Valve controlled automotive pyrotechnic systems
First Claim
1. An adaptively controlled safety restraint system (20) comprising:
- at least one safety restraint device (22,
24) operative in response to a flow of pressurized gas;
fluid means (28) in fluid communication with the safety restraint device (22,
24) for providing, over a determinable interval, energy to drive the safety restraint device (22,
24) to an activated state of operation; and
high speed solenoid valve means (32,
58), associated with each such safety restraint device, disposed between the fluid means (28) and the safety restraint device (22,
24) for controlling the level of energy communicated to the safety restraint device from the fluid means;
controller means for generating at least one control signal to modulate the valve means only during the interval to affect the level of energy communicated.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptively controlled safety restraint system (20) is disclosed which includes a safety restraint device (22, 24) operative in response to a flow of pressurized gas, and fluid means (28) having a stored energy device (30) which can be activated to produce pressurized gas which is discharged through a conduit network (34, 36) for driving the safety restraint device (22, 24). The system further includes a throttling valve assembly (32, 58) disposed between the fluid means (28) and the safety restraint device (22, 24) for controllably varying the output of the fluid means (28). The throttling valve assembly (32, 58) is controlled by an electrical signal received from a crash management controller (38).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An adaptively controlled safety restraint system (20) comprising:
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at least one safety restraint device (22,
24) operative in response to a flow of pressurized gas;fluid means (28) in fluid communication with the safety restraint device (22,
24) for providing, over a determinable interval, energy to drive the safety restraint device (22,
24) to an activated state of operation; andhigh speed solenoid valve means (32,
58), associated with each such safety restraint device, disposed between the fluid means (28) and the safety restraint device (22,
24) for controlling the level of energy communicated to the safety restraint device from the fluid means;controller means for generating at least one control signal to modulate the valve means only during the interval to affect the level of energy communicated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An adaptively controlled safety restraint system (20, 42) activated by a crash management controller (38) of a vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of safety restraint devices (20,
24) for deployment within a passenger compartment (16) of the vehicle, the safety restraint devices (20,
24), including at least one seat belt component and at least one air bag component, operative in response to a flow of pressurized gas;fluid means (28) having a stored energy device (30) which can be activated for generating the flow of pressurized gas for driving the safety restraint devices (20,
24);a plurality of conduits (34,
36) in fluid communication with the fluid means (28) and connected to the plurality of safety restraint devices (20,
24) for delivering the flow of pressurized gas thereto;a valve assembly (32,
58) disposed along each conduit (34,
36) for controllably varying the flow of pressurized gas to each safety restraint device (20,
24); andan actuator (86) for controlling the position of the valve assembly (32,
58), the actuator (86) operable in response to an electrical signal received from the crash management controller (38). - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An adaptively controlled safety restraint deployment system comprising:
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fluid means (120,
160) for deploying a safety restraint device, for producing pressurized gas which is discharged through at least one outlet port (126,
168);high speed solenoid valve means (132,
162) secured to the fluid means (120), for selectively opening the at least one outlet port;control means for generating at least one control signal to vary the position of the valve means relative to the outlet port to regulate the rate of discharge of gas from the fluid means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification