Patent ID: 6789820
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising:an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; an inflation fluid source that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflation fluid source comprises a container including a storage chamber in which, prior to actuation of said inflation fluid source, is stored a gas under pressure, actuation of said inflation fluid source releasing said gas from said storage chamber; an opening through which said inflation fluid flows from said inflation fluid source; a member movable to control fluid flow through said opening, movement of said member being at least partially dependent upon a force exerted by said gas, which was released from said storage chamber, upon said member; a volume of a field responsive fluid for resisting movement of said member, said field responsive fluid having a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on said field responsive fluid; and means for varying the viscosity of said field responsive fluid to vary the resistance to movement of said member.