PLURAL INFLATION FOR SAFETY DEVICE

• US 3,868,126 A
• Filed: 10/27/1971
• Issued: 02/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald G. Radke, Donald J. Lewis
• Original Assignee: Donald G. Radke, Donald J. Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, Donald J., Radke, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/192,971
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 180/103 200/81R,81.8
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26058 using a combination of inflators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• 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 137/4673 Plural tanks or compartments with parallel flow

Abstract

Apparatus for successively inflating a bag with gas from a plurality of sources disposed in a vehicle subject to a plurality of collisions occurring in short intervals. Upon initial impact of the vehicle, an electrical current is directed from a power source to a primary gas source. Gas released from the primary gas source upon receipt of the electrical current passes into the bag which inflates to protect occupants or other mobile objects within the vehicle. Upon a second impact of the vehicle, the electrical current is directed from the power source to a secondary gas source, which operates in the same manner as the primary gas source to reinflate the bag. Additional gas sources may similarly be provided to accommodate subsequent impacts.

Claims

1. Apparatus for successively inflating a bag with gas from a plurality of gas sources disposed in a vehicle subject to a plurality of collisions, comprising:

a. a power source for supplying an electrical current;

b. circuit means connected to the power source, said circuit means including impact detecting means for causing the current to flow through the circuit means upon each impact of the vehicle;

c. a primary gas source including pressurized gas;

d. a secondary gas source for supplying a gas selected from the group consisting of pressurized gas, gas developed by combustion of gas generating material, and mixtures thereof;

e. a first gas releasing means connected to the primary gas source and to the bag, and a second gas releasing means connected to the secondary gas source and to the bag, said first and second gas releasing means respectively permitting gas from the primary and secondary gas source to flow into the bag upon receipt of the electrical current; and

f. a pressure sensitive control means, electrically connected to the circuit means, said pressure sensitive control means being in communication with said pressurized gas of said primary gas source so as to be continuously and directly responsive to the pressure of gas within the primary gas source, whereby said pressure sensitive control means electrically connects the first gas releasing means to the circuit means whenever the pressure of gas within the Primary gas source is at least a preselected minimum pressure, and electrically connects the second gas releasing means to the circuit means only if and whenever the pressure of gas within the primary gas source is less than the preselected minimum pressure.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the impact detecting means comprises a moveable electroconductive material connected to the power source and means for displacing said material against a preselected resisting force and into contact with an electroconductive element connected to the circuit means.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive control means comprises a flexible tube adapted for movement in response to gas pressure within the primary gas source, said tube having an open end in communication with pressurized gas within the primary gas source and a closed end connected by electrical means to the circuit means, the closed end of the tube in electrical contact with an electroconductive member connected to the first gas releasing means whenever the pressure of gas within the primary source is at least said preselected minimum pressure, and in electrical contact with an electroconductive member electrically connected to the second gas releasing means only if and whenever the pressure of gas within the primary source is less than the preselected minimum pressure.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the primary gas source is comprised of a hollow housing, and the first gas releasing means comprises a plug moveably mounted in the housing, said plug extending through a full thickness of the housing and into contact with the pressurized gas, an explosive charge located adjacent to the plug, and a resistance element structurally connected to the explosive charge and electrically connected to the circuit means prior to an impact of the vehicle, for exploding the charge upon passage of the current through the resistance element whereby the plug is removed from the housing.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the secondary gas source is comprised of a hollow housing, and the second gas releasing means comprises a plug moveably mounted in the housing, said plug extending through a full thickness of the housing, an explosive charge located adjacent to the plug, and a resistance element structurally connected to the explosive charge and electrically connected to the circuit means after the impact of the vehicle, for exploding the charge upon passage of the current through the resistance element whereby the plug is removed from the housing.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 which has associated therewith an auxiliary power supply.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the electrical means includes a first and second strip, each strip comprised of electrically conductive material separately encircling the closed end of the tube and electrically insulated from the tube by an insulating material, the first strip electrically connected with the power source and the second strip electrically connected with a secondary auxiliary power supply.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the circuit means includes a firing circuit electrically connected to the power source and to the impact detecting means.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the auxiliary power supply is a capacitor, the power source is a battery, and the firing circuit includes the capacitor connected in parallel with the battery and a diode electrically connected between the battery and the capacitor, and in series with the battery and the impact detecting means.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the diode comprises redundant diodes connected in parallel.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, including a tertiary gas source, a third gas releasing means connected thereto, for permitting gas from the tertiary gas source to flow into the bag and a second pressure sensitive control means structurally connected to the secondary gas source, electrically connected to thE circuit means, and responsive to the pressure of gas within the secondary gas source, said pressure sensitive control means electrically connecting the second gas releasing means to the circuit means prior to the second impact of the vehicle, and electrically connecting the third gas releasing means to the circuit means after the second impact.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary gas source further includes gas generating material and is comprised of a hollow housing, and the pressure sensitive control means comprises a flexible tube adapted for movement in response to gas pressure within the primary gas source, and said tube extends through a full thickness of the housing and into contact with said pressurized gas.

