Patents by Inventor Anton Bretfeld

Anton Bretfeld has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7698895
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator comprising an actuator element movably supported at an actuator housing, a pyrotechnic pressure element to move the actuator element and a control means to control a force exerted onto the actuator element by the pressure element to move the actuator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Bretfeld, Uwe Albrecht, Bernhard Lang
  • Publication number: 20070119173
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator comprising an actuator element movably supported at an actuator housing, a pyrotechnic pressure element to move the actuator element and a control means to control a force exerted onto the actuator element by the pressure element to move the actuator element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Inventors: Anton Bretfeld, Uwe Albrecht, Bernhard Lang
  • Patent number: 7111558
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic detonator with an igniter support of plastic, which bears an ignition element. A cylindrical metal housing is fastened to the igniter support, into which the ignition reaches. A booster charge is arranged in the metal housing. To improve seal tightness and lower the manufacturing costs, for mechanical support a metal insert is integrated into the igniter support, the metal insert being encased by the plastic of the igniter support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Brede, Eduard Berenz, Anton Bretfeld, Harald Frank, Jurgen Knauss
  • Publication number: 20030183110
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic detonator with an igniter support (4) of plastic, which bears an ignition element (2), and a cylindrical metal housing (1) is fastened to the igniter support (4), into which the ignition element (2) reaches, and a booster charge (6) is arranged in the metal housing (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Uwe Brede, Eduard Berenz, Anton Bretfeld, Harald Frank, Jurgen Knauss
  • Patent number: 6601515
    Abstract: An igniter element has two contacts (12, 13) which are on the contact side of a support body (11), and which are connected via a resistance element (15). By current feed to the contacts (12, 13), a primer mix (17) is ignited on one active side of the support body (11). The support body (11) is placed in a fixing device (10), whereby the former is fitted with at least one stop spring (18) which catches on a stop shoulder (21) of the holding device. Furthermore, the support body (11) has a recess (22) on the front-side in the region of the stop spring (18), which recess is open in the direction of the active side. After igniting the primer mix (17), pressure builds up on the active side, so that the outer surface (23) of the stop spring (18) is pressed against the inner surface of the fixing device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
    Inventors: Anton Bretfeld, Harald Frank, Jiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 6601514
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ignition unit (1) suitable for triggering an active system, such as an airbag or safety belt. The ignition unit comprises an ignition charge (7) located in a housing (2), which can be fired by means of an ignition bridge (6) positioned on a support element (5), as well as at least one contact pin (13a, 13b, 13c) which protrudes from the housing (2) and via an electronic ignition system (9) is electrically connected to the ignition bridge (6). The electronic ignition system (9) is surrounded by an envelope (10) made of a shock-absorbing material. The ignition bridge (6) is not covered by the envelope (10) so that during ignition the pressure exerted on the electronic ignition system (9) is cushioned. This prevents damage to the sensitive electronic components of the electronic ignition system (9) situated on the support element (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignees: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik, Temic Telefunken Microelectric GmbH, TRW Airbag Systems GmbH & Co., KG, Unax AG
    Inventors: Anton Bretfeld, Gerhard Kordel, Horst Laucht, Erwin Caflisch, Richard Baur, Michael Bischoff, Gunter Fendt, Stefan Schwehr
  • Patent number: 6499764
    Abstract: A gas generator includes an ignition charge, at least one ignition element for igniting the ignition charge, a storage chamber containing a compressed gas, which storage chamber is closed by a closure element, and an impact element destroying the closure element under pressure. A piston is provided as the impact element, which piston, after the destruction of the closure element, forms an exit gap with the opening closed by the closure element. The cross-sectional area of which exit gap changes in according to the position of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
    Inventors: Lothar Anacker, Karl Bayer, Eduard Berenz, Uwe Brede, Anton Bretfeld, Josef Kraft, Gerrit Scheiderer, Waldemar Weuter, Jiang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20020074787
    Abstract: A gas generator includes an ignition charge, at least one ignition element for igniting the ignition charge, a storage chamber containing a compressed gas, which storage chamber is closed by a closure element, and an impact element destroying the closure element under pressure. A piston is provided as the impact element, which piston, after the destruction of the closure element, forms an exit gap with the opening closed by the closure element. The cross-sectional area of which exit gap changes in according to the position of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Lothar Anacker, Karl Bayer, Eduard Berenz, Uwe Brede, Anton Bretfeld, Josef Kraft, Gerrit Scheiderer, Waldemar Weuter, Jiang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20020073873
