Differential pressure monitoring device
First Claim
1. A differential pressure monitoring switch, comprising:
- a switch body,electrical lead means extending through said switch body to a point outside said switch body,a mandrel on said switch body,a recess in said mandrel,a movable piston mounted in said recess in said mandrel,a sealed capsule mounted on said piston and said mandrel,said capsule containing gas at a predetermined threshold pressure,said sealed capsule comprising a movable diaphragm bottom plate connected to a top plate means,contact means coupled to said movable piston for engagement with said electrical lead means when the gas pressure inside said capsule is lower than the pressure on the outside of said diaphragm sufficient to disengage said diaphragm from said mandrel,said contact means being disengaged from said electrical lead means when said movable diaphragm is fully engaged with said mandrel means and said threshold pressure in said capsule equals or exceeds the pressure outside of said capsule, andretainer means for connecting said top plate means to said switch body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel hybrid air bag inflator system includes a differential pressure monitoring switch which comprises a sealed module containing a gas under a threshold pressure mounted in a gas bag filler tank. The capsule comprises a movable diaphragm connected to a fixed top plate and the diaphragm is supported on a shaped mandrel mounted on a switch body. The switch body and the mandrel are provided with a central aperture through which moves a movable piston and the movable piston forms a support for switch contacts which are normally open until the pressure in the hybrid air bag gas filler tank falls below a predetermined operable reference pressure at which time the switch contacts reach a closed position indicative of a failed or inoperative hybrid system.
20 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A differential pressure monitoring switch, comprising:
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a switch body, electrical lead means extending through said switch body to a point outside said switch body, a mandrel on said switch body, a recess in said mandrel, a movable piston mounted in said recess in said mandrel, a sealed capsule mounted on said piston and said mandrel, said capsule containing gas at a predetermined threshold pressure, said sealed capsule comprising a movable diaphragm bottom plate connected to a top plate means, contact means coupled to said movable piston for engagement with said electrical lead means when the gas pressure inside said capsule is lower than the pressure on the outside of said diaphragm sufficient to disengage said diaphragm from said mandrel, said contact means being disengaged from said electrical lead means when said movable diaphragm is fully engaged with said mandrel means and said threshold pressure in said capsule equals or exceeds the pressure outside of said capsule, and retainer means for connecting said top plate means to said switch body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An assembly including a differential pressure switch for a hybrid air bag inflater, comprising:
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an elongated cylindrical tank for receiving an expandable type gas at a first pressure P1, a first sealed end on said tank having an igniter-gas generator mounted thereon for heating and expanding said expandable type gas for use in inflating an air bag, a second sealed end on said tank having said differential pressure switch mounted thereon inside of said tank for monitoring said first pressure P1 in said tank, said pressure switch having a switch body attached to said second sealed end, electrical lead means extending through said switch body and through a wall of said tank to a point outside of said tank, a mandrel on said switch body, a movable piston extending through a recess in said mandrel, contact switch means coupled to said piston for opening or closing an electrical path between said electrical lead means, a sealed capsule mounted juxtaposed said piston and said mandrel for actuating said contact switch means, and said capsule containing a gas at a threshold pressure P2 where P1 is greater than P2 when the gas pressure P1 in said tank is sufficient to fill an air bag. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification