VEHICLE SAFETY DEVICE

• US 3,788,667 A
• Filed: 12/06/1971
• Issued: 01/29/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rayburn D. Vancil
• Original Assignee: Rayburn D. Vancil
• Inventors: Vancil, Rayburn D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/205,024
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 137/67,68,69,70,71 222/5
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1647 Explosive actuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1692 Rupture disc

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a vehicle safety system utilizing inflatable confinement means, a stored fluid under pressure, and a propellant charge for the generation of a hot gas. The apparatus includes a elongated reservoir for storing fluid under pressure and is provided with first and second end portions spaced apart in the direction of the axis of elongation. A fluid outlet is provided in the first end portion and has means closing it against fluid flow. A propellant charge storage chamber is provided at the second end portion and has means sealing it from the interior of the reservoir. A rod member extends from a point adjacent the fluid outlet to a point adjacent the means sealing the propellant chamber. The rod member has means for guiding and supporting it at a point adjacent each end. Upon burning of the propellant charge, the means sealing the propellant chamber is opened and the rod member serves to unseal the fluid outlet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle safety system utilizing an inflatable confinement, stored fluid under pressure, and a propellant charge for the generation of hot gas, said apparatus including;

a. first means for storing fluid under pressure, said first means having a larger dimension in one direction than in a direction perpendicular thereto thereby providing an axis of elongation, and first and second end portions spaced apart in the direction of said axis of elongation;

b. an outlet in said first means at said first end portion;

c. second means closing said outlet against fluid flow;

d. third means including a housing extending into said first means at said second end portion of said first means providing a chamber to receive an ignitible hot gas generating charge of propellant;

e. fourth means in alignment with said second means for sealing said chamber from the interior of said first means and operable upon development of a predetermined chamber pressure after ignition of said propellant charge therein to unseal said chamber;

f. rod means extending from a point adjacent said second means to a point adjacent said fourth means for disabling said second means upon the unsealing of said chamber to permit the stored fluid and hot gas to flow through said outlet; and

g. fifth means adjacent each end of said rod means for supporting said rod means, said fifth means including a bore in said housing coaxial with the axis of elongation of said first means, an internal bore in said first end portion in axial alignment with said bore in said housing, one end of said rod means being supported within said bore in said housing, and means supported by said bore in said first end portion for supporting the other end of said rod means, said means supported by said bore including a tubular member having an internal flange in frictional engagement with said rod means, said tubular member having a plurality of apertures therein having axis perpendicular to said axis of elongation through which the stored fluid and hot gas pass before exiting through said outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rod means includes an enlarged head portion slidably received within said bore in said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fifth means holds the end of said rod means in a position spaced from said Second means.

4. An apparatus for use in a safety system utilizing an inflatable member, a stored fluid under pressure, and a propellant charge for the generation of a hot gas, said apparatus including:

a. a reservoir for storing a fluid under pressure, said reservoir having a larger dimension in one direction than in a direction perpendicular thereto thereby providing an axis of elongation, and having an open end portion and a closed end portion spaced apart along the axis of elongation;

b. a rupturable web portion in said closed end forming a closed outlet;

c. a propellant storage member closing said open end and including a propellant storage chamber therein;

d. rupturable web means sealing said propellant storage chamber from the interior of said reservoir and operable upon development of a predetermined chamber pressure after the ignition of a propellant charge therein to unseal said chamber;

e. rod means extending from a point adjacent said rupturable web means sealing said chamber to a point adjacent said rupturable web portion in said closed end for rupturing said web portion in said closed end upon the unsealing of said propellant chamber to open said outlet to permit the stored fluid and hot gas to exit from said reservoir; and

f. supporting means adjacent each end of said rod means for supporting said rod means, said supporting means including an internal bore in said closed end portion, a bore in said propellant storage member opening to the interior of said reservoir and in axial alignment with said internal bore in said closed end portion, one end of said rod means being supported within said bore in said propellant storage member, and means supported by said bore in said closed end portion for supporting the other end of said rod means, said means for supporting the other end of said rod means including a tubular member having an internal flange frictionally engaging said rod means, said tubular member having a plurality of apertures therein having axes perpendicular to said axis of elongation through which the stored fluid and hot gas pass before exiting through said outlet.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means adjacent each end of said rod means supports the rod means in a position wherein it is spaced from said rupturable web portion in said closed end portion so that it impacts upon the rupturable web portion in the closed end upon unsealing of the propellant chamber to open the outlet.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further including means for limiting the travel of said rod means out of said reservoir after said rod means ruptures said web portion in said closed end portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said rod means includes an enlarged head portion at one end slidably received within said bore in said propellant storage member.

8. An apparatus for use in a safety system utilizing an inflatable member, a stored fluid under pressure, and a propellant charge for the generation of a hot gas, said apparatus including:

a. a reservoir for storing a fluid under pressure, said reservoir having a larger dimension in one direction than in a direction perpendicular thereto thereby providing an axis of elongation, and having an open end portion and a closed end portion spaced apart along the axis of elongation;

b. a rupturable web portion in said closed end forming a closed outlet;

c. a propellant storage member closing said open end and including a propellant storage chamber therein;

d. rupturable web means sealing said propellant storage chamber from the interior of said reservoir and operable upon development of a predetermined chamber pressure after the ignition of a propellant charge therein to unseal said chamber;

e. rod means extending from a point adjacent said rupturable web means sealing said chamber to a point adjacent said rupturable web portion in said closed end for rupturing said web portion in said closed end upon the unsealing of said propellant chamber to open saiD outlet to permit the stored fluid and hot gas to exit from said reservoir; and

f. supporting means adjacent each end of said rod means for supporting the rod means, said supporting means including a bore in said propellant storage member opening into the interior of said reservoir, an internal bore in said closed end portion in axial alignment with said bore in said propellant storage member, one end of said rod member being supported within said bore in said propellant storage member, and means separate from said rod means and supported in said bore in said closed end portion for supporting the other end of said rod means, the other end of said rod means being spaced from said rupturable web portion in said closed end portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including means for limiting the travel of said rod means out of said reservoir after said rod means ruptures said web portion in said closed end portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said rod means includes an enlarged head portion at one end slidably received within said bore in said propellant storage member.