RUPTURABLE OVER-PRESSURE MEMBRANE FOR INSTRUMENT

Publishing Venue

Motorola

Related People

Abstract

Instruments in motor vehicles are sometimes subject to compression and other forces, as during accidents. In well sealed instruments, compression can cause potentially explosive forces to develop which may result in injury to occupants of the vehicle from fragments propelled from the front of the instrument. Good sealing of the instrument is often desirable for hermetic, dust or other reasons.

0 ^M

MOTOROLA Technical Developments Volume 4 April 1984

RUPTURABLE OVER-PRESSURE MEMBRANE FOR INSTRUMENT

by Tom R. Kawall

   Instruments in motor vehicles are sometimes subject to compression and other forces, as during accidents. In well sealed instruments, compression can cause potentially explosive forces to develop which may result in injury to occupants of the vehicle from fragments propelled from the front of the instrument. Good sealing of the instrument is often desirable for hermetic, dust or other reasons.

   To solve this dangerous problem, in an integrally molded instrument housing 11, a very thin web or membrane 12 is formed at a desired location in the rear of the housing. Any over-pressure within the housing can be released by rupture of the membrane 12, which has obvious safety advantages.

RUPTURES TO RELEASE PRESSURE

C Motorola. Inc. 1984 47