Power actuator

• US 6,913,319 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2002
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Original Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Hiroyoshi, Shono, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US10/331,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 297/468, 297/480, 297/378.11, 297/378.12, 297/463.1, 280/806, 606/32, 606/35, 606/37, 606/38
• US Class Current: 297/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42718 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42763 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1806 for buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1951 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1955 Linear actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

Provided is a compact power actuator which is simple in structure, reliable in operation, and easy to install. The power actuator comprises a piston assembly which is received in a fixed cylinder for either directly or indirectly engaging a driven member, and a propellant for rapidly increasing the inner pressure of the cylinder to push the piston assembly outward so that the driven member may be instantaneously driven. A spring is interposed between the piston assembly and the propellant to urge the piston assembly in the projecting direction. The front end of the propellant fits into the central opening so that the available space may be fully utilized. Therefore, the size of the power actuator can be reduced, and the required amount of the pyrotechnic material for the propellant can be reduced due to the reduced initial volume of the chamber for the expansion of the generated gas.

Claims

1. A power actuator for rapidly actuating a driven member, said power actuator comprising:

a cylinder;

a piston received in said cylinder;

a propellant received in said cylinder for selectively applying a pressure to said piston, a piston rod extending from said piston and having a free end connected to a driven member;

a spring member received in said cylinder to urge said piston out of said cylinder; and

a front end of said propellant received in a central hole of said spring member.

2. The power actuator according to claim 1, wherein an inner bore of said cylinder includes a shoulder opposing a shoulder of said propellant, and a resilient annular seal member is interposed between said shoulders of said cylinder inner bore and said propellant.

3. The power actuator according to claim 1, wherein the other end of said cylinder adjacent to said propellant is closed by crimping material of said piston over said propellant via a retaining plate.

4. The power actuator according to claim 1, wherein said propellant comprises a small diameter portion facing said piston, and a large diameter portion remote from said piston, a shoulder defined between said portions serving as a seat for said spring member.

5. The power actuator according to claim 1, wherein said piston rod simply abuts an opposing end of said piston so as to be readily separated therefrom, and an end of the inner bore of said cylinder remote from said propellant is larger than said piston rod but smaller than said piston in diameter.

6. The power actuator according to claim 1, wherein said piston rod simply abuts an opposing end of said piston via a spherical joint.

7. The power actuator according to claim 1, wherein said piston rod simply abuts an opposing end of said piston via a conical surface joint.

8. The power actuator according to claim 1, wherein said driven member is moveable between a rest position and a deployed position.

9. The power actuator according to claim 1, wherein said spring member comprises a compression coil spring.

10. The power actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a one-way lock mechanism for preventing reversal motion once said piston rod is actuated.

11. A power actuator for rapidly actuating a driven member, said power actuator comprising:

a cylinder;

a piston received in said cylinder;

a propellant received in said cylinder for selectively applying a pressure to said piston, a piston rod extending from said piston and having a free end connected to a driven member;

a spring member received in said cylinder to urge said piston out of said cylinder;

a piston rod retaining member provided at an end of said cylinder remote from said propellant for resisting inadvertent movement of said piston rod during handling but permitting movement of said piston rod when said piston is actuated by said propellant; and

a front end of said propellant received in a central hole of said spring member.

12. The power actuator according to claim 11, wherein an inner bore of said cylinder includes a shoulder opposing a shoulder of said propellant, and a resilient annular seal member is interposed between said shoulders of said cylinder inner bore and said propellant.

13. The power actuator according to claim 11, wherein the other end of said cylinder adjacent to said propellant is closed by crimping material of said piston over said propellant via a retaining plate.

14. The power actuator according to claim 11, wherein said propellant comprises a small diameter portion facing said piston, and a large diameter portion remote from said piston, a shoulder defined between said portions serving as a seat for said spring member.

15. The power actuator according to claim 11, wherein said piston rod simply abuts an opposing end of said piston so as to be readily separated therefrom, and an end of the inner bore of said cylinder remote from said propellant is larger than said piston rod but smaller than said piston in diameter.

16. The power actuator according to claim 11, wherein said piston rod simply abuts an opposing end of said piston via a spherical joint.

17. The power actuator according to claim 11, wherein said piston rod simply abuts an opposing end of said piston via a conical surface joint.

18. The power actuator according to claim 11, wherein said driven member is moveable between a rest position and a deployed position.

19. The power actuator according to claim 11, wherein said spring member comprises a compression coil spring.

20. The power actuator according to claim 11, further comprising a one-way lock mechanism for preventing reversal motion once said piston rod is actuated.