Inflation differential control for multiple bag restraint system

• US 3,884,497 A
• Filed: 10/30/1973
• Issued: 05/20/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ernest Dorchester Buff, Roy H. Massengill
• Original Assignee: Ernest Dorchester Buff, Roy H. Massengill
• Inventors: Massengill, Roy H., Buff, Ernest D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/411,139
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01562 by speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators

Abstract

Multiple bag inflation apparatus adapted to be disposed in a vehicle subject to impact for transmitting an electrical current from a power source to a first gas releasing means connected to a first gas source within a fixed first time interval and to a second gas releasing means connected to a second gas source during a second time interval which varies in inverse proportion to the impact velocity of the vehicle. Inflating gas is released from the first and second gas sources to a first (knee) and a second (torso) bag, respectively, and inflates the knee and torso bags during a time differential which is inversely proportional to the impact velocity of the vehicle.

Claims

1. Multiple bag inflation apparatus adapted to be disposed in a vehicle subject to impact for inflating a plurality of bags, the time differential between inflation of the bags varying inversely with the impact velocity of the vehicle, comprising:

a. a power source for supplying an electrical current;

b. a first inflatable bag for protecting the legs of an occupant of said vehicle;

c. a second inflatable bag for protecting the torso of the occupant;

d. a first gas source for supplying inflating gas to said first inflatable bag;

e. a second gas source for supplying inflating gas to said second inflatable bag;

f. first gas releasing means connected to said first gas source for permitting inflating gas to flow into said first inflatable bag upon receipt of the electrical current;

g. second gas releasing means connected to said second gas source for permitting inflating gas to flow into said second inflatable bag upon receipt of the electrical current;

h. first circuit means for transmitting the electrical current from said power source to said first gas releasing means during a fixed first time interval;

i. impact detecting means for causing the current to pass to said first circuit means upon impact of the vehicle;

j. second circuit means for transmitting the current from said power source to said second gas releasing means during a second time interval;

k. control means associated with said second circuit means and being responsive to the impact velocity of the vehicle, for varying the second time interval in inverse proportion to the impact velocity.

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

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said control means comprises a moveable electroconductive material electrically connected to the power source, a resistance element connected at one end to said second circuit means, and means for displacing said electroconductive material against a preselected resisting force and into contact with a variable portion of the resistance element, thE portion contacted varying in direct proportion to the distance that the electroconductive material is displaced by forces resulting from impact of the vehicle.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the resisting force against which said electroconductive material of said control means is displaced has a magnitude at least as great as the resisting force against which said electroconductive material of said impact detecting means is displaced.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said electroconductive material of said impact detecting means and said electroconductive material of said control means are each displaced against a resisting force of different magnitude, whereby said impact detecting means and said control means are differently responsive to said impact velocity.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said control means includes an electroconductive member electrically connected to said power source, means for displacing said electroconductive material of said control means into contact with said member, and means for holding said member in contact with a preselected portion of the resistance element for at least the time interval during which said current is transmitted through said second circuit means.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a moveable electroconductive material electrically connected to the power source, a resistance element connected at one end to said second circuit means and means for displacing said electroconductive material against a preselected resisting force and into contact with a variable portion of the resistance element, the portion contacted varying in direct proportion to the distance that the electroconductive material is displaced by forces resulting from impact of the vehicle.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the other end of said resistance element is electrically connected to said first circuit means.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said second circuit means includes a transmission circuit connected to a control element, said transmission circuit comprising a variable resistor in series with means for transmitting an electrical current to said second gas releasing means.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said electrical current is transmitted by means which include a unijunction transistor and a rectifier in series with said resistor and a bridge wire connected to said second gas releasing means, and a capacitor connected in parallel with said power source.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said control means includes means for transmitting said current from said power source to said second gas releasing means, the time interval for said transmission being of at least the same duration as the time interval during which said electroconductive material contacts said resistance element.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein each of said first and second gas sources includes a gas containing portion provided with pressurized gas, a gas generating portion provided with a gas generating charge and an actuating means connected to said charge for igniting the charge upon receipt of said electrical current, said actuating means of said first gas source being electrically connected to said first circuit means and said actuating means of said second gas source being electrically connected to said second circuit means.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein each of said gas sources includes a housing enclosing said gas containing and generating portions, and each of said gas releasing means comprises a plug removably mounted in the housing, said plug extending through a full thickness of said housing and into contact with said pressurized gas, a detonator located adjacent to said plug, and a bridge wire structurally connected to said detonator and electrically connected to said impact detecting means, for detonating said detonator upon passage of said electrical current through said bridge wire, whereby said plug is removed from said housing.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said actuating means of said first gas source comprises a squib disposed adjacent to a first gas generating charge and a bridge wire structurally connected to the squib and electrically connected to said first circuit means, for igniting said squib upon receipt of said electrical current.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said actuating means of said second gas source comprises a squib disposed adjacent to a second gas generating charge, and a bridge wire structurally connected to said squib and electrically connected to said second circuit means, for igniting said squib upon receipt of said electrical current.

16. Apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said gas containing portion and said gas generating charge are respectively disposed within separate compartments of said housing, and said compartment in which said charge is housed includes a pressure sensitive barrier, said barrier providing said compartment with a wall separating said charge from said pressurized gas, whereby means are provided for permitting gas generated within said compartment to flow into said gas containing portion.

17. A method of inflating a plurality of inflatable means disposed in a vehicle subject to impact, comprising the steps of:

a. transmitting an electrical current from a power source to a first gas releasing means connected to a first gas source during a fixed first time interval to effect release of inflating gas into a first inflatable means adapted to protect the legs of a vehicle occupant upon impact of the vehicle;

b. transmitting an electrical current from the power source to a second gas releasing means connected to a second gas source during a second time interval to effect release of inflating gas into a second inflatable means adapted to protect the torso of the occupant upon said impact; and

c. controlling the second time interval in response to the impact velocity of said vehicle to vary the second time interval in inverse proportion to said impact velocity.