Occupant restraint system

Claim 2

In combination with a vehicle subject to low level impact conditions and high level impact conditions and including an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, inflating means for inflating the cushion at a relatively high rate under high level impact conditions and at a relatively low rate under low level impact conditions comprising, a combustion chamber containing a mass of propellant having an opening therethrough and capable of producing pressure fluid by burning and having a burn rate responsive to the pressure within the chamber, outlet means of predetermined orifice area controlling the rate of flow of the pressure fluid from the chamber to control the pressure within the chamber and the rate of burning, means communicating the outlet means with the cushion, the outlet means normally setting a rate of flow of pressure fluid to the cushion to inflate the cushion at the relatively low rate, a ball, means mounting the ball within the combustion chamber to one side of the mass of propellant and in general spaced alignment with the opening therethrough and the outlet means, and means responsive to the occurrence of high level impact conditions for firing the ball through the opening in the mass of propellant and into the outlet means to reduce the orifice area thereof and thereby increase the pressure within the combustion chamber to increase the rate of burn and provide inflation of the cushion at the relatively high rate.

Claim 3

In combination with a vehicle subject to low level impact conditions and high level impact conditions and including an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, inflating means for inflating the cushion at a relatively high rate under high level impact conditions and at a relatively low rate under low level impact conditions comprising, a combustion chamber containing a mass of propellant having an opening therethrough and capable of producing pressure fluid by burning and having a burn rate responsive to the pressure within the chamber, outlet means including an aperture and a plurality of flutes within the aperture providing an orifice of predetermined area normally setting a rate of flow of pressure fluid to the cushion to inflate the cushion at the relatively low rate, means communicating the outlet means with the cushion, a ball, means mounting the ball within the combustion chamber to one side of the mass of propellant and in general spaced alignment with the opening therethrough and the orifice of the outlet means, and means responsive to the occurrence of high level impact conditions for firing the ball through the opening in the mass of propellant and into deformable engagement with the flutes to reduce the area of the orifice and thereby increase the pressure within the combustion chamber to increase the rate of burn and provide inflation of the cushion at the relatively high rate.

Claim 4

In combination with a vehicle subject to low level impact conditions and high level impact conditions and including an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, inflating means for inflating the cushion at a relatively high rate under high level impact conditions and at a relatively low rate under low level impact conditions comprising, a combustion chamber containing a mass of propellant having an opening therethrough and capable of producing pressure fluid by burning and having a burn rate responsive to the pressure within the chamber, outlet means including an aperture and a plurality of flutes within the aperture providing an orifice of predetermined area normally setting a rate of flow of pressure fluid to the cushion to inflate the cushion at the relatively low rate, means communicating the outlet means with the cushion, a ball, means mounting the ball within the combustion chamber to one side of the mass of propellant and in general spaced alignment with the opening therethrough and the orifice of the outlet means, and means responsive to the occurrence of high level impact conditions for firing the ball through the opening in the mass of propellant and into deformable engagement with the flutes to reduce the area of the orifice and thereby increase the pressure within the combustion chamber to increase the rate of burn and provide inflation of the cushion at the relatively high rate.

Claim 5

In combination with a vehicle subject to low level impact conditions and high level impact conditions and including an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, inflating means for inflating the cushion at a relatively high rate under high level impact conditions and at a relatively low rate under low level impact conditions comprising, a combustion chamber containing a mass of propellant having an opening therethrough and capable of producing pressure fluid by burning and having a burn rate responsive to the pressure within the chamber, outlet means including a frustro-conical aperture increasing in area toward the mass of propellant, and a plurality of flutes within the aperture and cooperatively providing therewith an orifice of predetermined area normally setting a rate of flow of pressure fluid to the cushion to inflate the cushion at the relatively low rate, means communicating the outlet means with the cushion, a ball, means mounting the ball within the combustion chamber to one side of the mass of propellant and in general alignment with the opening therethrough and the orifice of the outlet means, and means responsive to the occurrence of high level impact conditions for firing the ball through the opening in the mass of propellant and into deformable engagement with the flutes to reduce the area of the orifice and thereby increase the pressure within the combustion chamber to increase the rate of burn and provide inflation of the cushion at the relatively high rate.

Claim 6

In combination with a vehicle subject to low level impact conditions and high level impact conditions and including an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, inflating means for inflating the cushion at a relatively high rate under high level impact conditions and at a relatively low rate under low level impact conditions comprising, a combustion chamber containing a mass of propellant having an opening therethrough and capable of producing pressure fluid by burning and having a burn rate responsive to the pressure within the chamber, outlet means including a frustro-conical aperture increasing in area toward the mass of propellant, and a plurality of flutes within the aperture and cooperatively providing therewith an orifice of predetermined area normally setting a rate of flow of pressure fluid to the cushion to inflate the cushion at the relatively low rate, means communicating the outlet means with the cushion, a ball, means mounting the ball within the combustion chamber to one side of the mass of propellant and in general alignment with the opening therethrough and the orifice of the outlet means, and means responsive to the occurrence of high level impact conditions for firing the ball through the opening in the mass of propellant and into deformable engagement with the flutes to reduce the area of the orifice and thereby increase the pressure within the combustion chamber to increase the rate of burn and provide inflation of the cushion at the relatively high rate.

Claim 7

In combination with a vehicle subject to low level impact conditions and high level impact conditions and including an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, inflating means for inflating the cushion at a relatively high rate under high level impact conditions and at a relatively low rate under low level impact conditions comprising, a combustion chamber containing a mass of propellant having an opening therethrough and capable of producing pressure fluid by burning and having a burn rate responsive to the pressure within the chamber, outlet means including an orifice of predetermined area normally setting a rate of flow of pressure fluid to the cushion to inflate the cushion at the relatively low rate, means communicating the outlet means with the cushion, means within the chamber defining a bore axially aligned with the opening of the mass of propellant and the orifice, a ball mounted within the bore, and explosive means responsive to the occurrence of high level impact conditions for firing the ball out of the bore and through the opening in the mass of propellant into the orifice to reduce the area thereof and thereby increase the pressure within the combustion chamber to increase the rate of burn and provide inflation of the cushion at the relatively high rate.

Claim 8

In combination with a vehicle subject to low level impact conditions and high level impact conditions and including an inflatable occupant restraint cushion, inflating means for inflating the cushion at a relatively high rate under high level impact conditions and at a relatively low rate under low level impact conditions comprising, a combustion chamber containing a mass of propellant having an opening therethrough and capable of producing pressure fluid by burning and having a burn rate responsive to the pressure within the chamber, outlet means including an orifice of predetermined area normally setting a rate of flow of pressure fluid to the cushion to inflate the cushion at the relatively low rate, means communicating the outlet means with the cushion, means within the chamber defining a bore axially aligned with the opening of the mass of propellant and the orifice, a ball mounted within the bore, and explosive means responsive to the occurrence of high level impact conditions for firing the ball out of the bore and through the opening in the mass of propellant into the orifice to reduce the area thereof and thereby increase the pressure within the combustion chamber to increase the rate of burn and provide inflation of the cushion at the relatively high rate.