means for inflating the cushion from the source at a second predetermined higher rate, first control means responsive to the likelihood of vehicle deformation from impact forces applied thereto for actuating said first inflating means to initiate inflation of the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source prior to the onset of vehicle deformation, and second control means responsive to subsequent vehicle deformation resulting from impact forces applied thereto for actuating said second inflating means to initiate inflation of the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the second predetermined higher rate.

5. The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a source of pressure fluid and an inflatable cushion, first means for inflating the cushion from the source at a first predetermined lower rate, second means for inflating the cushion from the source at a second predetermined higher rate, an energy absorbing bumper system capable of absorbing impact forces below a predetermined upper limit of intensity, first control means responsive to the likelihood of the upper limit of intensity being exceeded for actuating said first inflating means to inflate the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the lower rate, and second control means responsive to a second predetermined upper limit of intensity of impact forces being exceeded for actuating said second inflating means to inflate the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the higher rate.

6. The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a source of pressure fluid and an inflatable cushion, first means for inflating the cushion from the source at a first lower rate, second means for inflating the cushion from the source at a second higher rate, first control means for actuating said first inflating means to inflate the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the lower rate prior to the onset of vehicle deformation, and second control means for actuating said second inflating means to inflate the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the higher rate, the first control means including anticipatory sensor means responsive to a predetermined probability of vehicle deformation from impact forces and inertial sensor means responsive to a predetermined level acceleration pulse generated by impact forces, the second control means including the first inertial sensor means and second inertial sensor means responsive to a predetermined higher level acceleration pulse generated by vehicle deformation resulting from impact forces.

7. The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle having a source of pressure fluid and an inflatable cushion, first means for inflating the cushion from the source at a first lower rate, second means for inflating the cushion from the source at a second higher rate, first control means for actuating said first inflating means to inflate the inflatable cushion from the pressure fluid source at the lower rate prior to the onset of vehicle deformation, and second control means for actuating said second inflating means to inflate the inflatable Cushion from the pressure fluid source at the higher rate, the first control means including anticipatory first sensor means actuated in response to a predetermined probability of vehicle deformation from impact forces and second sensor means actuated by predetermined lower level acceleration pulses generated by such impact forces, the second control means including said second sensor means and third sensor means actuated by predetermined higher level acceleration pulses generated by such impact forces.

8. The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including a source of pressure fluid and an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, control means operative at predetermined low levels and high levels of intensity of vehicle impact, first means operable to set the rate of flow of pressure fluid from the source to the cushion at a first lower value, second means operable to set the rate of flow of pressure fluid from the source to the cushion at a second higher value, and means interconnecting the control means and said first and second rate setting means for operating said first rate setting means in accordance with operation of the control means at a low level of impact and operating said second rate setting means in accordance with operation of the control means at a high level of impact.