Device for enhancing contact closure time of a deceleration sensor switch for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system
US5574266A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H35/142
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A deceleration sensor switch (10) comprises electrical contacts (50, 52) and a mass (14) movable between an unactuated position in which the electrical contacts are open and an actuated position in which the electrical contacts are closed. The mass is biased towards the unactuated position. A cylinder (30) includes an end portion (44) and a cylindrical wall portion (34) extending from the end portion to define a chamber (35) inside the cylinder. The end portion includes a metering orifice (36) for allowing air to flow between the chamber and outside the cylinder. A shaft (22) interconnects the mass and a truncated cone (24). The cone has a skirt end (26) and is movable in one direction relative to the chamber to displace air from the chamber through the metering orifice to outside the cylinder upon the mass moving from the unactuated position to the actuated position in response to the mass being subjected to deceleration of at least a predetermined magnitude. The cone is movable in an opposite direction relative to the chamber to cause air from outside the cylinder to flow through the metering orifice into the chamber upon the mass moving from the actuated position back to the una…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.