Abstract: An inflator for generating gas to inflate an air bag in a vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprises gas generating material, a plurality of filter layers, and a strand extending around the filter layers. The gas generating material generates gas when ignited. The filter layers filter the gas as it flows through the filter layers, and encircle the gas generating material. The filter layers include an outer layer with a cylindrical outer surface. The strand extends around the cylindrical outer surface of the outer filter layer at least partially in a helix, and has a plurality of circumferentially extending turns. The turns in the strand are spaced apart axially to define a helical gap which permits the gas to move from the cylindrical outer surface past the strand toward the air bag.

Abstract: An inflator for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, such as an air bag, includes a container (18) having a stored mixture of gases including a primary gas for inflating the air bag and a combustible gas. An actuator assembly (20) opens the container (18) and ignites the combustible gas as it flows toward the vehicle occupant restraint. Igniting the combustible gas creates a combustion reaction external to the container (18) which heats the primary gas as it flows toward the air bag. A combustion arrestor (22) minimizes the propagation of the combustion reaction into the container (18).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling an occupant restraint system in a vehicle (10) comprises storing in a ROM memory (220) a block of image data representative of a viewing field within the vehicle (10). The viewing field includes an unoccupied vehicle seat (18) located in the occupant compartment (12) of the vehicle. A new block of image data is obtained which is representative of the viewing field with an occupant (202) on the seat (18). This image data is obtained with an image sensor (200), such as a CCD sensor, mounted in the vehicle (10) for viewing the field. The new block of image data is compared with the stored block of image data by a controller (30) to obtain the occupant's size and/or position in the vehicle. The controller (30) provides a control signal having a value which is a function of the comparison. A restraint regulator (120), such as a vent valve, responds to the control signal for controlling the occupant restraint system.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) comprises a grain (110) of ignitable gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint (12). The grain (110) of gas generating material has a surface portion defining a cavity (124) in the grain (110). The apparatus further includes a plug (160) of pyrotechnic material which is more readily ignitable than the gas generating material. The plug (160) of pyrotechnic material, when ignited, produces and emits combustion products which ignite the grain (110) of gas generating material. The plug (160) of pyrotechnic material is located in the cavity (124) in the grain (110) of gas generating material.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a collision sensor (52) and an inflator assembly (20). The collision sensor (52) provides a collision signal indicating the occurrence of a vehicle collision. The inflator assembly (20) includes a first source (22) of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a first volume of inflation fluid. The inflator assembly (20) further includes a second source (24) of inflation fluid which, when actuated, provides a second volume of inflation fluid which differs from the first volume. A position sensor (70) provides a position signal indicating a position of an occupant of the vehicle. A controller (50) actuates the first and second sources (22, 24) of inflation fluid in any one of a plurality of differing modes of operation in response to the collision signal and the position signal.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) and an inflator (14) for providing gas for inflating the restraint (12). The inflator (14) contains an ignitable gas generating material (70) which, when ignited, generates the gas. The inflator has a structure (72) which defines a combustion chamber (78) containing the gas generating material (70). The inflator (14) further has an axis (66), and directs the gas to flow from the combustion chamber (78) outward through the inflator (14) and outward from the inflator (14) in a direction transverse to the axis (66). The inflator (14) is free of a tubular body wall defining gas flow openings at a location outward of the structure (72) defining the combustion chamber (78).

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a source of inflation fluid (20) and an air bag reaction canister (24) having a vent opening (16) through which inflation fluid from the source of inflation fluid (20) may be vented away from the air bag canister (24). An air bag (12) is located in the air bag reaction canister (24) and is inflatable by inflation fluid from the source of inflation fluid (20). A valve member (30) is located on the air bag reaction canister (24). The valve member (30) is movable relative to the vent opening (16) in response to ambient temperature variations in the vicinity of the source of inflation fluid (20) to control venting of inflation fluid from the source of inflation fluid (20) through the vent opening (16). Inflation of the air bag (12) is thereby controlled in response to ambient temperature variations in the vicinity of the source of inflation fluid (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint includes containing means for receiving gases to provide a combustible mixture of the gases. An igniter is activated to effect ignition of the mixture of gases in response to sudden vehicle deceleration. A directing means directs a flow of gas from the containing means into the inflatable occupant restraint. In the preferred embodiment the gases are an inert gas, a fuel gas, and an oxidizer gas. Also, a lean mixture of a fuel gas and oxidizer gas could be used. An improved igniter transmits energy through an imperforate portion of a wall of the containing means to ignite a charge in the containing means. The igniter may include an elongate core disposed in a frangible sheath which is shattered as the core is burned.

