PyrotechnicAssisted Automotive Safety Devices Review

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Pyrotechnic-Assisted Automotive Safety Devices
Review

• August 2, 2006

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NAAHAC PAASD Review

• Laurie J. Moore, SME Explosives, Delphi
  Automotive Systems
• Phone [phone]
• Jeff Barker, Sr. Safety Engineer, Autoliv USA,
• Phone [phone]
• Mace McMillan, Key Safety Systems
• Phone [phone]
• Larry Moquin, Director RD, Takata
• Phone [phone]
• Scott Detwiler, Project Manager Regulatory
  Compliance, TRW
• Phone [phone]
• Sherman Stauffer, EHS Manager, ARC Automotive,
  Inc.
• Phone [phone]

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NAAHAC PAASD Review

• NAAHAC
• Issue-driven, voluntary working group of the
  North American Automotive Companies and their key
  suppliers
• Considers and responds to the vital hazardous
  materials/dangerous goods issues of its
  membership
• Focuses on pending and current hazmat regulations
  and development of concise responses for
  submission to appropriate regulatory entities
• Study group to inform regulators of automotive
  industry concerns and participate in offering
  realistic solutions

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NAAHAC PAASD Review

• The NAAHAC Subcommittee represented here today
  are major producers of pyrotechnic-assisted
  automotive safety products
• Airbag modules, seatbelt pretensioners, energy
  absorbing steering columns, hood activators,
  battery disconnects, initiators and micro gas
  generators
• Products are designed to help meet NHTSA
  standards for automotive customers
• MVSS 203 Impact protection for the driver from
  the steering control system
• MVSS 204 Standards for Steering control rearward
  displacement
• MVSS 208 Occupant Crash Protection
• MVSS 209 Seat belt assemblies
• MVSS 214 Side impact protection
• Products are designed to meet standards set by
  OEMs and USCAR specifications
• Products are designed with minimum amount of
  explosive chemistry and propellant to function as
  designed in order to aid in meeting vehicle CAFÉ
  requirements

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NAAHAC PAASD Review

• PAASD are designed and manufactured to function
  in a safe and controlled way
• Provide ability to significantly reduce crash
  injury
• Highly efficient devices
• These products are manufactured globally and are
  imported to and exported from the US
• All sites are licensed per the applicable
  regulatory authority

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NAAHAC PAASD Review

• PROBLEM Suppliers are being pushed to market in
  compressed time frames and experience delays in
  obtaining Special Device Exemptions for PAASD
• This results in inefficiency and uncompetitive
  position in the marketplace
• All of the completed vehicle components have been
  examined by US DOT and are either regulated as
  Class 9, 2.1, and 1.4 hazardous materials or are
  non-regulated for transportation.
• All suppliers and users of Class 1 materials are
  regulated by BATFE and are holders of user
  permits and/or licenses

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NAAHAC PAASD Review

• NAAHAC seeks to inform the EIPB of its current
  use and planned development of pyrotechnic
  technology in automotive safety systems
• Device chemistry will be provided as privileged
  and confidential to the BATFE by company
• Products currently in development must be
  discussed individually and confidentially
• NAAHAC seeks the incorporation of PAASD into
  listed exemptions of 27 CFR 555.141(a)8
• Low explosives are used in these devices
• Quantity of low explosives is kept to a minimum
• Controlled deflagration rather than detonation
  when subjected to an initiating stimulus
• Tamper-proof designs

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NAAHAC PAASD Review

• Insert spreadsheet of current product portfolio
  by company

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NAAHAC PAASD Review

• PAASD perform work
• Propellant as gas generant
• Propellant burns to generate gas
• Propellant as heat source
• Expands gas contained in a pressure vessel
• Devices perform work by generating or using gas
  in a controlled or contained manner
• Gas generants are safer and more environmentally
  friendly than the sodium azide used in early
  devices generate larger quantities of gas per
  unit of mass
• Smaller quantities of propellant are used
• Devices are not designed to propagate a pressure
  wave
• Designed to hinder ease of access to the
  propellant materials

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NAAHAC PAASD Review
Initiator

• Pyrotechnic is today an standard engineering
  tool to transfer chemical energy to mechanical
  power

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NAAHAC PAASD Review Seatbelts
Micro Gas Generators in the Seatbelt Retractor
Pretensioner The seatbelt retractor is securely
attached to the vehicle typically to the B or C
Pillar. The retractor performs 2 main
functions 1 - To allow proper extraction and
retraction of webbing, so the occupant can put on
and take off the seatbelt, and 2 To lock up and
restrain the occupant during emergency conditions.
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NAAHAC PAASD Review Seatbelts
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NAAHAC PAASD Review Seatbelts
Principle of Operation
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NAAHAC PAASD Review Seatbelts
Retractor Subassembly (Basic Restraint Function)
Initiator or MGG Housing
Pretensioner Subassembly (Enhanced Restraint
Function)
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NAAHAC PAASD Review Other Devices

• Actuator

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• Switches

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NAAHAC PAASD Review

• BACK POCKET THIS SLIDE
• Alternatives
• Streamlined Special Device Exemption Strategy
• Single point of contact for SDEs
• Family exemptions by type
• Altered Exemption request content
• Timing