TRW TAKES LEAD IN AIRBAG TECHNOLOGY

The US-based component supplier TRW has introduced a new type of inflator for airbags, the Heated Gas Inflator (HGI), which it claims to be the cleanest available anywhere. The HGI technology substitutes gas for the pellet of sodium usually used to power an airbag explosion. The HGI uses a mixture of hydrogen and air, stored at 175-310bar pressure, and has a simplified design. However, it is much larger, so that it can at present be used only for passenger-side operations. It will be fitted to several car models in 1997 and to a larger number of models in 1998. TRW's refinement of its HGI, a 'smart' inflator with a second igniter, will enable multiple rates of airbag deployment, and is planned for some 1999 car models. Eventually, TRW expects to achieve fine control of the rate and extent of airbag inflation in truly 'smart' restraint systems. TRW is already collaborating with Canadian company Magna, and both companies will set up a joint technical centre in Europe for safety systems research. TRW executives are annoyed by the complexity and apparent ineffectiveness of US legislation on safety in cars in general and airbags in particular. In almost all US cases where accident victims are pursuing litigation, seat belts were wrongly used. TRW is selling a rapidly increasing number of airbags to its European customers.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03076490
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Mechanical Engineers

  1 Birdcage Walk
  London SW1H 9JJ,   England 
• Authors:
  • BOLEY, J
• Publication Date: 1997-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 49-50
• Serial:
  • AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Institution of Mechanical Engineers
  • ISSN: 0307-6490

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air; Air bags; Automobiles; Gases; Heat; Hydrogen; Improvements; Legislation; Passive restraint systems; Pressure
• Geographic Terms: United States
• ITRD Terms: 6714: Air; 1465: Air bag (restraint system); 1243: Car; 6734: Gas; 6743: Heat; 7187: Hydrogen; 9108: Improvement; 1556: Legislation; 1466: Passive safety system; 5412: Pressure; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Law; Materials; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00744419
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jan 28 1998 12:00AM