Abstract: An inflator assembly for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint includes a container defining a chamber with a rupturable wall. The chamber contains a first ignitable material and gas. The gas is directed from the container to the inflatable vehicle occupant restraint when the rupturable wall of the chamber is ruptured. The assembly further includes an initiator for rupturing the rupturable wall of the chamber and for igniting the first ignitable material inside the chamber. The initiator includes a second ignitable material. The second ignitable material produces a pressure wave and emits products of combustion when it is ignited by the initiator. The rupturable wall of the chamber is located in the path of the pressure wave and is ruptured by the pressure wave. The first ignitable material inside the chamber is located in the path of the products of combustion emitted by the second ignitable material and is ignited by the products of combustion.

Abstract: A safety apparatus includes an air bag 32 which is inflatable to an extended condition disposed between a hip 38 of a person 12 seated on a vehicle seat 14 and a door 16 of the vehicle. An inflator assembly 22 provides gas to inflate the air bag. The inflator assembly 22 and the air bag 32 are mounted on the vehicle seat 14 for movement with the vehicle seat relative to the body of the vehicle.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for a vehicle occupant comprises an airbag which inflates outwardly from a housing into a vehicle occupant compartment. An ignitable material for facilitating outward movement of the inflating airbag past a closure panel is supported by the closure panel between the airbag and the occupant compartment.

Abstract: An inflator for a vehicle occupant safety apparatus including an inflatable airbag has a filter which removes undesirable combustion products without detrimentally reducing the pressure of the gas flow into the inflating airbag. The filter comprises a plurality of spaced apart filter layers having offset gas flow openings to define tortuous gas flow paths through the filter.

Abstract: A source of gas for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint comprises a container. Gas generating material in said container comprises an alkali metal azide and a metal oxidizer. When ignited, the gas generating material produces heated nitrogen gas. A supply of pressurized nitrogen gas is also in the container. Structure is provided for separating the supply of pressurized nitrogen gas from the gas generating material. The separating structure is releasable to enable the heated nitrogen gas and the stored nitrogen gas to commingle. The source of gas also includes structure for directing the stored nitrogen gas and the heated nitrogen gas through a tortuous path toward the vehicle occupant restraint so as to remove particulates from the gases.

Abstract: A directional valve assembly for use in hydraulic power systems such as are used on fork lift trucks has a plurality of sliding spool directional valves and a balanced relief valve mounted in the body formed of a plurality of sections bolted and gasketed together. The main lift section has a load-holding check valve of special design together with means on the spool for opening the check valve to lower the load. Means are provided in the assembly for preventing interflow from one valve spool to another when two or more spools are simultaneously shifted. This includes a system of restrictors, check valves and passages causing the main relief valve to act as a pressure compensator responsive to the pressure requirement of the smallest load.

Abstract: An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint includes containing means for receiving gases to provide a combustible mixture of the gases. An igniter is activated to effect ignition of the mixture of gases in response to sudden vehicle deceleration. A directing means directs a flow of gas from containing means into the inflatable occupant restraint. In the preferred embodiment the gases are an inert gas, a fuel gas, and an oxidizer gas. Also, a lean mixture of a fuel gas and oxidizer gas could be used. An improved igniter transmits energy through an imperforate portion of a wall of the containing means to ignite a charge in the containing means. The igniter may include an elongate core disposed in a frangible sheath which is shattered as the core is burned.