US3947057A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring system for a steering wheel mounted air bag gas source
Assignee: Daimler Benz AG
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Filing: 1974-06-06
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Granted: 1976-03-30
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Expires: 1994-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A system for warning when the liquid level of a air bag gas source as dropped to a predetermined level, such that the gas source would not be adequate to properly inflate the bag upon actuation. The source is mounted to rotate with a steering wheel. An electrically conductive float floats in the liquid such that it always remains at the upper portion of the source. The float comes into contact with contacts in the gas source, when the liquid level drops to the predetermined level, to complete an electric circuit to a signaling device and/or a drive disabling device.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerhard Schiesterl
- 👤 Helmut Wulf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:47
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A passenger protective installation for vehicles, especially motor vehicles, the installation comprising: a rotatable steering spindle, a steering wheel mounted on said steering spindle, at least one inflatable air bag means, a gas producer means operatively connected with said air bag means for inflating the same upon a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle, said gas producer means including a predetermined quantity of electrically non-conductive liquified gas, a tank means for housing said liquified gas, said tank means is arranged coaxially to the steering spindle and is rotatable in unison with the steering spindle, a float means arranged in said tank means, said float means including an electrically conductive surface, contact surface means separated from one another in said tank means, said float means being disposed between said separated contact surface means and normally maintained out of contact with said contact surface during rotation of the steering spindle by a predetermined liquid level of said liquified gas in said tank means, said contact surface means is disposed in said tank means concentrically surrounding an axis of rotation of the steering spindle, said float means abutting at said contact surface means when the liquid level of said liquified gas in said tank means is disposed below a predetermined minimum level, and wherein circuit means including said contact surface means are provided, said circuit means further including means for monitoring the liquid level of said liquified gas, said circuit means being closed by engagement of said float means at said contact surface means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A passenger protective installation for vehicles, especially motor vehicles, the installation comprising: a rotatable steering spindle, a steering wheel mounted on said steering spindle, at least one inflatable air bag means, a gas producer means operatively connected with said air bag means for inflating the same upon a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle, said gas producer means including a predetermined quantity of electrically non-conductive liquified gas, a tank means for housing said liquified gas, said tank means is arranged coaxially to the steering spindle and is rotatable in unison with the steering spindle, a float means arranged in said tank means, said float means including an electrically conductive surface, contact surface means separated from one another in said tank means, said float means being disposed between said separated contact surface means and normally maintained out of contact with said contact surface during rotation of the steering spindle by a predetermined liquid level of said liquified gas in said tank means, said contact surface means is disposed in said tank means concentrically surrounding an axis of rotation of the steering spindle, said float means abutting at said contact surface means when the liquid level of said liquified gas in said tank means is disposed below a predetermined minimum level, and wherein circuit means including said contact surface means are provided, said circuit means further including means for monitoring the liquid level of said liquified gas, said circuit means being closed by engagement of said float means at said contact surface means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring means includes an indicating device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 2, wherein said monitoring means includes a control means for interrupting the driving operation of the motor vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring means includes a control means for interrupting the driving operation of the motor vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein one of said contact surface means is constituted by a wall section of the tank means, said wall section being provided with at least partially conductive inner surfaces, and wherein means are provided for insulating said conductive inner surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein a deformation member is provided in a transition area from the steering wheel to the steering spindle, said deformation member forming said tank means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein said contact surface means includes contact elements arranged at an inclination with respect to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 7, wherein said circuit means includes a voltage source means, and wherein said contact elements are disposed in said tank means such that during abutment of the float means at said contact elements said float means is free from a wall of the tank means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 8, further comprising means for insulating the wall surface of the tank means within the movement area of the float means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 9, wherein a liquid-permeable cover means is provided and extends at least above the contact elements for limiting the movement range of the float means with respect to said contact elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 9, wherein a connecting means having a length smaller than the distance of at least one of the contact elements to the walls of the tank means is provided for limiting the movement of the float means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 11, wherein said connecting means is a filament mounted at one of the contact elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, further comprising means for insulating the wall surface of the tank means within the movement area of the float means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein a liquid-permeable cover means is provided and extends at least above said contact surface means for limiting the movement range of the float means with respect to the contact surface means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein a connecting means having a length smaller than the distance of at least one of the contact surface means to the walls of the tank means is provided for limiting the movement range of the float means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A passener protective installation according to claim 15, wherein said connecting means is a filament mounted at one of the said contact surface means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein a deformation member is provided in a transition area from said steering wheel to said steering spindle, and wherein said deformation member surrounds said tank means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said contact surface means is a contact element of truncated conical shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein one of the contact surface means is a cylindrical contact element with an axis of rotation of the steering spindle disposed at an inclination to a horizontal plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein one contact surface means is a disk-shaped contact element extending in a plane disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the steering spindle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 20, wherein the other contact surface means is a contact element of truncated conical shape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 21, wherein said monitoring means is an indicating lamp.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
77 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 22, further comprising a means for converting said liquified gas into a gaseous condition including means for supplying heat to said liquified gas, said heat supplying means including an explosive cartridge arranged in said tank means, and wherein a sensor means is provided for igniting said explosive cartridge in dependence on the predetermined deceleration value, and wherein means are provided for operatively connecting said circuit means with waid sensor means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 20, wherein the other contact surface means is a cylindrical contact element with an axis of rotation of the steering spindle disposed at an inclination to a horizontal plane.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein said contact surface means includes contact elements, and wherein means are provided for insulating said contact elements with respect to the walls of the tank means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 25, wherein said contact elements are arranged at an inclination with respect to each other.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 25, wherein said circuit means includes a voltage source means, and wherein said contact elements disposed in said tank means such that during abutment of the float means at said contact elements said float means is free from a wall of the tank means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring means is an indicating lamp.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
77 words
A passenger protective installation according to claim 1, further comprising a means for converting said liquified gas into a gaseous condition including means for supplying heat to said liquified gas, said heat supplying means including an explosive cartridge arranged in said tank means, and wherein a sensor means is provided for igniting said explosive cartridge in dependence on the predetermined deceleration value, and wherein means are provided for operatively connecting said circuit means with said sensor means.
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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) | 1979-03-30 | 1979-09-29 | 1980-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-30 | 1983-09-29 | 1984-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-30 | 1987-09-29 | 1988-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |