Airbag inflator diffuser system and method of manufacture
First Claim
1. An airbag inflator diffusion system comprising:
- an airbag inflator having an exhaust gas exit port;
a sleeve configured to receive the inflator and secure the inflator within the sleeve, the sleeve being configured to expand radially under a force of impinging exhaust gas from the exit port to form an exhaust passage between the inflator and the sleeve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag inflator system and method of manufacture is disclosed which may be stored in a small area, is simple to fabricate, directs exhaust gas from a standardized inflator, sufficiently cools and diffuses the exhaust gas, and catches hot gas generant residue. The system includes an airbag inflator within a sleeve. Solid sections of the sleeve circumscribe the inflator and are positioned to divert exhaust gas leaving an exit port of the inflator. The configuration of the solid sections provides that the inflator need not be rotated during assembly to position exit ports below solid sections. The diverted exhaust gas unrolls the sleeve to form an exhaust passage. The gas passes through the exhaust passage and is dispersed by the permeable section before entering the textile airbag. In this way, a simple, effective diffusion system for curtain airbag inflators is provided.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An airbag inflator diffusion system comprising:
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an airbag inflator having an exhaust gas exit port;
a sleeve configured to receive the inflator and secure the inflator within the sleeve, the sleeve being configured to expand radially under a force of impinging exhaust gas from the exit port to form an exhaust passage between the inflator and the sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An airbag inflator diffuser comprising:
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a tubular sleeve configured to expand radially to form an exhaust passage under a force of impinging exhaust gas from an exit port of an airbag inflator installed within the sleeve;
wherein the sleeve comprises a solid section positioned to impede a flow of exhaust gas from the exit port and direct the flow to the exhaust passage; and
wherein the sleeve comprises a permeable section positioned to allow exhaust gas to flow from the exit port through the exhaust passage and permeable section to an area external to the airbag inflator diffuser. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for fabricating an intra-airbag inflator diffuser, comprising:
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providing a planar rectangular blank;
forming one or more permeable sections in the blank;
rolling the blank such that a first edge of the blank overlaps a second edge to form a substantially cylindrical sleeve; and
inserting an intra-airbag inflator longitudinally within the sleeve such that one or more exit ports of the inflator are obstructed by one or more solid sections of the sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification