Oea, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Trw Automotive Products, Inc.

Other

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Autoliv Aspinc.

A&ugrave;toliv Asp, Inc.

Hamilton, Brian K.

Goetz, George W.

Brian K Hamilton

Brent A Parks

James L Baglini

Ron J Butt

Robert N Renz

Ronald J Butt

George W Goetz

Dario G Brisighella

Paul Harrington

Dean W Grages

Toshio Shimada

Charles B Kafadar

David W Struckman

Peter L Stang

Stanley W Pierce

F William Pugh

William J Blomberg

Doug R Kirk

Kenneth E Haynes

A low density slurry bridge mix for use in an inflatable restraint system is provided. The low density slurry bridge mix includes zirconium metal, a thermal conductivity enhancer such as aluminum metal, potassium perchlorate oxidant, and a binder material and has a dry density of about 45 to about 65 percent of theoretical density. The low density slurry bridge mix may be used in an initiator including an unground header attached to a raised bridgewire wherein the low density slurry bridge mix surrounds and adheres to the bridgewire.

Low density slurry bridge mix

Ammonium nitrate is phase-stabilized by a synergistic phase stabilization additive combination of at least cupric oxide and potassium nitrate. Specifically, phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate contains between about 94.0 and about 96.0 wt. % ammonium nitrate and between about 4 and 6 wt. % of a synergistic phase stabilization additive combination of at least cupric oxide and potassium nitrate, wherein the cupric oxide is present in a relative amount of no more than about 2.0 wt. %. In some cases, additional stability is imparted by the inclusion of zinc oxide such as in a relative amount of no more than about 1.5 wt. %.

Phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate

A severing apparatus for use with a battery cable is provided. The severing apparatus includes a housing that holds an initiator and a severing element. The battery cable is located through a lateral bore formed in the housing. The severing element is disposed on one side of the battery cable. A deformable blocker can be disposed on the opposite side of the battery cable. When it is desired to sever the battery cable and thereby discontinue the supplying of electrical power by the battery, such as when a predetermined vehicle collision occurs, the initiator is triggered and causes the severing element to move. Movement of the severing element removes a severed battery cable segment. Movement of the severing element and the severed battery cable segment is stopped using the blocker when present. The blocker can be part of a shell that surrounds the housing. Alternatively, the blocker can be held in the housing.

Severing vehicle battery cable

A dual-function tire inlet valve mountable on a tire in communication with a compressor in a tire pressure maintenance system is disclosed. The inlet valve has a conduit extending from an ambient air supply to an interior chamber of the tire. A first check valve and a second check valve are positioned within the conduit to define a pump between the first and second check valves. The pump channel is in fluid communication with a compressor in the tire pressure maintenance system. The first check valve opens automatically only when the compressor is active and the tire is rotating about its axis with at least a pre-determined velocity. The second check valve only opens when it is manually actuated. Manually actuating the first check valve opens the second check valve to permit manual adjustment of the tire pressure.

Dual-function tire inlet valve

Pyrotechnic compositions such as used in initiator devices and corresponding initiator devices having a low firing energy are provided. The pyrotechnic composition includes a mixture containing a fuel component which includes a quantity of at least one Iron Blue Pigment and an oxidizer component which includes at least one oxidizer effective, upon reaction initiation with at least a portion of the quantity of the at least one Iron Blue Pigment, to produce gaseous reaction products.

Low firing energy initiator pyrotechnic mixture

A generator system powered by a fluid fly-wheel is disclosed that generates electric current to power a tire pressure maintenance and monitoring system. A vehicle wheel including a tire and a rim. A sealed tube containing fluid is fixed around the rim. When the rim accelerates or decelerates, the fluid within the tube moves within the tube a turbine in communication with the fluid is turned by the moving fluid within the tube. The turning turbine drives an electric generator to produce an electric current through induction. In certain configurations, the turning turbine rotates gears to drive a mechanical pump. The electric generator, or mechanical pump may be used to add air pressure to the tire when a sensor indicates low air pressure.

Tire pressure maintenance and monitoring system

Pyrotechnic compositions such as used in initiator devices and corresponding initiator devices having a low firing energy are provided. The pyrotechnic composition includes a mixture containing a fuel component which includes a quantity of at least one Iron Blue Pigment and an oxidizer component which includes at least one oxidizer effective, upon reaction initiation with at least a portion of the quantity of the at least one Iron Blue Pigment, to produce gaseous reaction products. The pyrotechnic composition may additionally include a burn rate enhancing additive such as zirconium metal powder.

