US3731948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Occupant restraint system
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1971-12-02
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-12-02
Abstract
Abstract An occupant restraint system includes a pressure vessel providing a source of pressure fluid and having a cylindrical outlet neck including cylindrical inner and outer walls joined by a radial end wall provided with an axially outwardly opening continuous groove of generally rectangular cross section. A manifold communicates the pressure vessel with a diffuser and an inflatable occupant restraint cushion. The manifold includes a threaded inlet wall which is threaded on the threaded outer wall of the neck and which merges into the passage wall of the manifold across a radial wall. A cylindrical glass diaphragm has one face juxtaposed to the outlet opening of the neck and the groove in the end wall and an opposite face juxtaposed to the radial wall of the manifold. A seal of resilient material covers the one face of the diaphragm and the side wall thereof, and partially covers the other face. An integral rib extends axially of the one face and is received within the groove in the end wall of the pressure vessel. The seal is compressed between the radial wall of the manifold and the end wall of the pressure vessel and the seal rib is compressed against the base wall of the groove. The seal rib is of lesser cross section than the groove and the leakage of pressure fluid between the seal and the end wall into the groove forces the radial outer wall of the rib into engagement with the radial outer wall of the groove. Detonators encased in stemming material seat against the other face of the glass diaphragm and are electrically fired to rupture the diaphragm.
Inventors
- 👤 R Risko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/268; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1632; Y10T137/1647; Y10T137/1692; Y10T137/1752
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a pressure vessel containing fluid under pressure for inflation of an occupant restraint cushion and including a generally annular outlet having an annular inner wall defining the outlet opening and joined to a generally annular outer wall by a radially extending end wall having an axially outwardly opening continuous groove provided therein, an annular glass diaphragm overlying the outlet opening and the end wall, a seal of resilient material covering at least the annular area of the glass diaphragm juxtaposed to the end wall of the pressure vessel and including an integral continuous sealing rib extending axially into the groove of the end wall of the pressure vessel and being of smaller radial cross section than such groove, the sealing rib including a radial outer wall forced into engagement with the radial outer wall of the groove by the flow of pressure fluid between the seal anD the pressure vessel end wall and into the space between the radial inner wall of the groove and that of the rib, and means engageable with the glass diaphragm and the pressure vessel to bias the glass diaphragm toward the end wall and compress the seal between such end wall and the glass diaphragm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a pressure vessel containing fluid under pressure for inflation of an occupant restraint cushion and including a generally annular outlet having an annular inner wall defining the outlet opening and joined to a generally annular outer wall by a radially extending end wall having an axially outwardly opening continuous groove provided therein, an annular glass diaphragm overlying the outlet opening and the end wall, a seal of resilient material covering at least the annular area of the glass diaphragm juxtaposed to the end wall of the pressure vessel and including an integral continuous sealing rib extending axially into the groove of the end wall of the pressure vessel and being of smaller radial cross section than such groove, the sealing rib including a radial outer wall forced into engagement with the radial outer wall of the groove by the flow of pressure fluid between the seal anD the pressure vessel end wall and into the space between the radial inner wall of the groove and that of the rib, and means engageable with the glass diaphragm and the pressure vessel to bias the glass diaphragm toward the end wall and compress the seal between such end wall and the glass diaphragm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
248 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a pressure vessel containing fluid under pressure for inflation of an occupant restraint cushion and including a generally annular outlet having an annular inner wall defining the outlet opening and joined to a generally annular outer wall by a radially extending end wall having an axially outwardly opening continuous groove provided therein, an annular glass diaphragm having one face overlying the outlet opening and the end wall, an annular seal of resilient material having one portion thereof covering the annular area of the glass diaphragm juxtaposed to the end wall of the pressure vessel and including an integral continuous sealing rib extending axially into the groove of the end wall of the pressure vessel and being of larger axial extent and lesser radial extent than such groove, the sealing rib including a radial outer wall forced into engagement with the radial outer wall of the groove by the flow of pressure fluid between the seal and the pressure vessel end wall and into the space between the radial inner wall of the groove and that of the rib, passage means communicating with the annular outlet and including a radial wall juxtaposed to an annular area of the other face of the glass diaphragm, the seal including a second portion covering at least the annular area of the other face of the glass diaphragm, and means compressing the seal portions between the respective faces of the glass diaphragm and the radial walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
