An exemplary hybrid accumulator includes a piston slidably disposed in a cylinder and separating a reservoir from a pressure chamber, in use, a hydraulic fluid disposed in the reservoir and a spring disposed in the pressure chamber to act on the piston and pre-charge the hydraulic fluid to a first pressure, and a heating element in communication with the pressure chamber to increase pressure in the pressure chamber when the heating element is initiated.

A pyrotechnic activated body panel lift actuator assembly for a vehicle having a unique deployment profile and energy absorbing feature is disclosed. The assembly has a pyrotechnic actuator, a thin-walled tube and a piston. The tapered portion of the piston forms a recess between the piston and the tube. One or more balls sized to fit in the recess are provided. Upon activation, the piston is thrust proximally outwardly to lift a portion of a body panel to absorb an impact of a person hit by the vehicle and thereafter the piston retracts under controlled substantially constant force generated by balls moving up the tapered portion of the shaft thereby locally plastically deforming the thin-walled tube.

The invention relates to a wiring harness (10) for an airbag module of a vehicle occupant safety system, particularly for a driver's airbag module, having a connector (11) for connecting to a pyrotechnic igniter of the airbag module, at least one module connecting cable (12) connected to the connector (11) for connecting the connector (11) to a vehicle wiring harness, and at least one actuator unit (13) having a pyrotechnic actuator (17) and an actuator connecting cable (14) which is formed integrally with the actuator unit (13) and is connected to the connector (11). The invention further relates to an airbag module, vehicle cabling and a vehicle occupant safety system having a wiring harness of this kind and to a method of production.

The invention relates to a wiring harness (10) for an airbag module of a vehicle occupant safety system, particularly for a driver's airbag module, having a connector (11) for connecting to a pyrotechnic igniter of the airbag module, at least one module connecting cable (12) connected to the connector (11) for connecting the connector (11) to a vehicle wiring harness, and at least one actuator unit (13) having a pyrotechnic actuator (17) and an actuator connecting cable (14) which is formed integrally with the actuator unit (13) and is connected to the connector (11). The invention further relates to an airbag module, vehicle cabling and a vehicle occupant safety system having a wiring harness of this kind and to a method of production.

An actuator assembly includes an actuation member, a release member, and a source of pressurized gas, wherein during a normal mode of operation, the actuation member and the release member are engaged to move in unison, and wherein during an emergency mode of operation, pressurized gas automatically decouples the actuation member from the release member to move separately. In accordance with yet other aspects of the disclosure, an electro-mechanical actuator includes an electro-mechanical drive system and an integrated backup system operated by a gas generator, wherein when the backup system is activated, the electro-mechanical drive system is decoupled and the actuator moves to a predetermined position and mechanically locks in place.

An actuator assembly includes an actuation member, a release member, and a source of pressurized gas, wherein during a normal mode of operation, the actuation member and the release member are engaged to move in unison, and wherein during an emergency mode of operation, pressurized gas automatically decouples the actuation member from the release member to move separately. In accordance with yet other aspects of the disclosure, an electro-mechanical actuator includes an electro-mechanical drive system and an integrated backup system operated by a gas generator, wherein when the backup system is activated, the electro-mechanical drive system is decoupled and the actuator moves to a predetermined position and mechanically locks in place.

The invention relates to an actuation device (22) for a system (20) including an emergency ram air turbine (21). Said device includes a ram (22) extending along a longitudinal axis (29) and including: a cylinder (30) configured to be connected to an aircraft structure (23) and a piston (33) extending into the cylinder (30) and defining two chambers (31, 32) in the latter. The piston (33) is equipped with a rod (33a) partially extending outside the cylinder (30). Said rod portion extending outside the cylinder (30) is configured to be connected to the emergency ram air turbine (21). The piston (33) is configured to move, relative to the cylinder (30), between a retracted position and a released position, wherein the length of the portion (33b) of the rod (33a) extending outside the cylinder (30) is greater than in the retracted position. One (31) of the chambers of the cylinder (30) is equipped with at least one gas generator (34) configured, when the piston (33) is in the retracted position, to release gases into said chamber (31) so that the piston (33) moves, in the cylinder (30), from the retracted position to the released position as a result of a difference in pressure between the two chambers (31, 32) of the cylinder (30).

The invention relates to an actuation device (22) for a system (20) including an emergency ram air turbine (21). Said device includes a ram (22) extending along a longitudinal axis (29) and including: a cylinder (30) configured to be connected to an aircraft structure (23) and a piston (33) extending into the cylinder (30) and defining two chambers (31, 32) in the latter. The piston (33) is equipped with a rod (33a) partially extending outside the cylinder (30). Said rod portion extending outside the cylinder (30) is configured to be connected to the emergency ram air turbine (21). The piston (33) is configured to move, relative to the cylinder (30), between a retracted position and a released position, wherein the length of the portion (33b) of the rod (33a) extending outside the cylinder (30) is greater than in the retracted position. One (31) of the chambers of the cylinder (30) is equipped with at least one gas generator (34) configured, when the piston (33) is in the retracted position, to release gases into said chamber (31) so that the piston (33) moves, in the cylinder (30), from the retracted position to the released position as a result of a difference in pressure between the two chambers (31, 32) of the cylinder (30).

An exemplary method includes using a pressure supply device (PSD) to actuate a hydraulic customer includes activating, when in the first position, a first gas generator of the multiple gas generators thereby driving the piston to the second position, pressurizing the hydraulic fluid, and discharging the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the customer; actuating the customer in response to receiving the pressurized hydraulic fluid; resetting the piston to first position by transferring a resetting hydraulic fluid into the reservoir; and exhausting gas and condensate from the gas chamber in response to resetting the piston to the first position.

An exemplary method includes using a pressure supply device (PSD) to actuate a hydraulic customer includes activating, when in the first position, a first gas generator of the multiple gas generators thereby driving the piston to the second position, pressurizing the hydraulic fluid, and discharging the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the customer; actuating the customer in response to receiving the pressurized hydraulic fluid; resetting the piston to first position by transferring a resetting hydraulic fluid into the reservoir; and exhausting gas and condensate from the gas chamber in response to resetting the piston to the first position.