US3460853A

US3460853A - Safety apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3460853A
Application number: US675133A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Chute
Original assignee: Eaton Yale and Towne Inc
Current assignee: Eaton Corp
Priority date: 1967-10-13
Filing date: 1967-10-13
Publication date: 1969-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1986-08-12

Description

R. CHUTE SAFETY APPARATUS Aug. 12, 1969 Filed Oct. 13, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Y N R 3 w W W w A A 0 H flw FIG .5

Aug. 12, 1969 CHUTE SAFETY APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 13, 1967 FIG .5

INVENTOR. R/C'HARD CHUTE BY WZ% 7% f'M AT ORNEY-5 Aug. 12, 1969 R. CHUTE 3,460,853

SAFETY APPARATUS Filed Oct. 15. 1967 I s Sheets-$heet 5 ,H N {5 5 f ign n //77 INVENTOR. RICHARD CHU TE A T TOR/V673 United States Patent SAFETY APPARATUS Richard Chute, Huntington Woods, Mich., assignor to Eaton Yale & Towne Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, 21 corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 675,133 Int. Cl. B60r 27/00; F17c 5/00 US. Cl. 280-150 22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container for pressurized fluids has a relatively thin wall portion. Means, preferably in the form of an explosive, is associated with the thin wall portion of the container and operates to effect the formation of an opening in the relatively thin wall portion to provide for release of fluid from the container. A linear flow distributor is associated with the container and distributes the fluid flow substantially equally.

The present invention relates to apparatus for storing a high pressure fluid, and particularly relates to a container for storing high pressure fluid which is released to effect inflation of a confinement for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a collision.

Inflatable confinements for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a collision are known. Such confinements are inflatable from a contracted position to an expanded position. A fluid container is provided and is opened to provide for flow of fluid into the confinement. The fluid is released from the fluid container by an explosive which effects the formation of an opening in the wall of the container. Due to the fact that the pressures within the container are relatively high, the thickness of the walls of the container has been relatively great. The thickness of the walls of the container has complicated the problem of opening the container. Moreover, while diffuser members having a plurality of openings providing for fluid flow into the confinement at various locations are known, such flow has not been substantially uniform from each opening and the confinement has thus not been as uniformly inflated as desirable.

An important object of the present invention is the pro vision of a new and improved vehicle safety apparatus whcih includes an inflatable confinement and a supply of fluid for inflating the confinement, and wherein the apparatus is constructed to operate reliably after a substantial period of storage in the vehicle, is compact, and thus takes a minimum of space in the vehicle, and provides for substantially uniform inflation of the confinement within the necessary time to protect a vehicle occupant during a collision.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved fluid pressure container for storing a fluid under pressure and which container may be readily opened to provide for fluid flow therefrom.

A more specific object of the present invention is the provision of a fluid pressure container of substantial volume and containing a fluid under pressure and which is constructed so as to have a relatively thin wall portion in which an opening may be readily formed to provide for release of fluid from the container.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus which includes a q from the opening.

'ice

fluid pressure container having a fluid storage chamber of different transverse dimensions and wherein a relatively thin wall portion defines a portion of the chamber of a relatively small transverse dimension and means is associated with the thin wall portion to effect the formation of an opening therein to provide for flow of fluid from the storage chamber.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved apparatus, as noted in the next preceding paragraph, wherein explosive means is associated with the relatively thin wall portion and is ignited to effect the formation of an opening in the relatively thin wall portion and as a result of the explosive being associated with the relatively thin Wall portion, the magnitude of the explosive may be relatively small,

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus including a fluid container and a diffuser member associated in such a manner that the size of the fluid container and diffuser member as a unit may be maintained at a minimum and substantially uniform flow may be achieved through various openings in the diffuser member.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus which includes a fluid container having means associated therewith to provide an opening in the container to provide for fluid flow therefrom, and the fluid flows from the opening and into a chamber defined by a diffuser member and the container, and wherein the diffuser member has a plurality of spaced discharge openings communicating with the chamber and the chamber has a cross-sectional dimension proportional to the amount of fluid flow therethrough.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus including a fluid container and a diffuser member which, in part, encircles the fluid container and wherein an opening is provided in the fluid container and fluid flows from the opening into a chamber which tapers so as to provide a decreased cross-sectional flow area as the fluid flows away Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus which includes a container having a chamber therein for storing fluid under pressure and wherein the container has a relatively thin wall portion which is opened by an explosive means to provide for the flow of fluid from the chamber, and wherein the probability of circumferential tearing of the walls of the container is minimized.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved apparatus which includes a pressurized container having a chamber with a relatively thin wall portion, and wherein explosive means is utilized for effecting formation of an opening in the relatively thin wall portion to provide for release of fluid from the chamher and which includes means for constraining the wall portions of the container to limit tearing thereof and thereby control the size of the opening in the container.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawing and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a safety device for a vehicle embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken approximately along the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and with parts omitted;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken approximately along the section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, partially in elevation, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of another portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view of a modified form of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view of a further modified form of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken approximately along section line 1010 of FIG. 9.

