Patents by Inventor Karl Englbrecht

Karl Englbrecht 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).

  • Publication number: 20240092308
    Abstract: A gas generator (10) comprises a housing (12) in which a conical combustion chamber screen (52) terminates the combustion chamber (44). On the front side, the combustion chamber screen (52) is closed by an end cap (54) to which a filter element (60) is connected which has one or more axially projecting centering extensions (64) on the edge of the filter bottom (62).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Bernhard MEHNERT, Sebastian BIERWIRTH, Karl ENGLBRECHT, Johannes EBNER, Vadim KOLBIN
  • Patent number: 11738710
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas generator fora vehicle safety system. The gas generator has a longitudinal axis, an outer housing in the form of a compressed-gas container. In an inoperative state of the gas generator, the housing is filled with compressed gas. The housing is closed at one housing end with a closure element by a welded joint, which extends along the longitudinal axis from the welded joint into the housing. The housing has at least one bead for mechanically relieving the welded joint of load. A bead base of the bead is provided in a region of an axial longitudinal extent of the closure element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Vadim Kolbin
  • Patent number: 11724664
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas generator for a vehicle safety system, comprising a first ignition stage, and a second second ignition stage. The first ignition stage comprises a cup-shaped diffuser with a diffuser base and an adjacent diffuser sidewall (57). The first ignition stage, the diffuser and the second ignition stage are arranged along an axial longitudinal axis of the gas generator and the diffuser is positioned between the first and second ignition stages such that the second ignition stage is fastened on an outer area of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Johannes Ebner, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Benedikt Peters
  • Publication number: 20230079105
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas generator for a vehicle safety system, comprising an ignition unit, a propellant configured in a combustion chamber in a form of a propellant bed extending along a longitudinal axis of the gas generator. A sleeve having an axial opening protrudes into the propellant bed such that it surrounds the ignition unit at least partially and portions of the propellant are stored inside and outside the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Johannes Ebner, Benedikt Peters
  • Publication number: 20220297631
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas generator for a vehicle safety system, comprising a first ignition stage, and a second ignition stage. The first ignition stage comprises a cup-shaped diffuser with a diffuser base and an adjacent diffuser sidewall. The first ignition stage, the diffuser and the second ignition stage are arranged along an axial longitudinal axis of the gas generator and the diffuser is positioned between the first and second ignition stages such that the second ignition stage is fastened on an outer area of the diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Johannes Ebner, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Benedikt Peters
  • Publication number: 20210402950
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas generator fora vehicle safety system. The gas generator has a longitudinal axis, an outer housing in the form of a compressed-gas container. In an inoperative state of the gas generator, the housing is filled with compressed gas. The housing is closed at one housing end with a closure element by a welded joint, which extends along the longitudinal axis from the welded joint into the housing. The housing has at least one bead for mechanically relieving the welded joint of load. A bead base of the bead is provided in a region of an axial longitudinal extent of the closure element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Vadim Kolbin
  • Patent number: 10259415
    Abstract: The invention relates to a subassembly (10) of a vehicle safety system comprising a tubular casing (20) and comprising a fastening element (30) that includes at least one fastening hole (13) and a peripheral portion (31) curved at least in portions, wherein the peripheral portion (31) is connected at least at one connecting point (11) to the tubular casing (20). In accordance with the invention, the peripheral portion (31) includes at least one breakthrough (40) and a coating passage (17) is formed at least in portions between the peripheral portion (31) and the casing (20), wherein the tubular casing (20) includes at least in portions, especially on its entire exposed surface (21), an anti-corrosion layer and/or the fastening element (30) includes at least in portions, especially on its entire exposed surface (32), an anti-corrosion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Vadim Kolbin, Michael Gabler, Georg Tautschnig
  • Patent number: 10081329
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnical actuator for a vehicle safety system comprising a cylinder (10) and a hollow piston (20) being displaceable relative to each other from an idle state to an activated state, wherein an igniter unit (30) being tightly connected to the hollow piston (20) is arranged inside the hollow piston (20). The invention excels by the fact that in the idle state the hollow piston (20) is received in the cylinder (10) and in the activated state it protrudes at least partially from the cylinder (10) so that the actuator has a larger total length in the activated state than in the idle state. The invention further relates to an actuator and a vehicle safety system comprising such actuator as well as to an actuating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Vadim Kolbin, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Georg Tautschnig
  • Publication number: 20170166161
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnical actuator for a vehicle safety system comprising a cylinder (10) and a hollow piston (20) being displaceable relative to each other from an idle state to an activated state, wherein an igniter unit (30) being tightly connected to the hollow piston (20) is arranged inside the hollow piston (20). The invention excels by the fact that in the idle state the hollow piston (20) is received in the cylinder (10) and in the activated state it protrudes at least partially from the cylinder (10) so that the actuator has a larger total length in the activated state than in the idle state. The invention further relates to an actuator and a vehicle safety system comprising such actuator as well as to an actuating method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Vadim Kolbin, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Georg Tautschnig
  • Publication number: 20160355216
    Abstract: The invention relates to a subassembly (10) of a vehicle safety system comprising a tubular casing (20) and comprising a fastening element (30) that includes at least one fastening hole (13) and a peripheral portion (31) curved at least in portions, wherein the peripheral portion (31) is connected at least at one connecting point (11) to the tubular casing (20). In accordance with the invention, the peripheral portion (31) includes at least one breakthrough (40) and a coating passage (17) is formed at least in portions between the peripheral portion (31) and the casing (20), wherein the tubular casing (20) includes at least in portions, especially on its entire exposed surface (21), an anti-corrosion layer and/or the fastening element (30) includes at least in portions, especially on its entire exposed surface (32), an anti-corrosion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Vadim Kolbin, Michael Gabler, Georg Tautschnig
  • Patent number: 9102302
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic actuator assembly (10) for release of a retaining means (12) in a vehicle safety system (14) comprising a housing (16) composed of a first housing part (18) and a second housing part (20) fixedly connected to the first housing part (18), the two housing parts (18, 20) forming a substantially tight housing chamber (22), a pyrotechnic charge (24) received in the housing chamber (22) as well as an electric ignition unit (26) for triggering of the pyrotechnic charge (24), wherein the electric ignition unit (26) extends from outside of the housing chamber (22) through the first housing part (18) into the housing chamber (22), and wherein the housing (16) includes a housing chamber portion (28) to which the pyrotechnic charge (24) is directly adjacent and includes a contact portion (30) for fastening the retaining means (12). Moreover the invention also comprises an airbag module of a vehicle safety system including such actuator assembly (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Muller, Karl Englbrecht, Martin Sedlmeier, Ingo Treiber, Desiree Koller
  • Patent number: 9085277
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator assembly for an airbag module in a vehicle safety system comprising an actuator (10) and a tensioning means (20), wherein the actuator (10) includes a release member (12) which in the idle state of the actuator is connected to a retaining member (11) and is separable from the retaining member (11) by actuating a pyrotechnical ignition unit of the actuator (10) along a predetermined breaking point (13) so as to release a loop (23) of a tensioning means (20). The invention excels by the fact that the loop (23) is formed between two tensioning means portions (21, 22) which are interconnected directly at the predetermined breaking point (13) by a connecting means (30) such that the loop (23) is tensioned around the predetermined breaking point (13) in a self-fixing manner. Furthermore the invention relates to an airbag module, a vehicle safety system and a manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Desiree Koller, Martin Sedlmeier, Ingo Treiber
  • Patent number: 8979118
    Abstract: A subassembly (10) includes an inflator (12) for a vehicle safety system having a cylindrical outer wall (14), at least one bolt (16) fastened to the outer wall (14) in a substance-to-substance or form-fit manner, for mounting the inflator (12) on a component and a saddle element (18) attached to the bolt. The saddle element (18) includes a supporting portion (24) that bears on the outer wall (14) of the inflator (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Bibo, Michael Beyer, Karl Englbrecht, Anton Greissl, Christian Grundl, Thomas Kapfelsperger
  • Publication number: 20140339799
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator assembly for an airbag module in a vehicle safety system comprising an actuator (10) and a tensioning means (20), wherein the actuator (10) includes a release member (12) which in the idle state of the actuator is connected to a retaining member (11) and is separable from the retaining member (11) by actuating a pyrotechnical ignition unit of the actuator (10) along a predetermined breaking point (13) so as to release a loop (23) of a tensioning means (20). The invention excels by the fact that the loop (23) is formed between two tensioning means portions (21, 22) which are interconnected directly at the predetermined breaking point (13) by a connecting means (30) such that the loop (23) is tensioned around the predetermined breaking point (13) in a self-fixing manner. Furthermore the invention relates to an airbag module, a vehicle safety system and a manufacturing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Desiree Koller, Martin Sedlmeier, Ingo Treiber
  • Publication number: 20140175776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic actuator assembly (10) for release of a retaining means (12) in a vehicle safety system (14) comprising a housing (16) composed of a first housing part (18) and a second housing part (20) fixedly connected to the first housing part (18), the two housing parts (18, 20) forming a substantially tight housing chamber (22), a pyrotechnic charge (24) received in the housing chamber (22) as well as an electric ignition unit (26) for triggering of the pyrotechnic charge (24), wherein the electric ignition unit (26) extends from outside of the housing chamber (22) through the first housing part (18) into the housing chamber (22), and wherein the housing (16) includes a housing chamber portion (28) to which the pyrotechnic charge (24) is directly adjacent and includes a contact portion (30) for fastening the retaining means (12). Moreover the invention also comprises an airbag module of a vehicle safety system including such actuator assembly (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Muller, Karl Englbrecht, Martin Sedlmeier, Ingo Treiber, Desiree Koller
  • Publication number: 20140103623
    Abstract: A subassembly (10) includes an inflator (12) for a vehicle safety system having a cylindrical outer wall (14), at least one bolt (16) fastened to the outer wall (14) in a substance-to-substance or form-fit manner, for mounting the inflator (12) on a component and a saddle element (18) attached to the bolt. The saddle element (18) includes a supporting portion (24) that bears on the outer wall (14) of the inflator (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Bibo, Michael Beyer, Karl Englbrecht, Anton Greissl, Christian Grundl, Thomas Kapfelsperger
  • Patent number: 8517419
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator subassembly (10) for a vehicle safety system comprising a pyrotechnic actuator unit (12) including an igniting portion (14) as well as a receiving element (16) forming a guide for the movable igniting portion (14) after activating the actuator unit (12). Further the invention relates to an airbag module of a vehicle safety system comprising said actuator subassembly (10) and a method of mounting a releasable tether (30) on an airbag module by means of said actuator assembly (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Debler, Martin Sedlmeier, Karl Englbrecht
  • Publication number: 20120292293
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inflator comprises the following steps: Providing a casing (12) that includes a tubular connecting portion (10) having a cylindrical wall (14), providing a closing member (19) that includes a closing portion (18) having a cylindrical contact surface (20) the cross-section of which has small oversize or undersize compared to the cross-section of the connecting portion (10), and axially pressing the closing member (19) into or onto the connecting portion (10) while simultaneously supplying electric current which flows between the cylindrical wall (14) and the contact surface (20) so that the closing member (19) is pressure-welded with the connecting portion (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Christian Bibo, Rainer Eggerdinger, Karl Englbrecht, Thomas Nobach, Martin Oberstarr, Johann Osl, Martin Sedlmeier, Stefan Siglreithmaier, Oskar Sponfeldner
  • Publication number: 20100187797
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator subassembly (10) for a vehicle safety system comprising a pyrotechnic actuator unit (12) including an igniting portion (14) as well as a receiving element (16) forming a guide for the movable igniting portion (14) after activating the actuator unit (12). Further the invention relates to an airbag module of a vehicle safety system comprising said actuator subassembly (10) and a method of mounting a releasable tether (30) on an airbag module by means of said actuator assembly (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Jens Debler, Martin Sedlmeier, Karl Englbrecht
  • Patent number: 7735860
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and an inflator (16) for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device. The inflator (16) includes an inflation fluid control structure (100). The control structure (100) includes discharge openings (116) for directing inflation fluid into an inflatable volume (72) of the protection device (14) and vent openings (118) for venting inflation fluid outside the inflatable volume. The control structure (100) also includes a vent member (132) actuatable from an open condition permitting inflation flow through the vent openings (118) to a closed condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the vent openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Karl Englbrecht, Detlef Last