Filed under: Emerging Technologies
Turns out, pretty much any part of a car can get a green makeover. ARC Automotive Inc., for example, has figured out a way to make an airbag inflator that use saltwater brine (and a small pyrotechnic charge) to deploy an airbag instead of the larger charges that other pyrotechnic inflators use. Standard inflators also generate hot gases that add complexity (namely, the need for cooling) to the airbag system.Dubbed the EcoSafe Inflator, ARC's new system vaporizes the brine to "inflate the airbag with a non-toxic, low temperature, low particulate mixture," according to ARC Automotive president Ali El-Haj. It's also cheaper than standard inflators. El-Haj said that the EcoSafe Inflator "offers greater vehicle occupant safety because during the airbag deployment the technology emits less particulate into the vehicle cabin." Standard side airbag and active knee bolster applications can use the EcoSafe Inflator. It's not the Jiffypop airbag, but it's interesting nonetheless.
[Source: ARC Automotive Inc]
Continue reading EcoSafe Inflator could put a little saltwater in your airbag
EcoSafe Inflator could put a little saltwater in your airbag originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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