248 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a pressure vessel containing fluid under pressure for inflation of an occupant restraint cushion and including a generally annular outlet having an annular inner wall defining the outlet opening and joined to a generally annular outer wall by a radially extending end wall having an axially outwardly opening continuous groove provided therein, an annular glass diaphragm having one face overlying the outlet opening and the end wall, an annular seal of resilient material having one portion thereof covering the annular area of the glass diaphragm juxtaposed to the end wall of the pressure vessel and including an integral continuous sealing rib extending axially into the groove of the end wall of the pressure vessel and being of larger axial extent and lesser radial extent than such groove, the sealing rib including a radial outer wall forced into engagement with the radial outer wall of the groove by the flow of pressure fluid between the seal and the pressure vessel end wall and into the space between the radial inner wall of the groove and that of the rib, passage means communicating with the annular outlet and including a radial wall juxtaposed to an annular area of the other face of the glass diaphragm, the seal including a second portion covering at least the annular area of the other face of the glass diaphragm, and means compressing the seal portions between the respective faces of the glass diaphragm and the radial walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
351 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a pressure vessel containing fluid under pressure for inflation of an occupant restraint cushion and including a generally cylindrical outlet having a cylindrical inner wall defining the outlet opening and joined to a generally cylindrical outer wall by a radially extending end wall having an axially outwardly opening continuous groove provided therein, cylindrical glass diaphragm having one face overlying the outlet opening and the end wall, a seal of resilient material having one portion covering at least the annular area of the one face of the glass diaphragm juxtaposed to the end wall of the pressure vessel and including an integral sealing rib extending axially into the groove of the end wall of the pressure vessel and being of larger axial extent and lesser radial extend than such groove, the seal including a second portion covering the peripheral wall of the glass diaphragm and a third portion covering an annular area of the opposite face of the glass diaphragm, a manifold having a passage generally aligned with the outlet and including a radial wall generally juxtaposed to the end wall of the pressure vessel, and means securing the manifold to the outlet of the pressure vessel to locate the radial wall thereof in engagement with the third portion of the seal to compress such third portion between such radial wall and the opposite face of the glass diaphragm and compress the first portion of the seal between the one face of the glass diaphragm and the end wall of the outlet, the sealing rib including a radial outer wall forced into engagement with the radial outer wall of the groove by the leakage of pressure fluid between the one portion of the seal and the pressure vessel end wall and into the space between the radial inner wall of the groove and that of the rib, and means located within the manifold passage and selectively engageable with the opposite face of the glass diaphragm in the uncovered area thereof to rupture the glass diaphragm and permit communication between the pressure vessel and the manifold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
351 words
An occupant restraint system comprising, in combination, a pressure vessel containing fluid under pressure for inflation of an occupant restraint cushion and including a generally cylindrical outlet having a cylindrical inner wall defining the outlet opening and joined to a generally cylindrical outer wall by a radially extending end wall having an axially outwardly opening continuous groove provided therein, cylindrical glass diaphragm having one face overlying the outlet opening and the end wall, a seal of resilient material having one portion covering at least the annular area of the one face of the glass diaphragm juxtaposed to the end wall of the pressure vessel and including an integral sealing rib extending axially into the groove of the end wall of the pressure vessel and being of larger axial extent and lesser radial extend than such groove, the seal including a second portion covering the peripheral wall of the glass diaphragm and a third portion covering an annular area of the opposite face of the glass diaphragm, a manifold having a passage generally aligned with the outlet and including a radial wall generally juxtaposed to the end wall of the pressure vessel, and means securing the manifold to the outlet of the pressure vessel to locate the radial wall thereof in engagement with the third portion of the seal to compress such third portion between such radial wall and the opposite face of the glass diaphragm and compress the first portion of the seal between the one face of the glass diaphragm and the end wall of the outlet, the sealing rib including a radial outer wall forced into engagement with the radial outer wall of the groove by the leakage of pressure fluid between the one portion of the seal and the pressure vessel end wall and into the space between the radial inner wall of the groove and that of the rib, and means located within the manifold passage and selectively engageable with the opposite face of the glass diaphragm in the uncovered area thereof to rupture the glass diaphragm and permit communication between the pressure vessel and the manifold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |