Variable output using piezo valve technology
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsBradley W. Smith, Brent A. Parks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An airbag inflator that contains a first quantity of inflation gas. This gas may be housed in a chamber. A quantity of liquid fuel may also be added. This fuel may be housed within a liquid fuel chamber. The quantity of inflation gas may operate to pressurize the liquid fuel chamber. A piezo-valve is also added. The piezo-valve seals the liquid fuel chamber. The piezo-valve is capable of variably releasing liquid fuel from the chamber such that when this secondary liquid is ignited, the airbag inflation gas can be augmented as desired.
Claims17
An airbag inflator comprising:
- a first quantity of gas;
- a quantity of liquid fuel being housed within a liquid fuel chamber, the quantity of inflation gas for pressurizing the liquid fuel chamber;
- a valve that seals the liquid fuel chamber, the valve for variably releasing liquid fuel from the chamber.
A method for variably inflating an airbag comprising:
- obtaining an airbag and an inflator, the inflator comprising:
- a first quantity of gas;
- a quantity of liquid fuel being housed within a liquid fuel chamber, the quantity of inflation gas being capable of pressurizing the liquid fuel chamber;
- a piezo-valve that seals the liquid fuel chamber, the piezo-valve capable of variably opening the liquid fuel chamber;
- and
- obtaining a sensor for determining the severity of a crash and communicating the severity of the crash to the piezo-valve, wherein the piezo-valve releases liquid fuel corresponding to the severity of the crash.
A method as in claim 9 wherein the first quantity of gas being housed within a compressed gas chamber that is sealed by a rupture disk, the inflator further comprising a frangible support that supports the rupture disk, frangible support being rupturable, wherein the rupture disk fails when the frangible support fails.
An airbag system comprising:
- a sensor that determines the severity of the crash
- an inflator comprising a quantity of liquid fuel being housed within a liquid fuel chamber and an igniter that combusts the liquid fuel into a quantity of gas;
- and
- a piezo-valve that seals the liquid fuel chamber, the piezo-valve for variably releasing liquid fuel from the chamber, wherein the piezo-valve releases an amount of liquid fuel corresponding to the severity of the crash.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.