Trw Limited

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

William J Sipes

Steven D Nelson

Lee D Bergerson

Ivan L Stonich

David K Hoffmaster

A synthesized divert propulsion system adapted to be utilized in various vehicles, including kill vehicles, interceptors, rockets, missiles and the like. The system is fabricated using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology which eliminates complex interconnections required for traditional divert propulsion systems by integrating all propulsion fluid functions and all controlled electronic functions onto a plurality of wafers. The wafers are integrated into a complete synthesized divert propulsion system by stacking and bonding the wafers together.

Mems synthesized divert propulsion system

An apparatus (10) for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a storage chamber (18) containing a mixture of gases which is releasable to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint (12). The mixture of gases includes a combustible fuel gas which, when burning, produces first combustion products which pressurize and supplement the mixture of gases. The apparatus (10) also includes an actuator assembly (16) for igniting the combustible fuel gas. The actuator assembly (16) includes a movable container (104) in which an ignitable material (122) is contained. The ignitable material (122) in the movable container (104), when burning, produces second combustion products which ignite the combustible fuel gas. The actuator assembly (16) casts the movable container (104) across the storage chamber when the second ignitable material (122) is burning.

Growing community of inventors

Canyon Country, CA, United States of America

William J Sipes