Completely non-pyrotechnic air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint;
an inflator having a chamber;
a stored inflation fluid, for inflating said restraint, disposed in said chamber; and
means for controlling flow of said inflation fluid from said chamber to said restraint including a member which has a first mechanical strength when no electric current is applied to said member and a second mechanical strength lower than said first mechanical strength when electric current is applied to said member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus (2) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of sudden vehicle deceleration. The apparatus (2) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (4) and an inflator (10, 110) having a chamber (42, 142). A stored inflation fluid (44, 144) for inflating the restraint (4) is disposed in the chamber (42, 142). A device for controlling flow of the inflation fluid (44, 144) from the chamber (42, 142) to the restraint (4) is provided. The device includes a member (40, 200) which has a first mechanical strength when no electric current is applied to the member and a second mechanical strength lower than the first mechanical strength when electric current is applied to the member.
20 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint; an inflator having a chamber; a stored inflation fluid, for inflating said restraint, disposed in said chamber; and means for controlling flow of said inflation fluid from said chamber to said restraint including a member which has a first mechanical strength when no electric current is applied to said member and a second mechanical strength lower than said first mechanical strength when electric current is applied to said member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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8. An apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint; and an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said restraint, said inflator being free of any pyrotechnically operated device; a stored inflation fluid, for inflating said restraint, disposed in said chamber; and means for controlling flow of said inflation fluid from said chamber to said restraint including a member made of a shape-memory alloy, said member being fixed to said inflator and connected to a source of electric current. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification