Actuator for a protective device, protective device including the actuator

Abstract

This invention relates to an actuator for an inflatable protective device. [Solution] The present invention relates to an actuator for an inflatable protective device, comprising a case (52) housing a perforator (53) movable between a first operating position and a second operating position, wherein a gas passage (B) is defined. The perforator comprises a base body (54) extending between a first surface and an opposing second surface from which a tip (56) protrudes. The ratio between the minimum flow area of ​​the passage (B) and the area of ​​the second surface (54") is greater than 0.6, optionally between 0.7 and 1, and optionally between 0.9 and 1.

Claims

1. An actuator for an inflatable protective device, A case extending between a first end and a second end along the extending direction, wherein the case defines a seat portion extending along the extending direction, and the case further comprises, A through-access located at the second end and configured to receive a portion of a pressurized gas container, The case comprises a passage formed within the case, which allows the seat portion to be in fluid communication with the through access, A perforator disposed within the seat portion, the perforator comprising a base body extending between a first surface facing the first end and a second surface facing the second end, the base body further comprising sides partially or completely complementary in shape to the inner surface of the seat portion, the perforator further comprising a tip protruding from the second surface toward the second end, the perforator comprising, The first operating position in which the base body is spaced apart from the passage opening, A portion of the chip is movable between a second operating position extending through the passage opening, the second surface defines a second surface area, and the passage opening defines a minimum flow path area, the perforator and A pyrotechnic charge disposed within the case and positioned so as to face the first surface of the base body, wherein the pyrotechnic charge is configured to move the piercer from a first operating position to a second operating position, Equipped with, An actuator in which the ratio between the minimum flow path area of ​​the passage opening and the second surface area of ​​the second surface is 0.7 to 1.

2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the case comprises a stopper element configured to define the passage opening and to contact the second surface of the base body of the drill when in the second operating position, the case comprises a hollow body, the stopper element is formed integrally with the hollow body of the case, and the stopper element comprises a ring having an inner edge that defines the passage opening of the case.

3. The case has a through-opening configured to allow the seat portion to fluidly communicate with the external environment of the case, and the through-opening is defined in close proximity to the passage opening of the case. When the perforator is in the first operating position, the first chamber is defined within the seat between the inner surface of the case, the second end of the case, the through opening, and the second surface of the perforator, and the through opening is in fluid communication with the first chamber and the through opening. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein when the drilling device is positioned in the second operating position, the through-opening is no longer in fluid communication with the first chamber and the through-port, the second chamber is defined between the first surface of the drilling device, the inner surface of the case, and the lower surface of the insert associated with the first end of the case, and in the second operating position, a vent provided in the case allows fluid communication between the second chamber and the external environment, and the vent is not in fluid communication with the second chamber when the drilling device is in the first operating position.

4. The through-opening comprises a plurality of through-openings numbered 2 to 12, The actuator according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of through-openings are uniformly distributed on the side wall of the case along a plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the case.

5. The through-opening defines a total gas flow cross-section that is smaller than the gas flow cross-section defined by the passage opening of the case. The actuator according to claim 3, wherein the total gas flow path cross-section defined by the through-opening has a predetermined area, and the ratio of the predetermined area of ​​the total gas flow path cross-section of the through-opening to the predetermined area defined by the passage opening of the case is 0.7 to 0.

98.

6. The side surface of the base body of the perforator is A contact strip configured to contact the inner surface of the case defining the seat portion, and having a shape complementary to the inner surface of the case defining the seat portion, A recess spaced apart from the inner side surface of the case that defines the seat portion, Equipped with, The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the recess is configured to maintain a predetermined minimum distance from the inner side surface of the case defining the seat during movement between the first and second operating positions of the drilling machine and between the two positions.

7. The actuator according to claim 6, wherein the contact strip extends in the height direction from the first surface to the second surface of the base body and / or from the second surface to the first surface of the base body.

8. The contact strip comprises first and second contact strips spaced apart from each other by the means of the recess, The first contact strip extends from the first surface of the base body toward the second surface, The second contact strip extends from the second surface of the base body toward the first surface, The recess is spaced apart from the inner side surface of the case that defines the seat portion. The actuator according to claim 7, wherein the first and second contact strips and the recess are symmetrical with respect to the extending direction.

9. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tip has an inclined cutting surface spaced apart from the second surface of the base body, and the cutting surface is inclined at an angle of 30° to 80° with respect to the second surface of the base body from which the tip protrudes.

10. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an insert housed in part or in whole within the case and positioned at the first end, the insert being insertable into the seat from the second end of the case and engaged internally, the insert comprising a striker positioned inside the case, the striker being configured to contact the drill in a first operating position and to function as a stroke end element for the drill, the drill interposed between the striker and a stopper element located at the through opening, the stopper element being configured to abut and receive the second surface of the base body of the drill in a second operating position, thereby preventing further axial movement of the drill toward the through access.

11. The insert has a cavity facing the piercer and configured to house the pyrotechnic charge, the cavity of the insert directly facing the first surface of the base body of the piercer, The actuator according to claim 10, wherein the striker surrounds the lower end of the cavity facing the first surface of the base body, the lower end having an area smaller than the area of ​​the first surface of the base body, and is positioned centrally with respect to the extending direction.

12. The actuator according to claim 11, wherein the lower end of the cavity is provided with a sealing membrane that defines a sealed volume for housing the pyrotechnic charge, the sealing membrane is configured to open when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, and is configured to open when the piercer moves from the first operating position to the second operating position.

13. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the length defined by the distance between the second surface of the base body from which the tip protrudes and a point on the outer peripheral edge at the maximum distance from the second surface corresponds to the stroke of the drill from the first operating position to the second operating position.