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator, especially for an air bag, having two tubes (9, 10) arranged concentrically one in the other, the inner tube (10) forming the combustion chamber, containing the fuel (3), and being closed by a cover plate (11) and an end plate (12). The gas generator is especially suitable for the use of laughing gas and has a cover plate (11) joined to an end plate (12) by an igniter tube (7) passing through the combustion chamber. An ignition element is disposed in the cover plate, whose discharge opening for the ignition gases is in communication with the igniter tube (7). A longitudinally displaceable piston (2) is disposed in the igniter tube (7), and radial openings (6) into the combustion chamber are disposed in the igniter tube (7). The igniter tube (7) is connected with an outlet in the end plate (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Ulrich Bley, Uwe Brede, Anton Bretfeld, Julia Havlik, Klaus Redecker, Heinz Reiss
  • Publication number: 20020056394
    Abstract: An igniter element has two contacts (12, 13) which are on the contact side of a support body (11), and which are connected via a resistance element (15). By current feed to the contacts (12, 13), a primer mix (17) is ignited on one active side of the support body (11). The support body (11) is placed in a fixing device (10), whereby the former is fitted with at least one stop spring (18) which catches on a stop shoulder (21) of the holding device. Furthermore, the support body (11) has a recess (22) on the front-side in the region of the stop spring (18), which recess is open in the direction of the active side. After igniting the primer mix (17), pressure builds up on the active side, so that the outer surface (23) of the stop spring (18) is pressed against the inner surface of the fixing device (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: ANTON BRETFELD, HARALD FRANK, JIANG ZHANG
  • Patent number: 6289820
    Abstract: The hybrid gas generator to inflate airbags comprises two combustion chambers (14, 16), in each of which a solid material charge (15, 17) is placed, and a storage chamber (11) containing a pressurized storage gas. The storage chamber (11) is connected to diffusion chamber (30) by a closing member (29) which can be perforated. The first solid material charge (15), and the second solid material charge (17) can, for instance, can be sequentially ignited by separate igniter elements (18, 19), thereby determining the pressure accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
    Inventors: Lothar Anacker, Karl Bayer, Eduard Berenz, Uwe Brede, Anton Bretfeld, Josef Kraft, Gerrit Scheiderer, Waldemar Weuter, Jiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 6262875
    Abstract: An igniting/firing element includes a casing (1) receiving electrical junction lines connected to an igniting jumper (3) on a chip (2) provided with at least one igniting unit (4a, 4b). In order to allow for the element to be universally used and to avoid uncontrolled discharge, it is suggested that the junction lines be designed in the form of pins, which are led to the casing (1) through a glass seal, and that the casing bottom (1) be a metal body (7) in which bores (8) are provided for said glass seals (6) to pass through, and that the metal body be positive-fit to the plastic body (9) covering the peripheral wall of the casing (1) and wrapping the pin tops (5) emerging from the glass seal (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
    Inventors: Uwe Albrecht, Uwe Brede, Anton Bretfeld, Heinz-Peter Cornelius, Josef Kraft
  • Patent number: 6254128
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator for an air bag (11) including a cartridge (3) containing a gas-generating charge of solid material (5) and a storage reservoir (9) containing a storage gas (10). To trigger gas production the charge of solid material (5) is ignited. The resulting gas pressure tears off the front face (13) of the cartridge (3) along a peripheral notch (6). A sliding element (7) connected to the front face (13) pierces a sealing element (8) of the storage reservoir (9). A guiding channel (23) in which the front face (13) is guided in the manner of a piston, opens into a flow zone (12). When the front face (13) has reached the flow zone (12), reaction gas flows around the front face (13) into openings (16) in the tube-shaped sliding element (7). The reaction gas then flows into the storage reservoir (9) where it is mixed with the remaining storage gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
    Inventors: Uwe Albrecht, Anton Bretfeld, Josef Kraft, Jiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 6234522
    Abstract: A hybrid gas generator for an air bag (1) including ignitable gas-producing solid charge (5) placed in combustion chamber, a storage chamber (9) containing a gas (10) and a closed by a first bursting disk (8), a breakable separating wall (13) limiting the combustion chamber, which is connected to a hollow sliding piston (7) to perforate the first bursting disk (8) and a second bursting disk (12) in the separating wall (13) between the combustion chamber and the cavity (14) of the sliding piston (7). In order to construct the generator in a simpler and more economical form, the solid charge (5) is placed in a pyrotechnic cartridge that can be mounted separately the separating wall (13) forms the frontal border of the cartridge (3), a round notch (6) is placed on the round wall of the cartridge (3) serving as predetermined breaking point to break the separating wall (13) and the second bursting disk (12) is formed by a thinning on the separating wall (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