13. Apparatus for successively inflating a bag with gas from a plurality of collisions, comprising:

a. a power source for supplying an electrical current;

b. circuit means connected to the power source, said circuit means including impact detecting means for causing the current to flow through the circuit means upon each impact of the vehicle;

c. a primary gas source for supplying a gas at a preselected minimum pressure, said gas selected from the group consisting of pressurized gas and pressurized gas mixed with gas developed by combustion of gas generating material;

d. a secondary gas source for supplying a gas selected from the group consisting of pressurized gas, gas developed by combustion of gas generating material, and mixtures thereof;

e. a first gas releasing means electrically connected to the circuit means and structurally connected to the primary gas source and to the bag, and a second gas releasing means connected to the secondary gas source and to the bag, said first and second gas releasing means respectively permitting gas from the primary and secondary gas source to flow into the bag upon receipt of the electrical current; and

f. pressure sensitive control means, electrically connected to the circuit means, said pressure sensitive control means being in communication with said pressurized gas of said primary gas source so as to be continuously and directly responsive to the pressure of gas within the primary gas source, and electrically connecting the second gas releasing means to the circuit means only if and whenever the pressure of gas within the primary gas source is less than a preselected minimum pressure.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the control means includes means for moving an electrically conductive element electrically connected to the circuit means into electrical contact with an electrically conductive component electrically connected to the second gas releasing means.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive element is moved into contact with the electrically conductive component by means which comprise a piston disposed within a hollow housing and slideably moveable therewithin, the peripheral edges of the piston in continuous contact with the housing, said piston connected on a first side to one end of a shaft extending toward the electrically conductive component and on a second side to one end of a spring, the other end of the spring connected to the housing so that the spring is compressed when the piston and the shaft are displaced toward the spring, the electrically conductive element connected to the other end of the shaft and electrically insulated therefrom by an insulating element, said conductive component located relative to said conductive element such that displacement of the shaft toward the conductive component electrically connects the conductive element with the conductive component, a pressurized gas within a compartment formed by the first side of the piston and the housing displacing the piston in the direction of the spring, and means for releasing the pressurized gas from the compartment upon receipt of the electrical current.

16. Apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the pressurizeD gas is released from the compartment by the first gas releasing means.

17. Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the pressurized gas is released from the compartment by means which comprise a plug removeably mounted withing the housing, said plug extending through a full thickness of the housing and into contact with the pressurized gas, an explosive charge located adjacent to the plug, and a resistance element structurally connected to the explosive charge and electrically connected to the circuit means, for exploding the charge upon passage of the current through the resistance element, whereby the plug is removed from the housing.

18. Apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein an outlet is provided in the housing by removal of the plug, said outlet being in communication with the pressurized gas and with an inflatable bag, and gas flows from the compartment through the outlet and into the inflatable bag.

19. Apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the secondary gas source comprises a hollow housing, a plug moveably mounted within the housing, said plug extending through a full thickness of the housing and into contact with a pressurized gas within the housing, an explosive charge located adjacent to the plug, and a resistance element structurally connected to the explosive charge and electrically connected to the circuit means, for exploding the charge when the current flows through the resistance element, thereby the plug is removed from the housing.

20. Apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein an outlet is provided in the housing by removal of the plug, said outlet being in communication with the pressurized gas and with an inflatable bag, whereby gas flows from within the housing through the outlet and into the inflatable bag.

21. Apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the secondary gas source additionally comprises means for moving an electrically conductive element electrically connected to the circuit means into electrical contact with an electrically conductive component electrically connected to a tertiary gas source.

22. Apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the impact detecting means comprises a moveable electroconductive material connected to the power source and means for displacing said material against a preselected resisting force and into contact with an electroconductive element connected to the circuit means.

23. Apparatus as recited in claim 22, which has associated therewith an auxiliary power supply.

24. Apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said auxiliary power supply means includes a firing circuit electrically connected to the power source and to the impact detecting means.

25. Apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the firing circuit includes a capacitor connected in parallel with the battery and at least one diode electrically connected between the battery and the capacitor, and in series with the battery and the impact detecting means.

26. Apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive element is moved into contact with the electrically conductive component by means which comprise a piston disposed within a hollow housing and slideably moveable therewithin, the peripheral edges of the piston in continuous contact with the housing, said piston connected on a first side to one end of a shaft extending toward the electrically conductive component, the electrically conductive element connected to the other end of the shaft and electrically insulated therefrom by an insulating element, said conductive component located relative to said conductive element such that displacement of the shaft toward the conductive component electrically connects the conductive element with the conductive component, a gas generating material within a compartment formed by the second side of the piston and the housing, said gas generating material electrically connected to the circuit means, and means for releasing gas developed by combustion of the gas generating material from the housing. Pg, 34

27. Apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the distance that the shaft is displaced toward the electrically conductive component is inversely proportionate to the pressure of the gas within the compartment.

28. Apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the conductive element is electrically connected to the conductive component when the pressure of gas within the compartment is below said preselected minimum pressure.