Texas Instruments Corporation

Daniel Morin

Bryan J Dague

Alan G Amore

George Verras

Karl R Abrahamson

Daniel Dwyer

Massimo Mazzola

A combined pressure responsive electrical switch and temperature sensor device ( ) is shown comprising a base member ( ) mounting an electrical switch actuatable by a pressure responsive snap-acting disc ( ) attached to a port fitting ( ) having an elongated temperature sensing portion ( &prime;) extending from the fitting within a threaded bore of the fitting adapted to be inserted in the bore of a fluid pressure source nipple ( ). A thermistor ( ) is disposed at the distal end ( &prime;) of the temperature sensing portion and is electrically connected to terminals ( ) of the base member.

Combined pressure responsive electrical switch and temperature sensor device

A fluid pressure responsive electric switch (100) is shown in which first and second discrete electrical switches are controlled. A first movable support ring (122) mounts first and second snap acting discs (120a, 124a) on opposite sides thereof, the discs each having the normally concave surface facing the support ring. The first disc receives a force through a pressure to force converter (134) which is transferred through the second disc to a second movable support (126) and a third snap acting disc (128a) having a normally concave surface facing a related movable contact arm. When the system pressures exceeds a first minimum level the third disc (128a) snaps allowing a motion transfer pin to transfer a force to the movable contact arm (118a) of a compressor actuation switch (118) to energize the compressor. When system pressure increases to a second higher level the first disc (120c) snaps and transfers motion via a motion transfer pin (120c) to the movable arm (116a) of a fan actuation switch to energize the fan. If the system pressure increases to a third still higher level, the second disc (124a) snaps thereby allowing the spring bias of the movable arm (118a) of the compressor actuation switch to separate from the mating stationary contact to thereby de-energize the compressor. According to a second embodiment the switch (200) includes only the fan actuation and compressor high pressure cut-out functions by eliminating the third disc and by making the second support (130c') stationary.

Fluid pressure responsive electric switch

A pressure responsive sensor 10 for use with a vehicular air bag inflation system is shown having an electric switch 24 actuatable by a snap acting disc 40 when the gas pressure in the gas storage bottle 48 decreases to a selected low level. The snap acting disc 40 is exposed on one side to the gas mixture P1 in bottle 48 and the opposite side to a reference gas mixture P2 in a reference chamber 34. The gas mixture P2 in the reference chamber is filled to a lower pressure level than hat in the bottle in order to provide switch actuation at the desired level and comprises a mixture of gases to enhance leakage testing and tracking of the pressure vs. temperature characteristic curve of the bottle gas mixture.

Sensor for use with air bag inflator and method for making

A pressure responsive sensor 10 for use with a vehicular air bag inflation system is shown having an electric switch 24 actuatable by a snap acting disc 40 when the gas pressure in the gas storage bottle 48 decreases to a selected low level. The snap acting disc 40 is exposed on one side to the gas mixture P1 in bottle 48 and the opposite side to a reference gas mixture P2 in a reference chamber 34. The gas mixture P2 in the reference chamber is filled to a lower pressure level than that in the bottle in order to provide switch actuation at the desired level and comprises a mixture of gases to enhance leakage testing and tracking of the pressure vs. temperature characteristic curve of the bottle gas mixture.

A low pressure monitor for hybrid air bag systems for vehicles includes a pressure responsive disc 34.6 exposed on one side to a reference pressure chamber 34.11 and on the other side to the pressure in an air bag bottle 40 and positioned adjacent a movable arm 28.10 of an electric switch, The switch includes an electrically conductive sheet having a first portion partially encased in a base 26 of electrically insulative material and being connected to a first terminal 14 and a second portion forming the movable contact arm 28.10 extending from the insulative material and culminating with a portion formed with contact rib 28.14 adapted to be received beneath a laterally extending stationary contact portion 22 of a second terminal 16. Tabs 28.4, 28.6 extend from the sheet out of the insulative material for connection to a resistor 30 mounted on the electrically insulative base and a frangible portion 28.7 of the first portion is severed to place the resistor in series with the electrical contacts, The monitor is disposed in an air bag bottle with the disc 34.6 adapted to snap from one dished configuration to an opposite dished configuration whenever the pressure on the bottle decreases to a selected level, The movement of the snapping of the disc is transferred to the movable arm 28.10 separating the contact rib 28.14 from the stationary contact portion 22 opening the circuit,

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North Providence, RI, United States of America

Daniel Morin