IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0902175
(2001-07-10)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hess, Travis B.
- Kottke, Kurt E.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Brown, Sally J.Erickson, James D.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
21 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
▼
A system and method for enhancing the interchangeability, cost effectiveness, and protective capacity of side impact, inflatable curtains is disclosed. An inflatable curtain module may have multiple cushions attached together by a separately manufactured inflatable tension coupling. The tension coup
A system and method for enhancing the interchangeability, cost effectiveness, and protective capacity of side impact, inflatable curtains is disclosed. An inflatable curtain module may have multiple cushions attached together by a separately manufactured inflatable tension coupling. The tension coupling may be attached to the cushions prior to folding of the cushions by, for example, sewing one end of the tension coupling to each cushion. The tension coupling may also be attached to the cushions after the cushions have been folded. The cushions may each have one or more tabs positioned to extend inward toward the tension coupling; the tabs may protrude from the folded cushions so that the tension coupling can be attached to the tabs after the cushions have been folded. The tension coupling may have a plurality of expanses configured to be attached between the cushions parallel to each other, and a flexible central portion connecting a pair of expanses to provide a barrier against occupant excursion while still permitting compaction of the tension coupling. Several combinations of compaction methods may be used to compact the cushions and the tension coupling. The tension coupling may alternatively have an array of holes at each end configured to be aligned with an array of holes on each cushion, so that one or more attachment mechanisms such as laces can be inserted through the holes to provide attachment.
대표청구항
▼
A system and method for enhancing the interchangeability, cost effectiveness, and protective capacity of side impact, inflatable curtains is disclosed. An inflatable curtain module may have multiple cushions attached together by a separately manufactured inflatable tension coupling. The tension coup
A system and method for enhancing the interchangeability, cost effectiveness, and protective capacity of side impact, inflatable curtains is disclosed. An inflatable curtain module may have multiple cushions attached together by a separately manufactured inflatable tension coupling. The tension coupling may be attached to the cushions prior to folding of the cushions by, for example, sewing one end of the tension coupling to each cushion. The tension coupling may also be attached to the cushions after the cushions have been folded. The cushions may each have one or more tabs positioned to extend inward toward the tension coupling; the tabs may protrude from the folded cushions so that the tension coupling can be attached to the tabs after the cushions have been folded. The tension coupling may have a plurality of expanses configured to be attached between the cushions parallel to each other, and a flexible central portion connecting a pair of expanses to provide a barrier against occupant excursion while still permitting compaction of the tension coupling. Several combinations of compaction methods may be used to compact the cushions and the tension coupling. The tension coupling may alternatively have an array of holes at each end configured to be aligned with an array of holes on each cushion, so that one or more attachment mechanisms such as laces can be inserted through the holes to provide attachment. of the lift of the actuator can be set freely, and by varying the number of consecutive micro time regions whose duty ratios change with a fixed pattern, the period over which the lift of the actuator changes can be set freely. Moreover, since electrical energy is not wasted as thermal energy in the actuator driver, the problems of heat being generated in the driver and increased power consumption can be avoided. he closing member, with each chamber having at least one supply opening connected to the fluid supply line, with the fluid supply line connected to the housing at the same side of the closing member as the metering opening, with the chamber at that side of the closing member forming a through-flow chamber and the chamber at the opposite side of the closing member constituting a control chamber, with the supply openings in the chambers dimensioned such that with the closing member in a position leaving the metering opening at least partially clear the pressure of the fluid in the through-flow chamber is lower than the pressure in the control chamber, and with the valve configured such that the closing member is biased to its closed position solely by the pneumatic or hydraulic spring, and further including a metal attraction element connected to the closing member and an electromagnet positioned adjacent to the metal attraction element wherein, upon energizing, the electromagnet is adapted to move the metal attraction element and thereby to move the closing member to the position leaving the opening at least partially clear. 2. The metering valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supply opening in the through-flow chamber is connected to the fluid supply line through a narrowed passage. 3. The metering valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supply opening in the control chamber is connected to the fluid supply line through a branch line arranged in a wall of the housing. 4. The metering valve as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electromagnet includes a coil with an armature. 5. The metering valve as claimed in claim 4, wherein the attraction element is plate-like. 6. The metering valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing member is a diaphragm. 7. The metering valve as claimed in claim 6, wherein the diaphragm includes a relatively stiff central portion co-acting with the metering opening and a relatively flexible edge portion. 