Trw Limited

Other

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Bryan W Shirk

Timothy A Swann

Roy D Van Wynsberghe

Ahmad K Al-Amin

Jess A Cuevas

Eric C Erike

Vincent J Mramor

Dean M Esterberg

Kevin M Brown

Brian R Pitstick

Douglas P Campbell

Thomas H Deming

Christopher C Shih

Clare R Cunningham

Ernst M Faigle

Paul A Bowers

John P O'Loughlin

Daniel R Sutherland

Homer William Fogle, Jr

Mau-Song Chou

Lee D Bergerson

Ivan L Stonich

Wael S Elqadah

Kirk W Christiansen

Kevin S Countryman

John W Nicklos

Jack L Blumenthal

Michael F Fink

Keith R Ball

Dirk Schultz

Eric N Streif

Wesley D Pack, Jr

Vincent M Mramor

Ahamd K Al-Amin

Roy D Vanwynsberghe

Charles A King

Russell Bell

Sheldon R Fifield, Jr

Ahmad L Al-Amin

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 inflator () for providing inflation fluid ( ) to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () includes a container () storing the inflation fluid under pressure. The container () has an outlet passage () through which the inflation fluid flows from the container. A rupturable closure member () fixed to the container () blocks flow of inflation fluid through the passage (). A support () for the rupturable closure member () defines a chamber () adjacent the rupturable closure member (). The rupturable closure member () has a first portion () deformed into the chamber () by the pressure of the inflation fluid and a second ring-shaped portion () encircling the first portion (). An initiator () ruptures the closure member () when actuated by shearing the first portion () from the second portion ().

Inflator for inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

Inflator

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 ( ).

Air bag inflators

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 instrument panel assembly ( ) comprises a structural carrier member ( ) which is formed as one piece and has a first section ( ) defining a first chamber ( ) for receiving and supporting a first component ( ). The structural carrier member ( ) has a second section ( ) defining a second chamber ( ) for receiving and supporting a second component ( ). The first component ( ) comprises a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) received in the first chamber ( ). The structural carrier member ( ) further defines a deployment opening ( ) through which the first protection device ( ) is inflatable from the first chamber ( ). The second component ( ) comprises an occupant knee protection device ( ) received in the second chamber ( ) for helping to protect the vehicle occupant's legs in the event of a vehicle collision.

Vehicle instrument panel assembly

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 inflator ( ) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a storage container ( ), a primary inflation fluid under pressure in a gaseous state in the container, and a secondary inflation fluid under pressure in the container. The container ( ) is openable to enable the primary inflation fluid to flow out of the container into the inflatable device to inflate the inflatable device ( ). At least a portion of the secondary inflation fluid is in a non-gaseous state in the container ( ) during flow of the primary inflation fluid into the inflatable device. The portion of the secondary inflation fluid in the non-gaseous state thereafter changing to the gaseous state and flowing into the inflatable device to maintain the inflatable device in the inflated condition.

Long duration air bag inflator

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) comprises an inflatable protection device ( ). The apparatus ( ) also comprises an actuatable inflator ( ) remote from the protection device ( ) for providing inflation fluid under pressure for inflating the protection device. The apparatus ( ) further comprises a conduit ( ) connected in fluid communication between the inflator ( ) and at least a portion of the protection device ( ) for directing inflation fluid from the inflator to the protection device. The conduit ( ) includes at least one quick disconnect coupling ( ) through which inflation fluid flows from the inflator ( ) upon actuation of the inflator.

Air bag system with quick disconnect coupling

An apparatus includes a vehicle seat ( ) having a tubular seat frame ( ) defining a fluid manifold ( ). The apparatus also includes at least two deployable vehicle occupant protection devices ( ) for helping to protect a vehicle seat occupant from injury in the event of a vehicle collision. The protection devices ( ) are spaced apart from each other. The protection devices ( ) are in fluid communication with the fluid manifold ( ) and are deployable by fluid directed into the protection devices from the fluid manifold. A single actuatable device ( ) provides pressurized fluid for deploying one or more of the protection devices ( ). The actuatable device ( ) is in fluid communication with the fluid manifold ( ).

Vehicle safety seat with fluid manifold

An apparatus ( ) includes a frame structure ( ) defining a deployment opening ( ), an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) aligned with the deployment opening ( ), and a deployment structure ( ) extending across the deployment opening ( ). The deployment structure ( ) has first and second locking portions ( ) in releasably interlocked engagement with the frame structure ( ) at locations spaced apart across the deployment opening ( ). The deployment structure ( ) is configured to undergo non-rupturing deflection under the influence of inflation fluid pressure forces applied by the protection device ( ). Such non-rupturing deflection of the deployment structure ( ) moves the first locking portion ( ) partially out of interlocked engagement with the frame structure ( ), and moves the second locking portion ( ) fully out of interlocked engagement with the frame structure ( ).

Vehicle occupant protection apparatus

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) that has a side structure ( ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) is inflatable into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus ( ) includes an inflator ( ) for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) and for maintaining the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in an inflated condition for at least five seconds. The inflator ( ) contains a stored inflation fluid under pressure. The inflation fluid consists essentially of helium.

An apparatus ( ) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a container ( ) defining a chamber ( ). The container ( ) has an opening ( ) through which fluid can flow from the chamber ( ). A quantity of inflation fluid ( ) is in the chamber ( ). A burst disk ( ) closes the opening. The burst disk ( ) has first and second opposite major side surfaces ( ). The burst disk ( ) has a first score line ( ) on the first major side surface ( ) and a second score line ( ) on the second major side surface ( ). The burst disk ( ) is rupturable at the first and second score lines ( ) to permit inflation fluid ( ) to flow out of the chamber ( ) through the opening ( ) in the container ( ).

Air bag inflator with burst disk

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Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Bryan W Shirk