Vehicle deceleration sensor
First Claim
1. A vehicle-sensitive mechanical contactor for activating a belt pretensioner in a safety belt restraining system, said belt pretensioner having a pyrotechnical gas generator with an electrical igniter, and said contactor comprising:
- a housing having a wall defining an inner chamber;
an inertial mass body accommodated in said housing and movable therein between a rest position and a release position;
an electrical pair comprising a first contact member and a second contact member, said first and second contact members each having a first end extending into said chamber and a second end extending through said wall and out of said chamber;
said first contact member being spring loaded to bear against said inertial mass body with a predetermined spring bias when said inertial mass body is in said rest position and said second contact member being spaced from said first contact member when said inertial mass body is in said rest position;
and said first contact member being movable by said inertial mass body into contacting engagement with said second contact member after said predetermined spring bias is overcome by inertial forces developed by said inertial mass body under vehicle deceleration;
said gas generator being generally cylindrical in shape and said housing having an integral socket adapted to be fitted on said gas generator;
said gas generator and said socket having cooperating contact pairs for connecting said electrical igniter to said contactor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle-sensitive mechanical contactor for activating a restraining system in vehicles is provided with an inertial mass ball (12) movably accommodated in a housing (10). A first contact spring (14) bears on the surface of the ball (12) under predetermined bias. In the rest position of the ball (12) the first contact spring (14) is at a predetermined distance (s) from a second contact spring (16). The second contact spring (16) is deflectable for dampening the impact exerted by the ball (12). Furthermore, a spring blade (18) is in frictional engagement with the upper side of the ball (12) to additionally dampen the movements thereof. With extremely small dimensions and very simple construction the contactor ensures a reliable bounce-free contacting and is suitable for restraining systems in vehicles, such as belt pretensioners or airbag impact protection systems.
23 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A vehicle-sensitive mechanical contactor for activating a belt pretensioner in a safety belt restraining system, said belt pretensioner having a pyrotechnical gas generator with an electrical igniter, and said contactor comprising:
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a housing having a wall defining an inner chamber; an inertial mass body accommodated in said housing and movable therein between a rest position and a release position; an electrical pair comprising a first contact member and a second contact member, said first and second contact members each having a first end extending into said chamber and a second end extending through said wall and out of said chamber; said first contact member being spring loaded to bear against said inertial mass body with a predetermined spring bias when said inertial mass body is in said rest position and said second contact member being spaced from said first contact member when said inertial mass body is in said rest position; and said first contact member being movable by said inertial mass body into contacting engagement with said second contact member after said predetermined spring bias is overcome by inertial forces developed by said inertial mass body under vehicle deceleration; said gas generator being generally cylindrical in shape and said housing having an integral socket adapted to be fitted on said gas generator; said gas generator and said socket having cooperating contact pairs for connecting said electrical igniter to said contactor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification