Vehicle occupant restraint apparatus

US5639117A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Lockheed Martin Corporation · US

Inventors

• John Mandzy · Pittsfield, US
• Steven Joseph Brown · Pittsfield, US
• Neale Arthur Messina · Pennington, US
• Larry Stefan Ingram · Lawrenceville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 5, 1996
• Grant date: Jun 17, 1997
• Expiry date: Jun 5, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R21/264
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

To achieve programmed inflation of an airbag in a vehicle occupant restraint apparatus, movement of a piston, that separates a combustion chamber from a liquid propellant reservoir, is utilized to vary the opening size of an injection port through which liquid propellant is regeneratively pumped from the reservoir into the combustion chamber for combustion, such that the rate at which the bag inflation gas is generated during an inflation period may be controlled.