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US3817263A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for the inflation of safety cushions in vehicles

Assignee: Dynamit Nobel AG
•
Filing: 1973-04-02
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1993-04-02
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Abstract

Abstract Device for inflating safety cushions in a vehicle having an electrically ignitable cartridge provided with a pyrotechnical mixture free of brisant or high explosive within a cartridge casing of low strength material. The cartridge casing material is of a low strength so as to prevent the cartridge casing acting as a tamp for accommodating inadvertent detonation of the cartridge by itself. The cartridge is arranged within a pressure tank equipped with a liquid gas in communication with the interior of a safety cushion by means of an extension having at least one gas passage aperture, which extension is sealed with respect to the liquid gas by a bursting or rupturing diaphragm. The pressure tank includes a cartridge housing for removably accommodating the cartridge. The walls of the cartridge housing are of a high strength material and are so dimensioned with respect to the cartridge casing that the cartridge housing serves as a tamp for facilitating optimum detonation of the high explosive free pyrotechnical mixture.

Inventors

  • 👤 G Marondel
  • 👤 H Bendler
  • 👤 H Gawlick

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 19:41
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/268; B60R21/272; C; C06; C06D; C06D5/00; C06D5/06; F; F16; F16K; F16K13/00; F16K13/04; F16K13/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T137/1647; Y10T137/1692; Y10T137/1714

