Method and apparatus for storing fluid under pressure
US5713597A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R2021/26029
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Inflation fluid (18) for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag (12), is contained in a pressure vessel (30) at an elevated storage pressure. The pressure vessel (30) further contains ignitable material (18) which, when ignited, heats the inflation fluid (18). An ohmic heating element (92) is maintained in an ignitable heat transferring relationship with the ignitable material (18) under the influence of the storage pressure. When the vehicle experiences a predetermined collision-indicating condition, an actuating level of electric current is directed through the heating element (92) to ignite the ignitable material (18). The storage pressure is monitored by monitoring an electrical characteristic, such as the resistance, of the heating element (92) which has a predetermined relationship to the storage pressure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.