Restraint system for passengers in vehicles

• US 6,015,162 A
• Filed: 05/21/1993
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Daxer, Horst, Spies, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/065,857
• Time in Patent Office: 2,433 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 280/736, 280/741, 280/806, 280/737, 102/530, 102/531
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A vehicle'"'"'s restraint system for passengers such as airbags, belt tighteners or similar devices to protect the passengers in case of a crash against injury includes a gas generator having a normally closed first housing including a solid fuel as a charge to generate gas. A closed second housing is provided, accommodating each of an evaluating circuit or sensor, triggering element and ignition structure. The closed second housing includes a portion which makes an active contact between the ignition structure in the second housing and the charge in the first housing. The two closed housings facilitate storage, assembly and environmentally safe disposal.

Claims

1. A vehicle'"'"'s restraint system for passengers such as airbags, belt tighteners or similar devices to protect the passengers in case of a crash against injury, the system comprising:

a gas generator having a normally closed first housing including a solid fuel as a charge to generate gas;

electric ignition means for initiating ignition of said charge;

evaluating means connected to said ignition means, said evaluating means including an acceleration-responsive signal generator for detecting when at least one predetermined threshold is exceeded and then activating said ignition means by triggering means for generating a triggering impulse;

a closed second housing defining a vessel which is separate from said first housing, said evaluating means, said triggering means and said ignition means being incorporated in said closed second housing, said closed second housing including a portion which makes contact with said first housing, positioning said ignition means adjacent to said charge in said first housing.

2. A restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

said ignition means includes one of an electrical igniter, a glowable wire, a bridge of distinct electrical impedance, a squib, a spark plug, and electrical discharge means for ignition of an ignitable material when a triggering impulse appears.

3. A restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

said closed first housing defines a cup shaped recess and said portion of said second housing is cylindrical, dimensioned to be positioned in said cup shaped recess.

4. A restraint system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weakened portion provided in said first housing; and

a weakened portion provided in said second housing, said first housing weakened portion positioned adjacent to a location wherein said ignition means in said second housing is adjacent to said charge in said first housing and said second housing weakened portion being positioned at a location wherein said ignition means in said second housing is adjacent to said charge in said first housing.

5. A restraint system according to claim 4, wherein:

said closed first housing defines a cup shaped recess and said portion of said second housing is cylindrical, dimensioned to be positioned in said cup shaped recess.

6. A restraint system for occupants of a vehicle using a gas generator, comprising:

an electrical igniter and a sensor device incorporated into a single housing to form a closed integral unit, said sensor device permitting activation of said electrical igniter in defined cases only, said closed integral unit including an extending cylindrical portion;

a gas generator housing defining a closed unit containing propellant therein, said closed unit being separate from said closed integral unit, said gas generator housing having a recess, said closed integral unit being functionally connected to said gas generator with said extending cylindrical portion extending into said recess, whereby forces generated upon ignition allow ignition gases to rupture part of said single housing at said cylindrical portion and rupture part of said gas generator housing at said recess to activate said propellant.

7. A vehicle'"'"'s restraint system for passengers such as airbags, belt tighteners or similar devices to protect the passengers in case of a crash against injury, the system comprising:

a gas generator having a normally closed first housing including a solid fuel as a charge to generate gas;

electric ignition means for initiating ignition of said charge;

evaluating means connected to said ignition means, said evaluating means including an acceleration-responsive signal generator for detecting when at least one predetermined threshold is exceeded and then activating said ignition means by triggering means for generating a triggering impulse;

a closed second housing defining a vessel which is separate from said first housing, said evaluating means, said triggering means and said ignition means being incorporated in said closed second housing, said closed second housing including a portion which makes contact with said first housing, positioning said ignition means in said second housing adjacent to said charge in said first housing;

functional connection means for connecting and communicating said first housing and said second housing, said functional connection means including a weakened portion provided in said first housing adjacent said charge, and a weakened portion provided in said second housing positioned adjacent to said ignition means, said weakened portion in said second housing is also positioned adjacent to said weakened portion in said first housing, wherein said ignition means in said second housing is adjacent to said charge in said first housing.