An apparatus for activating a selected one or more restraint devices located in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus reliably and inexpensively activates restraint devices upon the receipt of one or more appropriate signals. The apparatus includes a control unit having a housing enclosing a processor, a circuit board, and a plurality of initiator assemblies. Explosive transfer lines are inter-connected to the initiator assemblies at a first end, and to the restraint devices at a second end. Upon the receipt of an appropriate signal from one or more sensors located in the vehicle, the processor activates at least one of the initiator assemblies, which in turn ignites at least one of the explosive transfer lines. The explosion propagates along the explosive transfer line to its corresponding restraint device or devices to activate one or more of them. Additionally, the explosive transfer lines feature a metalized layer that provides moisture resistance, and a way for verifying the continuity of the explosive transfer line.

Controlling activation of restraint devices in a vehicle

A control assembly for use in regulating movement of a vehicle seat back is provided. The control assembly uses damping fluid to regulate the degree of damping applied to the seat back. The control assembly includes one or more initiator assemblies. A selected one or more of them can be activated when a front and/or rear end collision occurs. When an initiator assembly is activated, a transfer member changes between closed and open states to regulate a path for damping fluid. The control assembly also includes a piston head having first and second sides. Movement of the damping fluid occurs relative to these two sides. The piston head can include at least one bore, which functions as an additional path for damping fluid. The control assembly preferably also includes a temperature compensation assembly to accommodate temperature changes in the damping fluid.

Controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle

A gas generating apparatus for outputting a gas is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus is an inflator having a propellant for supplying inflation gas(es) to an inflatable located in a vehicle. A confining member is located adjacent to the propellant. A number of spaced holes are provided in the confining member, either before or after activation of the propellant. Inflation gas is received through the spaced holes for subsequent passage to the inflatable. In that regard, the inflation gas first passes through a chamber defined in a timing member that has metering orifices. Such orifices regulate the flow of the inflation gas to the inflatable. The confining member is able to withstand significant pressures without rupturing. Each of the confining member and the timing member is preferably made of a non-metallic material. The propellant includes a fuel-rich material and an oxidizer material, preferably ammonium nitrate.

Propellant compositions for gas generating apparatus

A method for making a propellant composition that results in a desirable gas output when combusted. The propellant can be part of an inflator used in a vehicle for inflating an air bag. The propellant has a relatively low burn rate exponent of no greater than about 0.7. The propellant is substantially dense, with the propellant having a density that is at least 85% of theoretical density. In making the propellant, its density can be reduced using a roller mill that flattens the propellant to a controlled thickness. The propellant preferably includes phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate and fibrous cellulose.

Method for making a propellant having a relatively low burn rate exponent and high gas yield for use in a vehicle inflator

A dual initiator inflator for selective activation, depending upon detection of a low impact vehicle collision or a high impact vehicle collision, is provided for use with an air bag in a vehicle. The inflator can be configured to function at any one of a number of vehicle locations, including a driver side inflator and a passenger side inflator. The inflator includes first and second initiators and first and second propellants. When a low impact vehicle collision is detected, the first initiator is triggered to ignite the first propellant. Essentially all inflation gases that are received in the air bag are due to products of combustion from the first propellant and stored gas contained in the inflator housing. After a predetermined time delay, the second propellant is ignited by the second initiator so that no combustible propellant remains after inflator usage. When a high impact vehicle collision is detected, both first and second propellants are ignited at essentially the same time so that inflation gases received by the air bag are the result of products of combustion from both the first and second propellants, together with the stored gas.

Inflator with multiple initiators

Gas generating apparatus

A hybrid inflator that includes a solid propellant and a pressurized medium comprising oxygen and at least one inert gas is provided. The solid propellant can be fuel-rich in that without excess oxygen it generates significant amounts of CO and H,. The at least one inert gas is contained in an inflator housing and the amount thereof is greater, on a molar basis, than the oxygen. The propellant has acceptable long-term stability in that such propellant does not ignite when exposed to a temperature of 107&deg; C. for a period of 400 hours.

Hybrid inflator

An inflator system that includes an inflatable and an inflator apparatus having a supplemental gas assembly is provided. The supplemental gas assembly supplies gas to the inflatable in order to maintain a desired inflatable volume and pressure for a relatively longer period of time. The inflator apparatus also includes a pyrotechnic inflator. The supplemental gas assembly and the pyrotechnic inflator can be activated at essentially the same time using the same initiator assembly. The supplemental gas assembly preferably has a stored gas that weighs less than 200 grams.

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, CO, United States of America

Brian K Hamilton