Apparatus for and method of monitoring the mass quantity and density of a fluid in a closed container, and a vehicular air bag system incorporating such apparatus
US6050598A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M3/3218
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring the mass quantity and density of a fluid in a closed container of fixed volume. A density sensor within the closed container has a density such that the density sensor moves to a first location within the container when the fluid has at least a predetermined density, which corresponds with a predetermined mass quantity of the fluid within the closed container, but moves to a second location within the closed container when the fluid has a density less than the predetermined density. A detector monitors the position of the density sensor. The apparatus can be incorporated into a vehicular air bag system to monitor the density, and thus the mass quantity, of the gas which is to deploy the air bag in the event of an impact. A method of filling a closed container with a predetermined mass quantity of a fluid includes providing in the container a density sensor having a density such that the density sensor floats on the fluid when the fluid has a density corresponding with the predetermined mass quantity of the fluid in the volume of the closed container, monitoring the position of the density sensor within the container, and filling the container with the fluid…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.