DETECTING AND ACTIVATING DEVICE

• US 3,768,831 A
• Filed: 06/07/1971
• Issued: 10/30/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allen C. Wright, James L. Wesselman
• Original Assignee: Allen C. Wright, James L. Wesselman
• Inventors: Wesselman, James L., Wright, Allen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/150,316
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B 180/82,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,103
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A device for detecting a crash of a vehicle and for activating a safety system for passengers of the vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has a crushable member and a relatively stationary member forming portions thereof. The device includes a cable structure having a cable core and a cable sheath enclosing the core. The cable sheath is fixed in its relationship to the stationary member of the vehicle. Mounting structure secures a first end of the cable core to the crushable member of the vehicle. Additional mounting structure secures the portion of the cable sheath adjacent a second end of the cable core in a fixed position so that the second core end is guided thereby along a path of movement when the first core end is moved during a crash of the vehicle. An activating device is engageable by the second cable core end when moved along its path of movement. The activating device deploys a safety system for passengers of the vehicle when engaged by the second free end of the cable core.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a crash of a vehicle and for actuating a safety system for passengers of the vehicle, the vehicle having an engine and a radiator mounted forwardly of the engine, which device comprises:

a cable structure having a cable core and a cable sheath enclosing said core and shorter than said core so that said core has a first end and a second end extending beyond said sheath, said core being movable within said sheath;

first brackets mounting said cable sheath in a fixed relationship to the vehicle engine;

second brackets mounting said first end of said cable core to the vehicle radiator with a portion of the length of said first core end exposed from said cable sheath;

mounting structures secured to the vehicle in a position on the opposite side of the vehicle engine from said second brackets, said mounting structure engaging the portion of said cable sheath adjacent said second end of said core thereby to position the engaged cable sheath in a fixed position, the sheath guiding said cores'"'"''"'"' second end in its movement along a predetermined path; and

activating means engageable by said second cable core end when moved along its said path of movement, said activating means for effecting a deployment of the safety system for passengers of the vehicle when engaged by said second free end of said cable core.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

said activating means includes;

a pair of generally open, electrical contacts positioned in said path of travel of said cable cores'"'"''"'"' second end;

electrical means for supplying current when said contacts are closed; and

gas generation actuation means for producing a volume of gas when said contacts are closed and electric current supplied thereto.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein:

said activating means includes;

a closed housing adjacent said cable cores'"'"''"'"' second end;

a gas supply canister with a breakable surface thereon, said canister being mounted with its said breakable surface in said closed housing in said path of travel of said cable cores'"'"''"'"' second end; and

a gas supply line connected to said closed housing foR supplying gas to the safety system of the vehicle; and

wherein;

the free end of said cable cores'"'"''"'"' second end has breaking means thereon for breaking said breakable surface of said gas supply canister.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein:

said breaking means of said cable cores'"'"''"'"' second end is a sharp point; and

wherein;

said breakable surface of said canister is a puncturable metal surface.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein:

a protective member encloses the portion of said first free end of said cable core between its attachment to said second brackets and the associated end of said cable sheath, said protective member being deformed when a force is applied thereto when said core is moved within said cable sheath during a vehicle crash.