Patent ID: 7413049

Claim:
An automotive pedestrian protection hood lifting system, comprising: a load actuation shaft; a spring connected at a first end thereof to the load actuation shaft; a connecting member connected to a second opposite end of the spring and biased by the spring, wherein upon a first predetermined event signal, the spring is loaded, and upon a second predetermined event signal, the spring load is altered, and wherein a housing surrounds the spring and at least a portion of the connecting member; an expandable vessel in fluid communication with the housing; a gas surrounding the connecting member within the housing; and a release mechanism that holds the connecting member in place prior to actuation, wherein when the connecting member is released, the loaded spring slides the connecting member in the housing and the gas is forced into the expandable vessel, causing a hood of a motor vehicle to be lifted, and wherein the expandable vessel comprises one of a cloth bellows and an air bag.