Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Kwen Hsu

Charles E Steffens, Jr

William P Braun

Charles S Pillsbury, Iv

Songwei Zhang

Ivanna G Malinow

Jinshou Xu

An apparatus () provides inflation fluid to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). The apparatus () includes an inflator () actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (). A conduit () directs inflation fluid into the protection device () from the inflator (). A deflector () is arranged in fluid communication with the conduit () and has at least a portion in fluid communication with the protection device (). The deflector () is configured to direct inflation fluid into the protection device () in opposing directions to reduce the magnitude of pressure waves experienced by a vehicle occupant ().

Apparatus for reducing the magnitude of a pressure wave during deployment of an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

Apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle () that has a side structure () and a roof () includes an inflatable curtain (). The inflatable curtain () is inflatable away from the roof () between the side structure () of the vehicle () and a vehicle occupant. The inflatable curtain has an inflatable volume (). An inflation fluid source () is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to the inflatable volume () to inflate the inflatable curtain (). A fill tube () delivers the inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source () to the inflatable curtain (). The apparatus () includes an actuatable apparatus () for providing an opening () in at least one of the fill tube () and the inflatable curtain () for directing the inflation fluid from the inflatable volume () to deflate the inflatable curtain (). The actuatable apparatus () is actuatable in response to actuation of the inflation fluid source ().

Inflatable curtain with fluid release means

An apparatus (,) includes an elongated pressure vessel (,) containing a source of inflation fluid for a vehicle occupant protection device (,). The apparatus (,) further includes an inflation fluid outlet manifold (,) at one end (,) of the pressure vessel (,). The manifold (,) has outlet openings (,) defining first and second outlet flow areas. The manifold (,) is configured to direct inflation fluid flowing through the first outlet flow area to flow at least partially in a first direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (,) of the pressure vessel (,). The manifold (,) is further configured to direct inflation fluid flowing through the second outlet flow area to flow at least partially in a second, opposite direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (,) of the pressure vessel (,).

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Kwen Hsu