Device for inflating an airbag

• US 6,206,419 B1
• Filed: 07/13/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Specht, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/351,831
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/737, 280/741, 280/740, 280/742, 280/738, 222/3
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01504 detecting bag displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

A device for inflating an airbag has a gas generator that produces an inflation gas. A valve control adjusts the cross-section of a flow channel through which the inflation gas is supplied to the interior of the airbag by means of valve elements. The valve elements are held in an unactivated position by holding elements with a holding force that is lower than the actuating force used to actuate the valve elements.

Claims

1. A device for inflating an airbag comprising a gas generator for producing a inflation gas with a value actuating force and a valve control for adjusting a cross-section of a flow channel through which the inflation gas is supplied to the interior of the airbag by valve element means, the valve elements being held in an unactivated position by holding elements selected from the group consisting of shear pins, lateral flow channel projections, and lateral flow channel frictional surface with a holding force which is lower than the actuating force used to actuate the valve elements.

2. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 wherein the holding elements are shear pins and can be sheared off by the actuating force.

3. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 2 wherein the valve elements are held in a rattle-free manner in the unactivated position by the holding elements.

4. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 wherein the holding elements are shear pins.

5. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 4 wherein the valve elements are held in a rattle-free manner in the unactivated position by the holding elements.

6. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 wherein the valve elements are held in a rattle-free manner in the unactivated position by the holding elements.