A Digital Valve for Safer Airbag Inflation

An ultrafast valve that could provide variable flow control during an inflation event.

Customer Problem

Early solutions for deploying vehicle airbags used two-stage inflators. The lack of precision these inflators delivered meant that smaller passengers could be injured or even killed if the airbag inflated too quickly and with too much force. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began looking for ways to improve airbag safety and eliminate the risk of injury or death from airbag inflation.

The TLX Solution

TLX developed the Digital High-Speed Control Valve to provide variable flow control for the airbag inflator. Its ultrafast response time enabled it to adjust flow during an airbag inflation event and was intended to more safely regulate the speed and force of the airbag’s inflation. The valve also included a fail-safe feature that ensured the valve could safely regulate inflation pressure if control power to the valve was lost. This technology is readily adaptable to other applications.

View Design Solution

Digital High-Speed Control Valve

Supply voltage: 8 to 16 Vdc

Stroke: Up to .762 mm (.03 in.)

Open flow area: Up to 484 mm² ( .75 in.²)

Response time: 1.5 to 3.0 ms

Current: 7.5 A

Solenoid force generated: Up to 450 N (101 lb)

All TLX components are customized to fit system requirements, meaning technical specifications are unique to each customer and design. Examples given on our website are for illustration purposes only.

Working with TLX

Experienced partner of industry leaders, first-tier suppliers, and OEMs
Direct access to our design and engineering team
Localized production in USA and China
Dependable single-source solution from design to delivery

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Contact Our Engineers

Our Process

Step 1 / Initial Review

Our engineering team works directly with you to determine the viability of your program and identify the best solution based on your specifications.

Step 2 / Quote

Quotes include all costs related to your project - tooling, prototype, piece part, production and project specific costs.

Step 3 / Design Review & Prototypes

Our engineering team reviews the design with you and makes any adjustments needed. Prototypes are built according to design specifications for testing.