    Inventors: Uwe Albrecht, Anton Bretfeld, Hosef Kraft, Jiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 5746026
    Abstract: A method for unlocking a window pane secured by a fastening element to a frame element of a window frame, with an inflatable pressure tube being located between the window pane and the frame element, said tube, upon being inflated, forcing the window pane out of the frame element. For reliable and improved element unlocking of the window pane, the pressure tube is inflated by actuation of at least one pyrotechnic gas generator connected to the pressure tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Brede, Anton Bretfeld, Joachim Fibranz, Gerhard Kordel, Josef Kraft, Peter Lehniger, Jens-Peter Reimer
  • Patent number: 5433147
    Abstract: An electrical ignition device (1) has a metal container (2) for a firing resistor or bridge, a first (3) and a second (4) terminal pin and at least one ignition charge (5, 6).So that firing of the ignition charge does not occur in the event of electrical discharges between terminal pins and a housing, it is proposed that the container (2) be capable of being embedded in a plastic material by injection moulding and inserted in the housing, that a first outward extension (8) be provided on the container (2) which is electrically conductively connected to the first terminal pin (3), and that a second outward extension (9) be provided on the container (2) which can be formed so as to extend to the housing leaving a small clearance and of which an outer end is not embedded in the plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Brede, Anton Bretfeld, Peter Cornelius, Hans Jena
  • Patent number: 5259644
    Abstract: An ignition unit is provided with an internal housing defining a chamber in which an ignition charge and an ignition element igniting the charge are accommodated. The housing defining the chamber consists of a cover and a container which are connected to one another along a circumferential groove. A distributor housing is mounted on to the housing forming the chamber, in which distributor housing gas outlet openings are provided which are closed by a cap-shaped cover of the chamber. The V-shaped circumferential groove represents a predetermined breaking or separation position of the chamber, for which reason the cover is separated from the container when the ignition charge is ignited. The cover moves away from the container into a space until it strikes the upper end of the distributor housing. With its movement relative to the distributor housing, the cover releases the gas outlet openings so that the gases and flames can emerge from the ignition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Albrecht, Anton Bretfeld, Josef Kraft
  • Patent number: 5253895
    Abstract: The gas generator has a cylindrical housing, the front ends of which are closed by closure covers. A cylindrical outer section of the housing consists of high-grade steel; whereas the closure covers are made of aluminum, which has a thermal conductivity which is greater many times greater than that of the high-grade steel. In at least one of the closure covers, there is inserted a self-ignition device, which is provided with an ignitable material, that automatically ignites when reaching a minimum temperature. This minimum temperature clearly lies below the self-ignition temperature of the pressure gas-generating charge contained within the gas generator. The poor thermal conductivity in the cylindrical section of the housing prevents heat transport or transfer from outside via the housing to the pressure gas-generating charge; whereas the good thermal conductivity of the closure covers allows the quick heat transport to the self-ignition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anton Bretfeld, Josef Kraft
  • Patent number: 5035179
    Abstract: For the purpose of welding one side of a metallic foil to a relatively thick-walled metal tube, it is proposed to cover the foil from the other side in an annular fashion with a similar or identical tube section also made of metal and to join the tube and the tube section from the outside by means of welding, e.g., plasma welding; in this procedure, the welding bond is not allowed to extend through the entire tube wall thickness. In this way, tubular elements such as cylindrical casings of primer caps can be made tight, which primer caps can be filled from the front in a simple way, but wherein it has thus far been difficult to test for the reliability of the cover formed over a primer charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Bender, Anton Bretfeld
  • Patent number: 4920619
    Abstract: A pin of a retracting or ejecting pyrotechnical power element preferably mounted on the side of a belt lock facing away from the engaged belt is connected to a trigger key in such a way that, upon initiation of the charge of the pyrotechnical power element as a result of a threshold of a sensor in the vehicle being exceeded, due to an occurrence to be sensed, i.e. an impact upon collision and, after a required delay, the trigger key is depressed completely--and remains depressed. The required delay between the occurrence and the instant of belt separation can be effected electronically or, quite especially preferably, integrated in the pyrotechnical power element by means of a pyrotechnical transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Bender, Anton Bretfeld