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US 5,178,410 AGranted
Velocity change sensor with lateral shock absorber
AssigneeBreed Automotive Technology, Inc.
InventorsTorbjorn Thuen, Allen Breed, Carl. T. Grossi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An accelerometer for a passenger restraint system in a motor vehicle includes a housing with tube for defining a path for an inertial element, and a biasing member for urging the inertial element toward a preselected position. A shock absorbent resilient ring is disposed between the tube and the housing and supports the tube.
Claims26
In a passenger restraint system for a motor vehicle, an accelerometer comprising:
- a. a tubular housing;
- b. an inertial element made of a ferromagnetic material;
- c. a tube disposed in said housing forming an annular space with said housing, said tube defining a path of movement for said inertial element;
- d. biasing means for urging said inertial element toward a preselected position on said path, said tube being arranged and constructed to allow said inertial element to move away from said preselected position in the presence of a deceleration of said motor vehicle;
- and
- e. resilient shock absorbing means disposed in said space for supporting said tube.
3 more elements
An accelerometer for a passenger restraint system in a motor vehicle comprising:
- a. a substantially tubular housing;
- b. an inertial element made of a ferromagnetic material and disposed within said housing;
- c. tube means disposed coaxially within said housing for defining a path of movement for said inertial element, said tube defining an annular space with an inner surface of said housing;
- d. biasing means disposed on said housing radially for urging, said inertial element toward a first position in said housing, said inertial element moving away from said first position through said tube when said motor vehicle undergoes an acceleration;
- and
- e. shock absorbing means disposed in said annular space for supporting said tube.
3 more elements
A passenger restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising:
- a. an air bag system arranged and disposed for restraining a passenger when the motor vehicle experiences a deceleration;
- b. an accelerometer for sensing said deceleration for activating said air bag inflating system, said accelerometer comprising:
- i. a housing;
- ii. an inertial element disposed in said housing;
- iii. a tube disposed in said housing for defining a path of movement for said inertial element within said housing;
- and
- iv. biasing means disposed on said housing radially around said tube for urging said inertia element toward a first position in the absence of said deceleration.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.