Device and method for controlling a volume flow of a stored pressurized medium for the purpose of activating an impact protection device as well as a device for activating an impact protection device

• US 9,352,722 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Wasserman, Peter, Nitschke, Werner, Vier, Elmar, Hamada, Raed, Beling, Horst, Iben, Uwe, Hohl, Guenther, Woerz, Stefan, Heinz, Rudolf, Wolf, Dirk, Klein, Martin, Druckenmueller, Heiko, Heyer, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US14/607,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20150210243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 280/737, 280/735, 280/736
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/274 characterised by means to rupture or open the fluid source
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/029 Electromagnetically actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/24 with cylindrical valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0675 Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/122 the fluid acting on a piston F16K31/143, F16K31/163, F16K31/363, F16K31/383 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/014 using sliding elements

Abstract

An activation device for a protection device includes: a body with a chamber that has, respectively at first and second ends, a medium inlet opening to a medium storage and a valve opening, and an outlet opening for discharging the medium into the protection device between the first and second ends; a valve for opening and closing the valve opening for passage of the medium; and a piston that (a) includes a passage along a main extension axis, from a first surface thereof adjacent to the medium inlet opening, to a second surface thereof, larger than the first surface and adjacent to the valve opening, and (b) is movable in the chamber by the medium and as a function of the control valve position between a position in which the at least one outlet opening is closed and a position in which the at least one outlet opening is opened.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a volume flow of a medium for activating an impact protection device, the device comprising:

a valve body including (a) a chamber in the valve body, (b) a medium inlet opening, at a first end of the chamber, from the chamber to a medium storage, (c) a control valve opening, at a second end of the chamber, and (d) a first outlet opening, between the first end and second ends, for discharging the medium into the impact protection device;

a control valve for opening and closing the control valve opening for a passage of the medium; and

a control piston including therein, and along a main extension axis thereof, a passage opening from a first active surface of the control piston to a second active surface of the control piston, wherein;

the first active surface is adjacent to the medium inlet opening;

the second active surface is adjacent to the control valve opening and is larger than the first active surface; and

the control piston is movable in the chamber, with the aid of the medium and as a function of a position of the control valve, between an initial position, in which the first outlet opening is closed by the control piston, and an activation position, in which the first outlet opening is opened by the control piston.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the medium is generated by a pyrotechnic gas generator.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the medium is stored partially under pressure, and the medium inlet opening is closed by a bursting element.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the medium is stored under pressure, and the medium inlet opening is closed by a bursting element.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the control valve is currentlessly closed for closing the control valve opening from passage of the medium, the device further comprising an elastic component for keeping the control valve in a closed position.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the control valve is currentlessly opened for opening the control valve opening for passage of the medium, the device further comprising an elastic component for keeping the control valve in an opened position.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body includes a second outlet opening for discharging the medium from the control valve into the impact protection device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the control piston is designed to cover the first outlet opening only partially in the initial position.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve body includes, between the first outlet opening and the control valve opening, an acceleration opening for discharging the medium into the impact protection device, the acceleration opening being open when the control piston is in the initial position of the control piston and being closed when the control piston is in the activation position.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the control valve includes a ball and a valve needle, the valve needle including a calotte for accommodating the ball at an end facing the control valve opening, a section of the valve body surrounding the control valve opening being formed as a valve seat for the valve needle.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a clamping sleeve and a clamping nut designed to axially brace, and radially guide, the valve body and the control valve, wherein the valve needle of the control valve is guidable in at least one of the clamping sleeve and the clamping nut.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lift adjusting device configured for axially adjusting a valve lift of the control valve.

13. A device comprising:

a medium storage for storing a medium; and

a control device for controlling a volume flow of the medium from the medium storage, for activating an impact protection device, the control device including;

a valve body including (a) a chamber in the valve body, (b) a medium inlet opening, at a first end of the chamber, from the chamber to a medium storage, (c) a control valve opening, at a second end of the chamber, and (d) a first outlet opening, between the first end and second ends, for discharging the medium into the impact protection device;

a control valve for opening and closing the control valve opening for a passage of the medium; and

a control piston including therein, and along a main extension axis thereof, a passage opening from a first active surface of the control piston to a second active surface of the control piston;

wherein;

the first active surface is adjacent to the medium inlet opening;

the second active surface is adjacent to the control valve opening and is larger than the first active surface; and

the control piston is movable in the chamber, with the aid of the medium and as a function of a position of the control valve, between an initial position, in which the first outlet opening is closed by the control piston, and an activation position, in which the first outlet opening is opened by the control piston.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the medium storage is configured for storing the medium at least partially under pressure, and the device further comprises a bursting element that closes the medium inlet opening of the valve body.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the control device is situated transversely to the longitudinal extension of the medium storage.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the control device is disposed concentrically with the medium storage.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the medium storage includes outlet openings, and the control device is situated in such a way that the medium inlet opening communicates with the outlet openings of the medium storage.

18. A system comprising:

an impact protection device;

a medium storage for storing a medium; and

a control device for controlling a volume flow of the medium from the medium storage, for activating the impact protection device, the control device including;

a valve body including (a) a chamber in the valve body, (b) a medium inlet opening, at a first end of the chamber, from the chamber to a medium storage, (c) a control valve opening, at a second end of the chamber, and (d) a first outlet opening, between the first end and second ends, for discharging the medium into the impact protection device;

a control valve for opening and closing the control valve opening for a passage of the medium; and

a control piston including therein, and along a main extension axis thereof, a passage opening from a first active surface of the control piston to a second active surface of the control piston;

wherein;

the first active surface is adjacent to the medium inlet opening;

the second active surface is adjacent to the control valve opening and is larger than the first active surface;

the control piston is movable in the chamber, with the aid of the medium and as a function of a position of the control valve, between an initial position, in which the first outlet opening is closed by the control piston, and an activation position, in which the first outlet opening is opened by the control piston; and

the first outlet opening is in the impact protection device.

19. A method using a control device for controlling a volume flow of a stored medium for activating an impact protection device, the control device comprising (I) a valve body including (a) a chamber in the valve body, (b) a medium inlet opening, at a first end of the chamber, from the chamber to a medium storage, (c) a control valve opening, at a second end of the chamber, and (d) a first outlet opening, between the first end and second ends, for discharging the medium into the impact protection device, (II) a control valve for opening and closing the control valve opening for a passage of the medium;

and (III) a control piston including therein, and along a main extension axis thereof, a passage opening from a first active surface of the control piston to a second active surface of the control piston, wherein the first active surface is adjacent to the medium inlet opening, the second active surface is adjacent to the control valve opening and is larger than the first active surface, and the control piston is movable in the chamber, with the aid of the medium and as a function of a position of the control valve, between an initial position, in which the first outlet opening is closed by the control piston, and an activation position, in which the first outlet opening is opened by the control piston, the method comprising;

activating the control valve to open the control valve opening and move the control piston from the initial position into the activation position.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the opening of the control valve opening occurs when a bursting element that initially closes the medium inlet opening is burst.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

activating the control valve to close the control valve opening and move the control piston from the activation position into the initial position.