Inflatable air bag release and membrane protection device

• US 6,497,183 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alstom Transport SA (Alstom SA)
• Original Assignee: Alstom SA
• Inventors: Demarquilly, Francis, Laporte, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US09/901,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20020005142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 105/26.05, 105/392.5, 213/220, 213/221, 213/223, 293/107, 280/728.1, 280/731, 280/732, 280/739, 180/271, 180/274, 137/67, 137/68.1, 137/68.19, 137/68.23, 137/69, 137/68.22
• US Class Current: 105/392.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/205 inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 15/06 Buffer cars; Arrangements or construction of railway vehicles for protecting them in case of collisions buffers B61G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1774 With counterbalancing element

Abstract

A release device for releasing an inflatable element for protecting a vehicle against impact, which element, once inflated, presents a general shape that fits closely over the region of the vehicle to be protected, said inflatable element being held, in a folded state, in a compartment that includes a wall that is connected in sealed manner to an edge of an opening of said inflatable element, wherein, facing said opening, said wall includes gas release means that are protected during inflation of the inflatable element by a closure flap controlled by actuator means that remove said closure flap once the inflatable element is deployed.

Claims

1. A release device, for releasing an inflatable element for protecting a vehicle against impact, comprising:

a. a gas release orifice, forming a gas release opening of said inflatable element, covered by a membrane;

b. a movable closure flap protectively covering said membrane; and

c. an actuator device that moves said closure flap relative to said membrane.

2. A release device according to claim 1 for releasing an inflatable element for protecting a vehicle, wherein said actuator device is a pyrotechnical device.

3. A release device according to claim 1 for releasing an inflatable element for protecting a vehicle, wherein said gas release orifice is constituted by more than one membrane-fitted release orifice.

4. A release device according to claim 1 for releasing an inflatable element for protecting a vehicle, wherein said closure flap is removed after a time delay has elapsed from the initial triggering of the inflatable means.

5. A protection device for protecting a vehicle against impact, comprising:

a. a compartment comprising a wall;

b. an inflatable element including an opening, said inflatable element being held in a folded state and said opening being connected in a sealed manner to said wall of said compartment,

c. wherein, facing said opening, said wall includes an orifice opening out to a means for inflating said inflatable element, and includes a gas release device according to claim 1, and

d. wherein said inflatable element, once inflated, presents a general shape that fits closely over a region of the vehicle to be protected.

6. A protection device according to claim 5, wherein said vehicle is a rail vehicle.

7. A protection device according to claim 6, wherein said means for inflating is constituted by a tank of gas under high pressure.

8. A release device according to claim 1 for releasing an inflatable element for protecting a vehicle, wherein said actuator device is an electrical device.

9. A release device, for releasing an inflatable element for protecting a vehicle against impact, comprising:

a. a gas release orifice, forming a gas release opening of said inflatable element, covered by a membrane;

b. a movable closure flap protectively covering said membrane; and

c. said closure flap controlled by a means for moving said closure flap in relation to said membrane.

10. A release device, for releasing an inflatable protection element, comprising:

a. a gas release orifice, forming a gas release opening of said inflatable element, covered by a membrane;

b. a movable closure flap protectively covering said membrane; and

c. said closure flap controlled by a means for moving said closure flap in relation to said membrane.

11. A release device, for releasing an inflatable protection element, comprising:

a. a gas release orifice, forming a gas release opening of said inflatable element, covered by a membrane;

b. a movable closure flap protectively covering said membrane; and

c. an actuator device that moves said closure flap relative to said membrane.

12. A release device according to claim 11 for releasing inflatable protection element, wherein said actuator device is a pyrotechnical device.

13. A release device according to claim 11 for releasing an inflatable protection element, wherein said actuator device is an electrical device.

14. A release device according to claim 11 for releasing an inflatable protection element, wherein said gas release orifice is constituted by more than one membrane-fitted release orifice.

15. A release device according to claim 11 for releasing an inflatable protection element, wherein said closure flap is removed after a time delay has elapsed from an initial triggering of the inflatable element.

16. An inflatable protection element according to claim 11, wherein said inflatable protection element is incorporated into a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

17. An inflatable protection element according to claim 11, wherein said inflatable protection element is incorporated into a passenger compartment of a rail vehicle.

18. An inflatable protection element according to claim 11, wherein said inflatable element is deployed by a tank of gas under high pressure.