Actuator and vehicle protection system

• US 9,566,936 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Biller, Joachim, Feifel, Silvia, Koeppel, Karl-Heinz, Oezkan, Senra
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US14/402,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20150130173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/04 Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• 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: C06D 5/00 Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets explosive compositions containing an oxidizer, fuels for rocket engines intended for reaction with an oxidant other than air C06B
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/065 using a shape memory element

Abstract

An actuator, especially for a vehicle protection system, comprises at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) the wire (14) is heated and experiences a change of length. The vehicle protection system is, for example, an airbag system comprising an airbag and a regulating mechanism for the internal airbag pressure, wherein the wire (14) of the actuator (10) is connected to the regulating mechanism so that a change of shape of the wire (14) exerts a force on the regulating mechanism.

Claims

1. An actuator for a vehicle protection system, comprising at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length, wherein the pyrotechnical element (12) is a shock tube.

2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnical element (12) substantially extends over the entire length of the shape-variable wire (14).

3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the wire (14) extends at least in portions through the pyrotechnical element (12) and/or at least in portions outside of the pyrotechnical element (12).

4. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the shape-variable wire (14) extends in a curved form at least in portions.

5. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnical element (12) includes heat insulation (28).

6. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the wire (14) deforms upon heating so that it generates a tensile force (F).

7. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein prior to activation of the actuator the wire (14) projects from one end of the pyrotechnical element (12) by a predetermined length (L₁).

8. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein a filter (772) is provided for filtering and/or absorbing gas generated in the actuator (10).

9. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein plural slides (874) arranged to be linearly or rotationally movable are provided, wherein neighboring slides (874) are connected by at least one shape-variable wire (14).

10. A vehicle protection system comprising an actuator (10) comprising at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length,

wherein the vehicle protection system is an airbag system comprising an airbag (130) and includes a regulating mechanism (22;

122-522) for the internal airbag pressure, wherein the wire (14) of the actuator is connected to the regulating mechanism (22;

122-522) so that a change of shape of the wire (14) exerts a force (F) on the regulating mechanism (22;

122-522) and

wherein the airbag (130) comprises a partial volume (550) which is separated in terms of flow from the remainder of the airbag (130) prior to activation of the actuator (10) and of the regulating mechanism (522) and that the regulating mechanism (522) is a ventilation mechanism connected to the wire (14) of the actuator (10) so that upon activation of the actuator (10) and of the regulating mechanism (522) gas flows into the separated partial volume (550).

11. The vehicle protection system according to claim 10, wherein the regulating mechanism (122-422) further includes a venting system and the airbag (130) includes at least one exhaust orifice (132-432) which can be opened and/or closed by the venting mechanism.

12. The vehicle protection system according to claim 11, wherein the venting mechanism includes a closing element (134;

234) fastened to the airbag (130), the wire (14) of the actuator (10) acting on the closing element.

13. A vehicle protection system comprising an actuator (10) comprising at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length,

wherein the vehicle protection system is an airbag system comprising an airbag (130) and includes a regulating mechanism (22;

122-522) for the internal airbag pressure, wherein the wire (14) of the actuator is connected to the regulating mechanism (22;

122-522) so that a change of shape of the wire (14) exerts a force (F) on the regulating mechanism (22;

122-522),

wherein the regulating mechanism (122-422) is a venting system and the airbag (130) includes at least one exhaust orifice (132-432) which can be opened and/or closed by the venting mechanism,

wherein the venting mechanism includes a closing element (134;

234) fastened to the airbag (130), the wire (14) of the actuator (10) acting on the closing element, and

wherein in a first state with a first shape condition of the wire (14) of the actuator (10) the closing element (234) is lifted off the exhaust orifice (232) so that gas can escape from the exhaust orifice (232) and in a second state with a second shape condition of the wire (14) of the actuator (10) closes the exhaust orifice (232).

14. A vehicle protection system comprising an actuator (10) comprising at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length,

wherein the vehicle protection system is an airbag system comprising an airbag (130) and includes a regulating mechanism (22;

122-522) for the internal airbag pressure, wherein the wire (14) of the actuator is connected to the regulating mechanism (22;

122-522) so that a change of shape of the wire (14) exerts a force (F) on the regulating mechanism (22;

122-522), and

wherein the regulating mechanism (122-422) is a venting system and the airbag (130) includes at least one exhaust orifice (132-432) which can be opened and/or closed by the venting mechanism,

wherein the rim (338) of the exhaust orifice (332) is connected to the wire (14) of the actuator (10) so that a tensile force (F) exerted by the wire (14) reduces the surface area of the exhaust orifice (332).

15. A vehicle protection system comprising an actuator (10) comprising at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length,

wherein the vehicle protection system is an airbag system comprising an airbag (130) and includes a regulating mechanism (22;

122-522) for the internal airbag pressure, wherein the wire (14) of the actuator is connected to the regulating mechanism (22;

122-522) so that a change of shape of the wire (14) exerts a force (F) on the regulating mechanism (22;

122-522),

wherein the regulating mechanism (122-422) is a venting system and the airbag (130) includes at least one exhaust orifice (132-432) which can be opened and/or closed by the venting mechanism, and

wherein the venting mechanism includes plural specific threads (444) in the airbag wall which are configured to be removable from the airbag wall upon tensile load, wherein the threads (444) are connected to the wire (14).

16. A vehicle protection system comprising an actuator (10) having at least one wire (14) variable in shape depending on temperature made from a shape memory alloy and comprising an elongate pyrotechnical element (12) connected to the shape-variable wire (14) so that the wire (14) is heated upon ignition of the pyrotechnical element (12) and experiences a change of length,

wherein the actuator (10) can be additionally heated by applying an electric voltage.