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US 7,063,353 B2Granted
Linear load limiter apparatus and method
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorJenne-Tai Wang
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorJenne-Tai Wang
Estimating the term…
A method for coordinating the restraint forces provided by a seat belt load limiter and a vehicle airbag is provided. The method includes determining a desired total restraint force profile, determining the airbag force profile, and determining a desired seat belt force profile from the desired total restraint force profile and the airbag profile. The method preferably includes determining a load-limiting force profile sufficient to substantially achieve the desired seat belt force profile, and determining the profile of a load limiter system variable sufficient to substantially achieve the load-limiting force profile. A load limiter is also provided that is characterized by a variable load-limiting force. The load-limiter includes a tube characterized by a tube wall thickness, and a deformation apparatus slidably engaged in the tube for linear translation therein. The deformation apparatus is configured to plastically deform the tube during linear translation to generate a load-limiting force. The tube wall thickness varies over the length of the tube such that the load-limiting force varies during linear translation of the piston.
A method for optimizing the interaction between an airbag, a seat belt, and a seat belt load limiter in a vehicle impact, the method comprising:
A method for designing a load-limiter apparatus, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.