Gas generator and restraint system for a vehicle
OwnerFrieder Flamminventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas generator for deploying and inflating an impact cushion of a passenger restraint system, with a gas generator housing, which has at least one seal, for holding a propellant for generating the required quantity of inflating gas for the impact cushion. The required amount of inflating gas is generated exclusively with water that vaporizes virtually instantaneously, when an emergency occurs, i.e., when the restraint system is activated. When the restraint system is activated, the required vaporization is brought about by depressurization of the heated water, which is contained in a closed pressure chamber.
Claims17
A gas generator for deploying and inflating at least one impact cushion of a passenger restraint system, said generator comprising:
- a single pressure chamber with a fixed volume having at least one seal and holding a propellant consisting of an amount of water which is sufficient to deploy and inflate at least one impact cushion exclusively with water vapor when said water is maintained under conditions of pressure and temperature which are sufficient to cause enough of said water to vaporize and inflate said at least one impact cushion substantially instantaneously when said at least one seal is opened, said pressure chamber being heatable.
A passenger restraint system for a vehicle, said passenger restraint system comprising:
- at least one impact cushion;
- a single pressure chamber with a fixed volume having at least one seal and holding a propellant for generating a quantity of inflating gas, said propellant consisting of an amount of water which is sufficient to deploy and inflate said at least one impact cushion exclusively with water vapor when said water is maintained under conditions of pressure and temperature which are sufficient to cause enough of said water to vaporize and inflate said at least one impact cushion substantially instantaneously when said at least one seal is opened, said pressure chamber being heatable;
- and
- an activating and monitoring unit which opens said at least one seal when said vehicle exceeds well-defined deceleration values.
A method for deploying and inflating at least one impact cushion of a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, said method comprising:
- maintaining an amount of water under conditions of pressure and temperature which are sufficient to cause enough of said water to vaporize and inflate said at least one impact cushion exclusively with water vapor substantially instantaneously when said pressure is released;
- and
- releasing the pressure in said water when said vehicle exceeds well-defined deceleration values.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.