Trw Limited

Other

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Brian R Pitstick

Bryan W Shirk

Ivan L Stonich

Timothy A Swann

Ernst M Faigle

Paul A Bowers

Lee D Bergerson

Homer William Fogle, Jr

Christopher C Shih

Clare R Cunningham

Roy D Van Wynsberghe

Douglas P Campbell

Dean M Esterberg

Todd R Bailey

Eric N Streif

James E Cahaly

Kevin S Countryman

Eric C Erike

Vincent J Mramor

Keith R Ball

Jerome W Emery

David H Lewis, Jr

Conrad M Novak

Sheldon R Fifield, Jr

Sanjeev M Kulkarni

Andrew B Bonas

Eric Streif

Peter A Kennedy

An apparatus comprises vehicle seat belt webbing (), a cylinder (), and a piston () movable in the cylinder to effect pretensioning of the seat belt webbing. The apparatus also comprises a fluid source () for providing fluid under pressure to move the piston () in the cylinder (). The fluid source () comprises a propellant container () defining a propellant chamber () and a propellant () in the propellant chamber. The propellant () is ignitable to produce fluid under pressure. The propellant container () comprises a first portion () made from plastic and a second portion () made from metal. The metal portion () is secured to the plastic portion () to effect a hermetic seal of the propellant container ().

Gas generator for seat belt pretensioner

An apparatus () for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes an actuatable vehicle occupant protection device (), and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device () energizable to cause actuation of the protection device. In one embodiment, the MEMS device () is an energizable fluid source for emitting a primary fluid for actuating an inflatable protection device (). The apparatus () may comprise a plurality of MEMS devices () individually actuatable to control inflation of the protection device.

Air bag inflators

A pretensioner ( ) tensions vehicle seat belt webbing ( ). The pretensioner ( ) has a member ( ) movable by an actuating fluid to tension the seat belt webbing ( ). The pretensioner ( ) further has at least one microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device ( ) energizable to supply actuating fluid to move the member ( ).

Seat belt webbing pretensioner using MEMS devices

An inflator ( ) includes an assembly ( ) comprising a plurality of individually energizable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices ( ) for, when energized, actuating the inflator. The assembly ( ) further comprises a sensor mechanism ( ) for sensing a condition of the inflator ( ) and for generating a control signal indicative of the sensed condition. The plurality of MEMS devices ( ) are responsive to the control signal to control actuation of the inflator ( ).

An initiator ( ) for actuating an inflation fluid source ( ) for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a plurality of electrically energizable microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices ( ). In one embodiment, the MEMS devices ( ) are associated in a one to one relationship with chambers ( ) containing ignitable material ( ). Each one of the MEMS devices ( ), when energized, generates combustion products, including heat, for igniting the associated ignitable material ( ). At least one terminal pin ( ) is electrically connected with the plurality of MEMS devices ( ) for receiving an electric signal for energizing at least one of the MEMS devices.

Initiators for air bag inflators

An apparatus ( ) for providing fluid under pressure for actuating a vehicle occupant protection device comprises an electrically actuatable initiator ( ) having terminal pins ( ). A hermetically sealed metal propellant container ( ) contains a propellant ( ) ignitable by the initiator ( ) to produce fluid under pressure. The propellant container ( ) is secured to the initiator ( ) by crimping. The apparatus ( ) also comprises a member ( ) electrically insulating between the metal propellant container ( ) and the terminal pins ( ) of the initiator ( ) to isolate the initiator electrically from the propellant container.

An apparatus ( ) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a housing ( ) and an inflation fluid source ( ) in the housing for, when actuated, providing fluid for inflating the protection device. An electrically actuatable initiator ( ) is connected with the housing ( ) for actuating the inflation fluid source ( ). The apparatus ( ) also comprises vehicle electric circuitry ( ) for actuating the initiator ( ) to actuate the inflation fluid source ( ) in response to sensing an occupant protection event for which inflation of the protection device ( ) is desired. A microelectromechanical system device (MEMS device) ( ) in the apparatus is electrically energizable to cause actuation of the inflation fluid source ( ). An autoignition mechanism ( ) responsive to an event other than an occupant protection event energizes the MEMS device to cause actuation of the inflation fluid source. The MEMS device ( ), when energized, generates heat for autoigniting the inflation fluid source ( ) or for deactivating a secondary inflation fluid source.

Air bag inflator with mechanism for deactivation of second stage and autoignition

An air bag inflator (10) includes an igniter (142) for actuating the inflator in response to receiving an electrical signal. The igniter (142) has a pair of electrical terminals (144, 146) for electrical contact with an electrical connector (152) to receive the electrical signal from the electrical connector. A retainer (150) supports the igniter (142) adjacent the inflator (10). A shorting clip (200) establishes a short circuit between the terminals (144, 146) of the igniter (142) when the electrical connector (152) is not in electrical contact with the terminals. A crimp portion (180) of the retainer (150) engages the shorting clip (200) to block movement of the shorting clip relative to the retainer. The shorting clip (200) includes means (240, 242) for maintaining the electrical connector (152) in electrical contact with the electrical terminals (144, 146). Different shorting clips (200, 420) can alternatively be used with the same retainer (150) and igniter (142), to enable the inflator (10) to be electrically connected with different electrical connectors (152, 410).

Air bag inflator assembly with shorting clip

An initiator assembly (140) comprises a retainer (46), which can be the cover for an inflator housing (10), and an igniter (142). An opening (85) is formed in the retainer (46). The igniter (142) has a longitudinal axis (143) and comprises a pyrotechnic material (152, 156) on the axis. The pyrotechnic material (152, 156) on ignition exerts a force along the axis (143). The assembly further comprises a preformed compressible plastic coupler plug (148) which includes a plug portion (170) received within the retainer opening (85). The coupler plug (148) comprises locking surfaces (184, 188) which engage the igniter (142) and the retainer (46) and hold the igniter in a spaced relationship with respect to the retainer. The plastic coupler plug (148) further comprises an inwardly extending compressible web (174) integral with the locking surfaces (184, 188). The compressible web (174) provides a seal in the space between the igniter (142) and the retainer (46). On ignition of the igniter pyrotechnic material (152, 156), the resulting axial force in the igniter (142) causes the web (174) to be compressed between opposed surfaces (194, 196) of the igniter and the retainer, respectively, increasing the seal tightness of the compressible web (174).

Initiator assembly for air bag inflator

An electrical connection system comprises a first component carrying a pair of male connector elements releasably mated with a pair of female connector elements carried by a second connector component. A shorting clip is associated with the first component for providing an electrical short between the male connector elements. The shorting clip is moved to a non-shorting position when the first component is mated with the second component. An interlock is associated with the system and includes a lock element which is inserted into the connection to prevent separation of the first and second components while the lock element is in position.

Electrical connection system with interlock

An electrical connection system comprises a first component carrying a pair of male connector elements releasably mated with a pair of female connector elements carried by a second connector component. A shorting clip is associated with the first component for providing an electrical short between the male connector elements. A safety latch is selectively receivable in a latch position for moving the shorting clip to a non-shorting position when the first component is mated with the second component and a lock element is arranged to be actuated by the safety latch to prevent separation of the first and second components while the safety latch is in the latch position.

Electrical connection system with safety interlock

An inflator for inflating a vehicle air bag discharges, when actuated, gas to inflate the air bag. An initiator has a terminal for electrical contact with an electrical connector of the vehicle circuitry. The initiator is actuatable in response to receiving an electrical signal from the connector through the terminal to initiate actuation of the inflator. A latch pin is attached by a body of plastic material to the initiator. The latch pin maintains the connector in electrical contact with the terminal of the initiator. The latch pin is preferably made of a material different from the body of plastic material.

Initiator assembly with connector interface element

An inflator for inflating an air bag includes a housing having a housing cover. A gas generating material is disposed within the housing. The gas generating material when ignited generates gas for inflating the air bag. An igniter is actuatable to ignite the gas generating material. A body of injection molded plastic material adheres to both the igniter and the cover to attach the igniter to the cover. The cover is welded to another part of the inflator housing.

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Brian R Pitstick