14. The case comprises a coupling portion located between the second end and a through-opening located on the side wall of the case, the coupling portion being configured to enable engagement of the case with an expandable element. The coupling portion includes a transverse seat configured to accommodate one or more cables connected to the pyrotechnic charge, the transverse seat being positioned such that, with the actuator engaged with the inflatable element, the one or more cables pass through the coupling portion and emerge from the second end of the case, the transverse seat comprising a first portion located in the threaded region of the coupling portion and a second portion located in a ring defined at the second end of the case, the first portion of the transverse seat having no threads, The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the case further comprises a gasket and a gasket seat positioned at the joint, and one or more cables are interposed between the gasket and the joint.

15. The actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the case comprises an auxiliary access defined at the first end, opposite to the through access defined at the second end, the auxiliary access having overall dimensions that allow the perforator to pass through, whereas the through opening defined in the case has overall dimensions that prevent the perforator from exiting the seat, regardless of the presence of the pressurized gas container.

16. An actuator for an inflatable protective device, A case extending between a first end and a second end along the extending direction, the case comprising a through-opening configured to define a seat portion extending along the extending direction and to allow fluid communication between the seat portion and the external environment of the case, the through-opening defined at a passage opening of the case, and the case, A through-access located at the second end and configured to receive a portion of a pressurized gas container, The case further comprises a passage formed within the case, which allows the seat portion to be in fluid communication with the through access, A perforator disposed within the seat portion, the perforator comprising a base body extending between a first surface facing the first end and a second surface facing the second end, the base body further comprising sides partially or completely complementary in shape to the inner surface of the seat portion, the perforator further comprising a tip protruding from the second surface toward the second end, the perforator comprising, The first operating position in which the base body is spaced apart from the passage opening, A portion of the chip is movable between a second operating position extending through the passage opening and The perforator, wherein the second surface defines the second surface area, and the passage opening defines the minimum flow path area, A pyrotechnic charge disposed within the case and positioned so as to face the first surface of the base body, wherein the pyrotechnic charge is configured to move the piercer from a first operating position to a second operating position, Equipped with, When the perforator is in the first operating position, the first chamber is defined within the seat between the inner surface of the case, the second end of the case, the through opening, and the second surface of the perforator, and the through opening is in fluid communication with the first chamber and the through opening. An actuator wherein, when the drilling device is in the second operating position, the through-opening is no longer in fluid communication with the first chamber or the through-port, the second chamber is defined between the first surface of the drilling device, the inner surface of the case, and the lower surface of an insert associated with the first end of the case, and in the second operating position, a vent provided in the case allows the second chamber to be in fluid communication with the external environment, the vent is not in fluid communication with the second chamber when the drilling device is in the first operating position.

17. The actuator according to claim 16, further comprising an insert located at the first end, which is partially or entirely housed within the case, wherein the insert is engaged within the seat of the case and comprises a striker located within the case, the striker being configured to contact the drill when in the first operating position and to define a stroke end element for the drill, the drill interposed between the striker and a stopper element located at the through opening, the stopper element being configured to abut and receive the second surface of the base body of the drill when in the second operating position and to prevent axial movement of the drill toward the through access.

18. The actuator according to any one of claims 16 and 17, wherein the case comprises an auxiliary access defined at the first end, opposite to the through access defined at the second end, the auxiliary access having overall dimensions that allow the puncturer to pass through, while the through opening defined in the case has overall dimensions that prevent the puncturer from exiting the seat, regardless of the presence of the pressurized gas container, and the insert is insertable into the seat through the auxiliary access and detachably engaged with the seat.

19. An actuator for an inflatable protective device, Pressurized gas container and A case extending between a first end and a second end along the extending direction, the case comprising a through-opening configured to define a seat portion extending along the extending direction and to allow fluid communication between the seat portion and the external environment of the case, the through-opening defined at a passage opening of the case, and the case, A through access is provided at the second end and connected to a portion of the pressurized gas container, The case is formed with the passage opening which allows the seat portion to communicate fluidly with the through access, The case further comprises a connecting portion disposed between the second end and the through opening, A perforator disposed within the seat portion, the perforator comprising a base body extending between a first surface facing the first end and a second surface facing the second end, the base body further comprising sides partially or completely complementary in shape to the inner surface of the seat portion, the perforator further comprising a tip protruding from the second surface toward the second end, the perforator comprising, The first operating position in which the base body is spaced apart from the passage opening, A portion of the chip is movable between a second operating position extending through the passage opening, The perforator, wherein the second surface defines the second surface area, and the passage opening defines the minimum flow path area, A pyrotechnic charge disposed within the case and positioned so as to face the first surface of the base body, wherein the pyrotechnic charge is configured to move the piercer from a first operating position to a second operating position, An expandable element that can be configured between a contracted state and an expanded state, A connector configured to connect the inflatable element to the internal volume of the case and to allow fluid communication between them, wherein the connector is detachably constrained on one side to the coupling portion of the case and engaged with the inflatable element on the other side, The coupling portion includes a transverse seat that engages with the connector and accommodates one or more cables connected to the pyrotechnic charge, wherein the transverse seat is arranged such that once the connector engages with the inflatable element, the one or more cables pass through the coupling portion and emerge from the second end of the case. The perforator is configured to act on the pressurized gas container to perforate the container and release the gas, thereby causing the expandable element to transition from the contracted state to the expanded state.

20. The actuator according to claim 19, wherein the case further comprises a gasket and a gasket seat positioned at the joint, and the one or more cables are interposed between the gasket and the joint.

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