The present invention provides an improved fluid supply including a container for storing a pressurized fluid and which may be readily opened to provide for release of fluid therefrom. The container may be utilized in association with different devices which utilize the fluid stored within the container. For purposes of illustration, the container is shown as incorporated in a safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, such as a truck, an automobile, or airplane, during a collision.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 is shown in the form of an automobile having a fluid supply 11 supported in the dashboard thereof in a suitable manner. The fluid supply 11 is associated with a confinement 12 which has a collapsed condition located in the dashboard of the vehicle 10 and which is inflated to an expanded condition as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 1. The confinement 12 is inflated by the fluid contained in the fluid supply 11. The fluid is released from the fluid supply 11 in response to a collision condition being experienced by the vehicle 10, and the confinement 12 is rapidly inflated to restrain and control the movement of an occupant of the vehicle relative to the dashboard of the vehicle as a result of the collision. The confinement 12 could be utilized in other locations in the vehicle 10, such as in the back of the front seat for protecting rear passengers, or in any other suitable location.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fluid supply 11 comprises a container 15 having wall means defining a closed fluid chamber 16. The fluid container 15 and chamber 16 has, what may be termed, an hour-glass shape. More specifically, the chamber 16 has spaced frusto-conical chamber portions 17, 18. The frusto-conical chamber portions 17, 18 are interconnected by a substantially cylindrical chamber portion 19. The substantially cylindrical chamber portion 19 has an internal diameter substantially equal to the smallest internal diameter of the frustoconical chamber portions 17, 18. The axes of the

chamber portions

17, 18 and 19 lie on a common line A-A, shown in FIG. 2. The narrow ends 17a and 18a, respectively, of the chambers 17 and 18, communicate with the cylindrical chamber 19. The wide ends 17b and 18b which are located at the opposite ends of the container 15 are closed by spherical wall means 22 and 23, respectively. A suitable fill valve, not shown, may be associated with the container 15 for filling purposes.

In view of the fact that the transverse dimensions of the chamber 16 vary, the thickness of the wall means defining the chamber 16 may also vary. Those portions of the chamber 16 which have the greatest transverse dimension have the greatest fluid forces acting thereon and, thus, must have the greatest wall thickness for strength purposes. As a result, the thickness of the wall means 24, 25 defining the frusto-conical chamber portions 17, 18, respectively, decreases as the transverse dimension, namely, the diameter of the frusto-conical chamber portions, decreases. This should be particularly clear from FIG. 5 wherein it can be readily seen that wall means 25 defining the frusto-conical chamber portion 18 decreases in thickness as the wall means 25 extends toward the cylindrical chamber portion 19.

The substantially cylindrical chamber portion 19, in view of the fact that it has a relatively small transverse dimension or diameter, is defined by a wall portion 30 which is relatively thin. In view of the fact that the wall portion 30 is relatively thin, an opening is more readily formed therein to provide for flow of fluid from the chamber 16. Accordingly, means 40 for effecting the formation of an opening in the container 15 is associated with the relatively thin wall portion 30 defining the chamber portion 19.

The means 40 for effecting the formation of an opening in the relatively thin wall portion 30 may take many different forms. As illustrated in the drawing, the means 40 preferably is explosive means. The explosive means illustrated comprises an explosive strip of material 41 which is shown schematically and preferably as a flexible linearshaped charge which, as is well known, is constructed to direct the explosive force toward the wall portion 30. Upon ignition of the explosive, a portion 42 of the wall portion 30 opens, enabling the pressure of the fluid in the chamber 16 to force the portion 42 outwardly of the container 15 and in the event that the explosive material 41 does not form a complete circle, the portion 42 will be bent outwardly to the position designated 42a, as shown by dot-dash lines in FIG. 4, to thereby provide an opening for the flow of fluid from the chamber 16.

The strip of explosive material 41 is ignited by a suitable igniting or detonating explosive material 50, best shown in FIG. 6. The material 50 is detonated by the flow of current through either a resistance wire 51 or a resistance wire 52, both of which are positioned in the material 50. The flow of current through both or either wire 51 or Wire 52 results in detonation of the material 50 which, in turn, causes detonation of the strip explosive 41. The explosive material 50 is associated with the explosive strip 41 at two spaced locations X and Y and is adapted to ignite the explosive strip at both locations. In the event that the strip 41 is not ignited at one of the locations X or Y, the strip 41 will still be ignited at the other location. This provides additional assurance that the explosive strip 41 will be ignited and makes the system extremely reliable.

Current flows through the wires 51, 52 upon closing of a switch 54 which is connected across a suitable power source. The switch 54 may be closed upon the vehicles encountering a collision condition. The switch 54 may sense a collision condition being experienced by the vehicle or may be manually actuated. The fact that a current flow through either wire 51 or wire 52 effects ignition of the material 50 provides for a greater probability of actuation of the explosive 41 due to the fact that if one of the resistances is in some manner shorted or broken, the other will still efiect ignition of the material 50.

From the above, it should be apparent that when the switch 54 is closed, the strip material 41 is ignited, causing the area 42 of the wall portion 30 to be opened by the force of fluid in the chamber 19. The fluid forces the area 42 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, as noted above, and rushes from the opening formed in the container 15. The fluid which is directed through the opening encounters a diffuser member or linear flow distributor 60. The diffuser member or linear flow distributor is substantially cylindrical in configuration and encircles the container 15. The flow distributor 60 is provided with a plurality of slots 61. The fluid flowing from the chamber 16 flows through the slots 61 in the diffuser and into the confinement 12 to eflect inflation of the confinement.

In view of the fact that the wall portion 30 of the container 15 is relatively thin, the explosive charge in the strip material 41 may be relatively small as compared to the size of an explosive which would be required to form an opening in a relatively thick wall portion of the container 15. Thus, the noise level upon ignition of the explosive 41 is substantially lower than if more explosive were utilized as would be required to provide an opening in the relatively thick wall means 25 of the container 15. Moreover, the overall volume of the container is not sacrificed and is sufliciently great so as to provide the desired amount of fluid flow into the confinement 12. This volume may be substantially in excess of the volume of the confinement 12, as discussed in copending application Ser. No. 681,393 filed Nov. 8, 1967, of common ownership with the present application.

Upon ignition of the explosive strip 41, fluid flows through an opening formed in the wall portion 30 of the container 15. The fluid as it flows through the opening flows into a chamber, generally designated 55, defined by the linear flow distributor 60 and the container 15. Due to the shape of the linear flow distributor 60, the chamber 55 has a tapered configuration as it extends from the central portion thereof in opposite directions toward the opposite ends of the chamber. The openings 61 in the linear flow distributor 60 are located at spaced locations along the axial extent of the linear flow distributor 60 and intersect the chamber 55 at various locations. The tapered configuration of the chamber 55 is such that a substantially uniform flow of fluid is provided from each of the openings 61 and a minimum pressure drop is experienced between the central portion of the chamber 55 immediately adjacent the opening 61a and the opposite ends 55a, 55b of the chamber 55. As

a result of the above-described construction, the flow through the various openings 61 in the linear flow distributor 60 is substantially equal.

Moreover, in view of the fact that the chamber 55 is constructed so as to provide a minimum pressure drop throughout, the size of the pressure container 15 may be minimized and yet the confinement 12 may be readily inflated uniformly and within the required time. The minimizing of the size of the container 15 is important since the unit comprising the container 15 and diffuser 60 is located in association with the dashboard of the vehicle and should not be of such size to interfere with other structures in the dashboard or with the comfort of the passengers.

Furthermore, the flow of fluid from the chamber 16 through the opening formed in the wall portion 30 may be controlled by the dimension 65 of the chamber 16, as shown in FIG. 2. Fluid contained in the frusto-conical chambers 17, 18 in order to flow from the container 15 flows into the chamber 19. The fluid flows from the chambers 17, 18 at a rate which is controlled by the size of the dimension 65 as long as the opening formed in the container 15 by the explosive 41 is sufficiently large. Thus, by controlling the dimension 65, the rate of flow of fluid from the frusto-conical chambers 17, 18 into the confinement 12 may be controlled. The smaller the dimension 65, the more restricted the flow of fluid will be, and the larger the dimension 65, the more freely the fluid will flow. This rate of fluid flow control is important to prevent rupture of the confinement 12 by an excessive fluid flow into the confinement.

The relatively

thick wall portions

24, 25 defining the frusto-conical chamber portions 17, 18, respectively, control and minimize the tendency of the material of the container 15 to tear when the container 15 is opened. The tearing of the material would provide an uncontrolled large opening in the container 15 which may permit a substantial amount of fluid to flow from the chamber 16 at a fairly rapid rate and may also cause rupturing of the confinement 12. Thus, the

thick wall portions

24, 25 minimize the possibility of longitudinal tearing and assist in controlling the fluid flow from the container 15.

A modification of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 7. This modification includes means 40 in the form of a strip explosive 41 to effect the formation of an opening therein, as described above in connection with FIG. 3. The explosive strip 41 is mounted on a plate 71. The plate 71 is of a relatively thin wall construction and supports the strip explosive between the plate 71 and the container 15. When the explosive is ignited, the container 15 is opened and fluid rushes through the opening formed in the container. The plate 71 is either destroyed or otherwise removed from the container due to the explosion.

The plate 71 is retained on the substantially cylindrical chamber portion 19 of the container 15 by bands 76, 77. The bands 76, 77 provide not only means for retaining the plate 71 on the container 15, but also apply a constraining force, constraining the diameter of the container 15 and resisting expansion of the diameter of the container 15 upon ignition of the explosive. As a result of this constraint, the strips 76, 77 minimize circumferential tearing of the plate 71 and. the container 15 upon ignition of the explosive 41. The specific construction is shown and described in more detail in application Ser. No. 664,822, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 incorporates the structural advantages described hereinabove in connection with the embodiments described above. In the embodiment of FIGS. '8 and 9, the fluid container 15 is associated with a diffuser member 60. The fluid container is opened by an explosive actuating means 40. When the explosive actuating means 40 is actuated, the fluid flows from the reservoir or container 15 and through the slots 61 in the diffuser member and into the inflatable confinement 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 to effect inflation of the confinement 12.

The reservoir 15 is provided with a fill connection at one end thereof through which the reservoir 15 is filled with fluid. The reservoir 15 at the other end thereof has a neck-down portion 101. The neck-down portion 101 includes a projecting surface portion 102 which projects outwardly from the body of the reservoir 15. A linearshaped strip of explosive material 103 encircles the projecting portion 101 of the reservoir .15 in order to effect the formation of an opening in the reservoir 15 upon detonation thereof. The explosive strip 103 extends around the surface 102 of the projecting portion 101 of the reservoir 15 and is ignited by the passage of a current through a detonator 104. A current is directed through the detonator 104 by lead wires or conductors 105 which extend through an opening 106 in the diffuser member 60.

As fluid flows from the reservoir 15, it flows into a chamber 110 which is defined by the outer peripheral surface of the diffuser member 60. The chamber 110 includes a chamber portion 111 adjacent the projecting portion 101 of the reservoir 15 and into which the fluid from the reservoir 15 initially flows upon detonation of the explosive strip 103. The fluid which flows into the chamber portion 111 is directed by the internal spherical surface 112 of the diffuser member, which defines, in part, the chamber portion 111, along the extent of the reservoir 15.

The chamber 110 also includes a generally tapered Chamber portion 115 which extends from the chamber portion 111 and which is defined by the outer surface 15a of the reservoir 15 and the inner surface 60a of the diffuser member 60. The chamber portion 115 is tapered to such an extent that as the fluid flows along the chamber portion 115, it is somewhat compressed. The taper of the chamber 115 is due to the fact that the reservoir 15 is tapered, while the diffuser member 60 is not, as shown in FIG. 6. The tapered chamber 115 could be provided by other constructions including a taper on the diffuser member 60.

The fluid flows into the chamber portion 115 and then flows through the openings 61 in the diffuser member 60 and into the confinement 12. The tapered chamber portion 115 provides for substantially the same amount of fluid flow through all the openings 61. There is approximately the same flow rate through opening 61a which is located farthest from the explosive 103 as there is through opening 61b which is located immediately adjacent the strip 103. Moreover, the flow of fluid through each of the openings is maintained substantially equal for a time interval so as to provide for a uniform inflation of the confinement as described above in connection with the embodiment described above.

In view of the foregoing, it should be apparent that applicant has provided a new and improved safety apparatus for a vehicle and that certain changes, modifications, and adaptations may be made therein, and it is intended to cover all such changes, modifications, and adaptations therein which come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising first means defining a fluid chamber, said chamber having different transverse dimensions, said first means having a thickness which is relatively large where the transverse dimension of said chamber is relatively large and a thickness which is relatively small where the transverse dimension of said chamber is relatively small, and second means associated with a relatively thin portion of said first means for effecting the formation of an opening therein to provide for release of fluid from said chamber.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means for effecting the formation of said opening comprises explosive means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said chamber has a frusto-conical shaped portion defined by a portion of said first means having a relatively large thickness and a substantially cylindrical portion defined by a portion of said first means having a relatively small thickness.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including an expansible confinement into which said fluid flows upon release from said chamber to effect inflation of said confinement.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said second means for effecting formation of said opening comprises explosive means mounted on said relatively thin portion of said first means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said explosive means comprises a strip of explosive material supported on said relatively thin wall portion.

7. Apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a collision comprising a confinement having a contracted condition and an inflated condition, said confinement when in its inflated condition providing a restraint for controlling movement of an occupant of a vehicle during a collision, a fluid supply having first means defining a fluid chamber, said chamber having different transverse dimensions, said first means having a thickness which is relatively large where the tranverse dimension of said chamber is relatively large and a thickness which is relatively small where the transverse dimension of said chamber is relatively small, and second means associated with a relatively thin portion of said first means for effecting the formation of an opening in said relatively thin portion of said first means to provide for release of fluid from said chamber for flow into said confinement to effect inflation of said confinement.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for effecting the formation of said opening comprises explosive means mounted on said relatively thin portion of said wall means.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said explosive means comprises a strip of explosive material supported on the exterior of said relatively thin portion of said wall means.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said chamber comprises a pair of frusto-conical chamber portions and a substantially cylindrical chamber portion interconnecting said frusto-conical chamber portions, said cylindrical chamber portion being defined by said relatively thin portion of said wall means.

11. Apparatus comprising wall means defining a closed chamber, said chamber having at least one frusto-conical chamber portion and a substantially cylindrical chamber portion of an inner diameter less than the greatest inner diameter of said frusto-conical chamber portion, said wall means including a first wall portion defining said frusto-conical chamber portion, said first wall portion having a trickness which decreases as the inner diameter of said frusto-conical chamber portion decreases, and said wall means including a second wall portion defining said cylindrical chamber portion and having a thickness substantially less than the greatest thickness of said first wall portion.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including another frusto-conical chamber portion, said cylindrical chamber portion interconnecting said frusto-conical chamber portions and having an internal diameter substantially the same as the smallest internal diameter of said frustoconical chamber portions.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the axes of said frusto-conical chamber portions and said cylindrical chamber portion lie on a common line.

14. Apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a collision comprising a confinement having a contracted condition and an inflated condition, said confinement when in its inflated condition providing a restraint controlling movement of an occupant of a vehicle during a collision, a fluid supply having wall means defining a closed fluid chamber, said chamber having different transverse dimensions, said wall means having a thickness which is relatively large where the transverse dimension of said chamber is relatively large and a thickness which is relatively small where the transverse dimension of said chamber is relatively small, and means associated with a relatively thin portion of said wall means for effecting the formation of an opening in said container to provide for release of fluid from said chamber for flow into said confinement to effect inflation of said confinement, said relatively thin portion of said wall means defining a generally cylindrical chamber portion, said relatively thick wall portion of said chamber defining a frusto-conical chamber portion, and the axes of said frusto-conical chamber portion and said cylindrical chamber portion lying on a common line.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for effecting the formation of said opening comprises explosive means mounted exteriorly of said relatively thin portion of said wall means.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 further including a diffuser means interposed between said chamber and said confinement and operable to diffuse the fluid released from said container as it flows into said confinement.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said diffuser means and said fluid supply define a chamber therebetween, said chamber having a decreasing flow area as the chamber extends away from the location of said opening, and said diffuser means having passages communicating with said chamber at spaced locations along said chamber and through which substantially equal volumes of fluid flow.

18. Apparatus comprising a fluid reservoir for containing a supply of fluid, a diffuser member associated with said reservoir, said diffuser member and said reservoir having cooperating surfaces which define a chamber therebetween providing a flow path through which fluid from said reservoir flows, said diffuser member having passages communicating with said chamber at spaced locations along said flow path, and said chamber having a decreasing flow area as the chamber extends in the direction of fluid flow to provide substantially equal volumes of fluid flow through said passages.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said cooperating surface portions include at least one tapered surface providing a chamber portion defined by said diffuser member and said reservoir of a generally tapered configuration.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said reservoir has a tapered surface portion thereon defining at least a part of said chamber.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said flow area decreases in proportion to the decrease in flow of fluid therethrogh to provide a substantially constant pressure throughout said chamber.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 21 further including a confinement adapted to be mounted in a vehicle and having an inflated condition, said confinement when in movement of an occupant of a vehicle during a collision.

1 0 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1958 Bertrand 280-150 5/1958 Bertrand 280l50 US. Cl. X.R. 220-3