OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM

• US 3,752,500 A
• Filed: 03/01/1971
• Issued: 08/14/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clyde C. Culver
• Original Assignee: Clyde C. Culver
• Inventors: Culver, Clyde C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/119,483
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 137/38 138/45,46 251/282
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0753 Control by change of position or inertia of system

Abstract

An occupant restraint system includes a vessel sealed by a rupturable diaphragm and providing a source of pressure fluid. The outlet of the vessel communicates with an inflatable cushion. A variable area orifice device controls the pressure fluid flow between the vessel and the cushion in accordance with the intensity of the acceleration pulse applied to the vehicle. The device includes an elongated cylinder having a first pair of diametrically opposite grooves in the wall thereof providing first passages communicating with the cushion, and a second pair of diametrically opposite grooves in the wall thereof providing second passages located circumferentially intermediate the first passages and communicating with the vessel. A sleeve fits within the cylinder and includes axially spaced first and second pairs of diametrically opposite openings from the interior thereof to the first passages and a third pair of diametrically opposite openings from the second passages to the interior thereof and located circumferentially intermediate the first pair of openings. A spool valve is movable within the sleeve and has one land engaging a fixed stop under a compression spring seating against the other land to locate the valve in unactuated position. In this position the first and third pairs of openings open to the space between the adjacent ends of the lands. The adjacent end of the other land partially closes the first pair of openings to provide a variable area orifice between the interior of the sleeve and the first passages communicating with the cushion. The second pair of openings open to the remote end of the other land, and the first passages open to the remote end of the one land. When an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time is received by the vehicle, the diaphragm is ruptured and the pressure fluid released for flow into the second passages and thence through the third pair of openings to the interior of the sleeve between the lands. The fluid then flows outwardly of the sleeve through the variable area orifice to first passages for flow to the cushion. The acceleration pulse is likewise applied to the valve spool and the other land moves axially of the sleeve to set the area of the orifice. The area of the orifice is dependent on the intensity of the pulse. The second pair of openings provides for flow of the pressure fluid from the first passages to the remote end of the other land so that the pressure on the adjacent and remote ends of both lands is equal.

Claims

1. In an occupant restraint system, the combination comprising, a vessel providing a source of pressure fluid and having an outlet sealed by a rupturable seal, means responsive to an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time for rupturing the seal, a hollow annular member including first passage means communicating with the outlet, second passage means communicating with an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, sleeve means within the member opening to the first passage means and including fixed area orifice means communicating the sleeve means with the second passage means, and valve means movable within the sleeve means under the pulse and being located with respect to the fixed area orifice means to set the effective area thereof in accordance with the intensity of the pulse.

2. In an occupant restraint system for a vehicle subject to impact with an obstacle, the combination comprising, a source actuatable to provide pressure fluid, means responsive to the intensity of the impact for actuating the source, first passage means communicating with the source, second passage means communicating with an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, a valve sleeve interconnecting the first and second passage means and including at least one opening providing orifice means controlling communication between the first and second passage means, valve means including a valve spool slidably received within the valve sleeve and normally located in a predetermined position with respect to the valve sleeve opening to provide a minimum area orifice, the valve spool being movable relative to the sleeve opening in accordance with the intensity of the impact to increase the effective area of the sleeve opening as a function of such intensity, and means applying pressure fluid equally to the valve spool to ensure that the position of the valve spool is responsive to the intensity of the impact.

3. In an occupant restraint system for a vehicle subject to impact with an obstacle, the combination comprising, a source actuatable to provide pressure fluid, means responsive to the intensity of the impact for actuating the source, first passage means communicating with the source, second passage means communicating with an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, annular passage means including inlet means opening to the first passage means and outlet means opening to the second passage means and providing a fixed area orifice controlling communication between the first and second passage means, an inertial responsive valve member of predetermined weight and including a valve face movable within the annular passage means to a multiplicity of positions relative to the fixed area orifice in accordance with the intensity of the impact for opening portions of the area of such orifice and setting the effective area thereof in accordance with the intensity of the impact, and means communicating the annular passage means with the second passage means to communicate pressure fluid with an opposite valve face of the valve member to thereby apply pressure fluid equally to the valve member and ensure that the position thereof is responsive to the intensity of the impact.

4. In an occupant restraint system for a vehicle subject to impact with an obstacle, the combination comprising, a source actuatable to provide pressure fluid, means responsive to the intensity of the impact for actuating the source, valve means including an annular valve bore, first passage means communicating with the source and extending axially of the valve bore, second passage means communicating with an inflatable occupant restraint cushion and extending axially of the valve bore in circumferentially spaced relationship to the first passage means, inlet means communicating the bore and the first passage menas, outlet means communicating the bore and the second passage means and providing a fixed area orifice controlling communication between the first and second passage means through The bore, an inertial responsive valve member of predetermined weight and including a valve face movable within the valve bore to a multiplicity of positions relative to the fixed area orifice in accordance with the intensity of the impact for opening portions of the area of such orifice and setting the effective area thereof in accordance with the intensity of the impact, and means communicating the bore with the second passage means to communicate pressure fluid with an opposite valve face of the valve member to thereby apply pressure fluid equally to the valve member and ensure that the position thereof is responsive to the intensity of the impact.