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim 225 words
An arrangement for inflating inflatable safety cushion means of the type used to cushion passengers and the like in vehicles, said arrangement comprising: pressure tank means for accommodating a highly pressurized inflating medium, inflating medium aperture means opening into said safety cushion means, rupturable diaphragm means for sealing said aperture means from the inflating medium, ignitible cartridge means including a high-explosive-free pyrotechnical mixture surrounded by cartridge casing means, cartridge housing means extending into said pressure tank means for housing said cartridge means such that ignition of said pyrotechnical mixture with said cartridge means in said housing means effects an increase in the pressure of said inflating medium and consequent rupture of said diaphragm means such that said cushion means is inflated by said inflating medium passing from said pressure tank means through said aperture means into said cushion means, and igniting means for igniting said pyrotechnical mixture, wherein said cartridge casing means is constructed relatively weak as compared to said housing means such that said casing means provides insufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture to accommodate detonation of said cartridge means outside of said housing means and such that said housing means provides sufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture by way of said casing means to accommodate relatively optimum detonation of said cartridge means when said cartridge means is in said housing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 225 words
An arrangement for inflating inflatable safety cushion means of the type used to cushion passengers and the like in vehicles, said arrangement comprising: pressure tank means for accommodating a highly pressurized inflating medium, inflating medium aperture means opening into said safety cushion means, rupturable diaphragm means for sealing said aperture means from the inflating medium, ignitible cartridge means including a high-explosive-free pyrotechnical mixture surrounded by cartridge casing means, cartridge housing means extending into said pressure tank means for housing said cartridge means such that ignition of said pyrotechnical mixture with said cartridge means in said housing means effects an increase in the pressure of said inflating medium and consequent rupture of said diaphragm means such that said cushion means is inflated by said inflating medium passing from said pressure tank means through said aperture means into said cushion means, and igniting means for igniting said pyrotechnical mixture, wherein said cartridge casing means is constructed relatively weak as compared to said housing means such that said casing means provides insufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture to accommodate detonation of said cartridge means outside of said housing means and such that said housing means provides sufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture by way of said casing means to accommodate relatively optimum detonation of said cartridge means when said cartridge means is in said housing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said ignition means includes electrical means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 46 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the inside dimensions of said housing means correspond closely to the outside dimensions of said casing means such that the walls of said housing means provide immediately adjacent backing and tamping support to the walls of said casing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said housing means closely surrounds said casing means over substantially the entire outer surface of said casing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said housing means includes an opening adjacent one end thereof for accommodating electrical wires leading to said igniting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said aperture means are provided in extension means of said pressure tank means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 54 words
An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said extension means is a cylindrical member closed at one end by a fixed wall and closed at the other end by said diaphragm means, said aperture means including a plurality of radially extending openings in the side walls of said cylindrical member adjacent said fixed wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said pressure tank means is cylindrically shaped and has a longitudinal centerline coinciding with the longitudinal centerline of said extension means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 42 words
An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said housing means and said cartridge means are cylindrically shaped with respective longitudinal centerlines coinciding with said centerlines of said extension and said pressure tank means when said cartridge means is in said housing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing means is made of steel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing means is provided, at least over a portion of its length, with predetermined rupturing points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the rupturing points are provided over the entire length of the housing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing means is provided, at least over a portion of its length, with perforations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the perforations are provided over the entire length of the housing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the side walls of said casing means are made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the thermoplastic synthetic resin is from the group consisting of polyethylene and polystyrene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 21 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnical mixture includes an oxygen carrier, a gas generator and a metallic powder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 36 words
An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the oxygen carrier is barium nitrate, Ba (NO3)2, the gas generator is aminoguanidine azotetrazole, and the metallic powder is from the group consisting of zirconium, aluminum, magnesium or boron.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 31 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a readily destructible and/or combustiBle central hollow tube is located within the casing means, said pyrotechnical mixture being arranged around said central hollow tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 16 words
An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the central hollow tube is made of thin-walled cardboard.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 30 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the igniting means includes a bridge primer and a booster charge in the cartridge means and electrical wires leading from said bridge primer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 46 words
An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said pressure tank means includes a detachable lid means, and wherein said lid means is firmly attached to said housing means in the assembled condition so as to assist in providing said sufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 60 words
An arrangement according to claim 22, wherein said lid means is connected to said pressure tank means by detachable connecting means extending through a clamping plate means interposed between said lid means and said pressure tank means, and wherein said clamping plate means clampingly forces said housing means against said lid means when said detachable connecting means are tightly secured.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 60 words
An arrangement according to claim 23, wherein said detachable connecting means are screw means, wherein said clamping plate means is an annular plate which has a lip portion which clampingly engages over a corresponding collar portion at one end of said housing means, and wherein said lid means forms an end wall of said housing means in the assembled condition.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 56 words
An arrangement according to claim 23, wherein said clamping plate means and detachable connecting means are so configured that loosening of said detachable connecting means from said pressure tank means simultaneously loosens said lid means from said housing means so as to reduce the effective tamping forces on a cartridge means inserted in said housing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 224 words
An arrangement for inflating inflatable safety cushion means of the type used to cushion passengers and the like in vehicles, said arrangement comprising: pressure tank means for accommodating a highly pressurized inflating medium, inflating medium aperture means opening into said safety cushion means, rupturable diaphragm means for sealing said aperture means from the inflating medium, ignitable cartridge means including a pyrotechnical mixture surrounded by cartridge casing means, cartridge housing means extending into said pressure tank means for housing said cartridge means such that ignition of said pyrotechnical mixture with said cartridge means in said housing means effects an increase in the pressure of said inflating medium and consequent rupture of said diaphragm means such that said cushion means is inflated by said inflating medium passing from said pressure tank means through said aperture means into said cushion means, and igniting means for igniting said pyrotechnical mixture, wherein said cartridge casing means is constructed relatively weak as compared to said housing means such that said casing means provides insufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture to accommodate detonation of said cartridge means outside of said housing means and such that said housing means provides sufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture by way of said casing means to acommodate relatively optimum detonation of said cartridge means when said cartridge means is in said housing means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 224 words
An arrangement for inflating inflatable safety cushion means of the type used to cushion passengers and the like in vehicles, said arrangement comprising: pressure tank means for accommodating a highly pressurized inflating medium, inflating medium aperture means opening into said safety cushion means, rupturable diaphragm means for sealing said aperture means from the inflating medium, ignitable cartridge means including a pyrotechnical mixture surrounded by cartridge casing means, cartridge housing means extending into said pressure tank means for housing said cartridge means such that ignition of said pyrotechnical mixture with said cartridge means in said housing means effects an increase in the pressure of said inflating medium and consequent rupture of said diaphragm means such that said cushion means is inflated by said inflating medium passing from said pressure tank means through said aperture means into said cushion means, and igniting means for igniting said pyrotechnical mixture, wherein said cartridge casing means is constructed relatively weak as compared to said housing means such that said casing means provides insufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture to accommodate detonation of said cartridge means outside of said housing means and such that said housing means provides sufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture by way of said casing means to acommodate relatively optimum detonation of said cartridge means when said cartridge means is in said housing means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 21 words
An arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the pyrotechnical mixture includes an oxygen carrier, a gas generator and a metallic powder.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 36 words
An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the oxygen carrier is barium nitrate, Ba (NO3)2, the gas generator is aminoguanidine azotetrazole, and the metallic powder is from the group consisting of zirconium, aluminum, magnesium or boron.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 46 words
An arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the inside dimensions of said housing means correspond closely to the outside dimensions of said casing means such that the waLls of said housing means provide immediately adjacent backing and tamping support to the walls of said casing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 25 words
An arrangement according to claim 29, wherein said housing means closely surrounds said casing means over substantially the entire outer surface of said casing means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 61 words
An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein said pressure tank means includes an opening for accommodating insertion and removal of said cartridge means and a detachable lid means covering said opening, and wherein said lid means is firmly attached to said housing means in the assembled condition so as to assist in providing said sufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 60 words
An arrangement according to claim 31, wherein said lid means is connected to said pressure tank means by detachable connecting means extending through a clamping plate means interposed between said lid means and said pressure tank means, and wherein said clamping plate means clampingly forces said housing means against said lid means when said detachable connecting means are tightly secured.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 60 words
An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said detachable connecting means are screw means, wherein said clamping plate means is an annular plate which has a lip portion which clampingly engages over a corresponding collar portion at one end of said housing means, and wherein said lid means forms an end wall of said housing means in the assembled condition.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 56 words
An arrangement according to claim 32, wherein said clamping plate means and detachable connecting means are so configured that loosening of said detachable connecting means from said pressure tank means simultaneously loosens said lid means from said housing means so as to reduce the effective tamping forces on a cartridge means inserted in said housing means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 61 words
An arrangement according to claim 26, wherein said pressure tank means includes an opening for accommodating insertion and removal of said cartridge means and a detachable lid means covering said opening, and wherein said lid means is firmly attached to said housing means in the assembled condition so as to assist in providing said sufficient tamping forces on said pyrotechnical mixture.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2878965A Cited
GB854003A Cited
US3180373A Cited
US3340809A Cited
US3450414A Cited
US3528681A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-06-17 1977-12-17 1978-06-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-06-17 1981-12-17 1982-06-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-06-17 1985-12-17 1986-06-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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