8. A system for supplying fuel to a combustion engine, provided with a container for the fuel and at least one feed line connecting the container to the engine, wherein in said at least one feed line is received at least one metering valve as claimed in claim 1. 9. The fuel supply system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the engine has a number of combustion chambers and at least one metering valve is present for each combustion chamber. 10. A valve comprising: a housing; a fluid passage disposed within the housing, the fluid passage including an outlet configured to communicate with a fluid supply; an electromagnetically responsive flexible closing member configured to close the outlet; a closing actuator configured to react to fluid pressure forces applied by fluid communicating with the fluid supply, such that when communication is effected with the fluid supply, the fluid pressure forces applied by fluid communicating with the fluid supply causes the closing actuator to apply forces to the closing member to effect closure of the outlet by the closing member; and an opening actuator configured to apply electromagnetic forces to the closing member for urging the closing member to open the outlet. 11. The valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the outlet is defined by a valve seat disposed in the fluid passage, and wherein the closing member is configured to sealingly engage the valve seat and thereby close the outlet. 12. The valve as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outlet is open when the closing member is displaced from the valve seat. 13. The valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein the application of the electromagnetic forces to the closing member urges the closing member to become displaced or remain displaced from the valve seat. 14. The valve as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fluid is a gas. 15. The valve as claimed in claim 13, wherein the closing member comprises a diaphragm. 16. The valve as claimed in claim 15, wherein the closing member includes an electromagnetically responsiv e element. 17. The valve as claimed in claim 16, wherein the closing member includes a rolling convolution. 18. The valve as claimed in claim 17, wherein the closing member is secured to the housing. 19. The valve as claimed in claim 18, wherein the diaphragm includes a relatively stiff central portion configured to sealingly engage the valve seat, and a relatively flexible edge portion secured to the housing. 20. The valve as claimed in claim 19, wherein the relatively flexible edge portion includes the rolling convolution. 21. The valve as claimed in claim 20, wherein the relatively stiff central portion includes the electromagnetically responsive element. 22. The valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the closing actuator is an hydraulic or pneumatic spring. 23. The valve as claimed in claim 22, wherein the outlet is defined by a valve seat disposed in the fluid passage, and wherein the closing member is configured to sealingly engage the valve seat and thereby close the outlet. 24. The valve as claimed in claim 23, wherein the outlet is open when the closing member is displaced from the valve seat. 25. The valve as claimed in claim 24, wherein the application of the electromagnetic forces to the closing member urges the closing member to become displaced or remain displaced from the valve seat. 26. The valve as claimed in claim 25, wherein the fluid is a gas, and the closing actuator is a pneumatic spring. 27. The valve as claimed in claim 25, wherein the closing member comprises a diaphragm. 28. The valve as claimed in claim 27, wherein the closing member includes an electromagnetically responsive element. 29. The valve as claimed in claim 28, wherein the closing member includes a rolling convolution. 30. The valve as claimed in claim 29, wherein the closing member is secured to the housing. 31. The valve as claimed in claim 30, wherein the diaphragm includes a relatively stiff central portion configured to sealingly engage the valve seat, and a relatively flexible edge portion secured to the housing. 32. The valve as claimed in claim 31, wherein the relatively flexible edge portion includes the rolling convolution. 33. The valve as claimed in claim 32, wherein the relatively stiff central portion includes the electromagnetically responsive element. 34. The valve as claimed in claim 33, wherein actuation of the hydraulic or pneumatic spring, when the outlet is closed by the closing member, biases the closing member towards the outlet to maintain closure of the outlet. 35. The valve as claimed in claim 34, wherein actuation of the hydraulic or pneumatic spring, when the outlet is open, biases the closing member towards the outlet to effect closure of the outlet. 36. The valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein the application of the electromagnetic forces to the closing member, when the outlet is closed by the closing member, overcomes the force applied by the closing actuator and causes the closing member to become displaced from the valve seat to thereby open the outlet. 37. The valve as claimed in claim 36, wherein the housing includes a first chamber and a second chamber, the outlet being disposed in the second chamber, and wherein the closing actuator is configured to effect fluid communication between the first chamber and the fluid supply when the outlet is closed such that fluid pressure forces are applied to the closing member from within the first chamber, and the closing actuator is also configured to effect fluid communication between the second chamber and the fluid supply when the outlet is closed such that fluid pressure forces are applied to the closing member from within the second chamber, and wherein the fluid pressure forces applied to the closing member from within the first chamber exceed the fluid pressure forces applied to the closing member from within the second chamber to thereby create a first net fluid pressure force acting on the closing member when the outlet is closed, and wherein the first net
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.