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US 7,007,972 B1Granted
Method and airbag inflation apparatus employing magnetic fluid
AssigneeMaterials Modification, Inc.
InventorsRamachandran Radhakrishnan, Sanjay Kotha, Tirumalai S. Sudarshan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An airbag inflation apparatus includes a chamber for generating a gas to inflate an airbag. A valve, including a magnetic fluid and a source of magnetic field, preferably an electromagnet, is associated with the chamber for regulating the flow of the gas into the airbag. A sensor determines and feeds occupant information to the sensor.
Claims42
An airbag inflation apparatus, comprising:
- a) a chamber for generating a gas to inflate an airbag;
- b) a valve operably connected to said chamber for regulating the flow of the gas into the airbag;
- c) said valve including a magnetic fluid and a source of magnetic field;
- d) said magnetic fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;
- e) said core particles comprising first and second successive coatings;
- and
- f) a sensor for determining and feeding occupant information to said valve.
4 more elements
An airbag inflation apparatus, comprising:
- a) a chamber for generating a gas to inflate an airbag;
- b) a valve operably connected to said chamber for regulating the flow of the gas;
- c) said valve including a magnetic fluid and a source of magnetic field;
- d) a first sensor for determining and feeding a probable collision information to said valve;
- e) a second sensor for determining and feeding occupant information to said valve;
- f) said magnetic fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;
- g) said core particles comprising first and second successive coatings;
- and
- h) wherein said source of magnetic field produces a magnetic field for regulating the flow of the gas through said valve based on the information from said first and second sensors.
6 more elements
A method of regulating the flow of inflation gas into an airbag, comprising the steps of:
- a) generating a gas for passing through a valve connected to an airbag;
- b) determining and feeding occupant information to the valve, the valve comprising a magnetic fluid including core particles of a magnetic material, the core particles comprising first and second successive coatings;
- c) producing a magnetic field based on an occupant information;
- and
- d) applying the magnetic field to the magnetic fluid to vary the viscosity thereof for thereby regulating the flow of the gas through the valve.
2 more elements
An airbag inflation apparatus, comprising:
- a) a chamber for generating a gas to inflate an airbag;
- b) a valve operably connected to said chamber for regulating the flow of the gas into the airbag;
- c) said valve including a magnetic fluid and a source of magnetic field;
- d) said magnetic fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;
- e) said core particles comprising a coating of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, non-ionic acetylenic diol, and a combination thereof;
- and
- f) a sensor for determining and feeding occupant information to said valve.
4 more elements
An airbag inflation apparatus, comprising:
- a) a chamber for generating a gas to inflate an airbag;
- b) a valve operably connected to said chamber for regulating the flow of the gas;
- c) said valve including a magnetic fluid and a source of magnetic field;
- d) a first sensor for determining and feeding a probable collision information to said valve;
- e) a second sensor for determining and feeding occupant information to said valve;
- f) said magnetic fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;
- g) said core particles comprising a coating of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, non-ionic acetylenic diol, and a combination thereof;
- and
- h) wherein said source of magnetic field produces a magnetic field for regulating the flow of the gas through said valve based on the information from said first and second sensors.
6 more elements
A method of regulating the flow of inflation gas into an airbag, comprising the steps of:
- a) generating a gas for passing through a valve connected to an airbag;
- b) determining and feeding occupant information to the valve, the valve comprising a magnetic fluid including core particles of a magnetic material coated with a surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, lecithin, oleic acid, non-ionic acetylenic diol, and a combination thereof;
- c) producing a magnetic field based on an occupant information;
- and
- d) applying the magnetic field to the magnetic fluid to vary the viscosity thereof for thereby regulating the flow of the gas through the valve.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.