US3792872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Occupant restraint system
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1972-04-25
•
Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1992-04-25
Abstract
Abstract An occupant restraint system for a vehicle includes a source of pressure fluid having an outlet sealed by a rupturable diaphragm. Upon receipt of an electrical signal from a sensor actuated by impact conditions experienced by the vehicle, detonators rupture the diaphragm to release the pressure fluid. A manifold assembly communicates the outlet of the pressure vessel with an inflatable occupant restraint cushion. Included in the manifold assembly is a valve arrangement which has a first orifice controlling venting of the sealed outlet of the pressure vessel to atmosphere and a second variable area orifice controlling communication of the outlet to the cushion. The valve arrangement includes an outer tubular member having a circumferential series of radial openings and a generally circular opening in a radial end wall thereof. An inner tubular member is rotatable within the first member and includes a circumferentially spaced series of radial openings which may be aligned and misaligned with the radial openings of the outer member to provide the first orifice. A radial end wall of the inner member is juxtaposed to the end wall of the outer member and includes a generally teardrop shaped opening which may be adjustably aligned with the wall opening of the first member to provide the variable area orifice. A releasable detent normally locates the inner member within the outer member with the radial openings aligned and the circular and teardrop openings misaligned. Thus, the outlet of the source is normally vented to atmosphere and blocked from communicating with the cushion. Pendulous weights are secured to the inner member. Upon receipt of an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time, the weights rotate the inner member within the outer member to misalign the radial openings and close the first orifice. The teardrop shaped opening is partially aligned with the circular opening to provide a minimum area second orifice. The area of this orifice, up to a maximum area equal to that of the circular opening, is determined by the degree of alignment of the teardrop and circular openings which is controlled by the strength of the pulse up to a predetermined maximum. The first and second orifices can also be used in an occupant restraint system independently of the other.
Inventors
- 👤 T Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/268; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0753; Y10T137/0923; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86509; Y10T137/86517; Y10T137/86533; Y10T137/86541; Y10T137/86863; Y10T137/86871
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a diaphragm sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of relatively movable members, each including a pair of openings therein, one opening of one member being alignable and misalignable with a respective opening of the other member to provide respective pairs of openings, one respective pair of openings communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when aligned and the other respective pair of openings communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion when aligned, the one pair being normally aligned and the other pair being normally misaligned, means for moving the members relative to each other in response to an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, and means for misaligning the one pair and aligning the other pair upon movement of the members relative to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a diaphragm sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of relatively movable members, each including a pair of openings therein, one opening of one member being alignable and misalignable with a respective opening of the other member to provide respective pairs of openings, one respective pair of openings communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when aligned and the other respective pair of openings communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion when aligned, the one pair being normally aligned and the other pair being normally misaligned, means for moving the members relative to each other in response to an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, and means for misaligning the one pair and aligning the other pair upon movement of the members relative to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
179 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a diaphragm sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of concentric relatively rotatable hollow members, each including a plurality of radial openings in the peripheral wall thereof and an axial opening in a radial wall thereof, the radial openings of one member being alignable and misalignable with the radial openings of the other member and the axial openings being alternately alignable and misalignable, the radial openings communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when aligned and the axial openings communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion when aligned, the radial openings being normally aligned and the axial openings being normally misaligned, and means for rotating the members relative to each other to misalign the radial openings and align the axial openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
179 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a diaphragm sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of concentric relatively rotatable hollow members, each including a plurality of radial openings in the peripheral wall thereof and an axial opening in a radial wall thereof, the radial openings of one member being alignable and misalignable with the radial openings of the other member and the axial openings being alternately alignable and misalignable, the radial openings communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when aligned and the axial openings communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion when aligned, the radial openings being normally aligned and the axial openings being normally misaligned, and means for rotating the members relative to each other to misalign the radial openings and align the axial openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
185 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a diaphragm sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of relatively movable members, each including a pair of openings therein, one opening of one member being alternately alignable and misalignable with a respective opening of the other member to provide a first orifice communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when the one openings are aligned and blocking such communication when the openings are misaligned, the other opening of one member being varyingly alignable with the other opening of the other member to provide a variable area orifice communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion, the one openings being normally aligned and the other openings being normally subStantially misaligned, and means for misaligning the one openings and providing a predetermined minimum alignment of the other openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
185 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a diaphragm sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of relatively movable members, each including a pair of openings therein, one opening of one member being alternately alignable and misalignable with a respective opening of the other member to provide a first orifice communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when the one openings are aligned and blocking such communication when the openings are misaligned, the other opening of one member being varyingly alignable with the other opening of the other member to provide a variable area orifice communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion, the one openings being normally aligned and the other openings being normally subStantially misaligned, and means for misaligning the one openings and providing a predetermined minimum alignment of the other openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
199 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of relatively movable members, each including a plurality of first openings therein and a second opening therein, the plurality of openings of one member being alternately alignable and misalignable with the respective plurality of openings of the other member to provide a plurality of first orifices communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when the plurality of openings are aligned and blocking such communication when the plurality of openings are misaligned, the second opening of one member being varyingly alignable with the second opening of the other member to provide a variable area orifice communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion, the first openings being normally aligned and the second openings being normally substantially misaligned, and means for misaligning the first openings and providing a predetermined minimum alignment of the second openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of relatively movable members, each including a plurality of first openings therein and a second opening therein, the plurality of openings of one member being alternately alignable and misalignable with the respective plurality of openings of the other member to provide a plurality of first orifices communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when the plurality of openings are aligned and blocking such communication when the plurality of openings are misaligned, the second opening of one member being varyingly alignable with the second opening of the other member to provide a variable area orifice communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion, the first openings being normally aligned and the second openings being normally substantially misaligned, and means for misaligning the first openings and providing a predetermined minimum alignment of the second openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
216 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of concentric relatively rotatable hollow members having juxtaposed radial and axial walls, each including a plurality of first openings in the radial wall thereof and a second opening in the axial wall thereof, the first openings of one member being alternately alignable and misalignable with respective first openings of the other member to provide a plurality of first orifices communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when the first openings are aligned and blocking such communication when the first openings are misaligned, the second opening of the inner member being of teardrop shape and being varyingly alignable with the second opening of the other member to provide a variable area orifice communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion, the first openings being normally aligned and the second openings being normally substantially misaligned, and means for misaligning the first openings and providing a predetermined minimum alignment of the second openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
216 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of concentric relatively rotatable hollow members having juxtaposed radial and axial walls, each including a plurality of first openings in the radial wall thereof and a second opening in the axial wall thereof, the first openings of one member being alternately alignable and misalignable with respective first openings of the other member to provide a plurality of first orifices communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when the first openings are aligned and blocking such communication when the first openings are misaligned, the second opening of the inner member being of teardrop shape and being varyingly alignable with the second opening of the other member to provide a variable area orifice communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion, the first openings being normally aligned and the second openings being normally substantially misaligned, and means for misaligning the first openings and providing a predetermined minimum alignment of the second openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
246 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of coaxial hollow tubular members, each including juxtaposed radial and axial walls, each member including a plurality of first openings in the radial wall thereof and a second opening in the axial wall thereof, the first openings of the inner member being alternately alignable and misalignable with respective first openings of the outer member to provide a plurality of first orifices communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when the first openings are aligned and blocking such communication when the first openings are misaligned, the second opening of the inner member being of teardrop shape and symmetrical about a centEr line generated about the axis of the members, the second opening of the inner member being varyingly alignable with the second circular opening of the outer member to provide a variable area orifice communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion, the first openings being normally aligned and the second openings being normally substantially misaligned, and means rotating the inner member within the outer member to misalign the first openings and provide a predetermined minimum alignment of the second openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
246 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a source of pressure fluid having a sealed outlet, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, and a valve arrangement for selectively and alternately communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the ambient atmosphere or with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a pair of coaxial hollow tubular members, each including juxtaposed radial and axial walls, each member including a plurality of first openings in the radial wall thereof and a second opening in the axial wall thereof, the first openings of the inner member being alternately alignable and misalignable with respective first openings of the outer member to provide a plurality of first orifices communicating the outlet with the ambient atmosphere when the first openings are aligned and blocking such communication when the first openings are misaligned, the second opening of the inner member being of teardrop shape and symmetrical about a centEr line generated about the axis of the members, the second opening of the inner member being varyingly alignable with the second circular opening of the outer member to provide a variable area orifice communicating the outlet with the inflatable cushion, the first openings being normally aligned and the second openings being normally substantially misaligned, and means rotating the inner member within the outer member to misalign the first openings and provide a predetermined minimum alignment of the second openings upon receipt by the members of an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
191 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, a source of pressure fluid having an outlet sealed by a rupturable diaphragm, a first tubular member communicating with the source and with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a radial wall having an opening therein communicating the tubular member with the cushion, a second tubular member coaxially rotatable relative to the first member and including a radial wall having an opening therein communicating the second member with the cushion, one opening being generally circular and the other opening being generally teardrop and movable to varying positions of alignment with respect to the one upon relative movement of the members to provide a variable area orifice, means normally locating the openings in substantial misalignment with each other to block communication of the pressure fluid source with the cushion, and means responsive to an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time for rotating the tubular members relative to each other to provide a predetermined minimum alignment of the openings and a predetermined minimum area orifice communicating the pressure fluid source with the cushion upon rupture of the diaphragm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
191 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, a source of pressure fluid having an outlet sealed by a rupturable diaphragm, a first tubular member communicating with the source and with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion and including a radial wall having an opening therein communicating the tubular member with the cushion, a second tubular member coaxially rotatable relative to the first member and including a radial wall having an opening therein communicating the second member with the cushion, one opening being generally circular and the other opening being generally teardrop and movable to varying positions of alignment with respect to the one upon relative movement of the members to provide a variable area orifice, means normally locating the openings in substantial misalignment with each other to block communication of the pressure fluid source with the cushion, and means responsive to an acceleration pulse of predetermined minimum amplitude and time for rotating the tubular members relative to each other to provide a predetermined minimum alignment of the openings and a predetermined minimum area orifice communicating the pressure fluid source with the cushion upon rupture of the diaphragm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
131 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, a source of pressure fluid having an outlet sealed by a rupturable diaphragm, a first annular member including an opening communicating with the source and with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion, a second annular member movable relative to the first member and including an opening adjustably alignable with the opening of the first member to provide a series of variable area orifices communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the cushion, and means for moving the annular members relative to each other to adjust the position of the second member opening with respect to the first member opening in response to the relative strength of an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time received by the members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, a source of pressure fluid having an outlet sealed by a rupturable diaphragm, a first annular member including an opening communicating with the source and with the inflatable occupant restraint cushion, a second annular member movable relative to the first member and including an opening adjustably alignable with the opening of the first member to provide a series of variable area orifices communicating the outlet of the pressure fluid source with the cushion, and means for moving the annular members relative to each other to adjust the position of the second member opening with respect to the first member opening in response to the relative strength of an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time received by the members.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |