Distributed charge inflator system

• US 20030213398A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Automotive US, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Automotive US, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Kevin, Shilliday, David, Scaven, Gregory J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/531
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2646 the reacting substances being supported by the inflatable member walls, or by a flexible support within it
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

An inflator includes a distributed charge to be distributed within an inflatable component of an inflatable system and a housing. The housing includes a combustion chamber and a gas storage chamber. The combustion chamber includes an initiator and a gas propellant. The gas storage chamber includes an inert gas at a high pressure. The housing also includes a gas nozzle. The distributed charge is connected to the housing through the gas nozzle. The distributed charge may be mechanically joined to the housing by a ferrule. Upon receiving an electrical signal from a crash sensor or other activator, the initiator ignites the gas propellant in the combustion chamber. The hot gas and hot particles from the burning gas propellant and the initiator flow into the gas storage chamber and heat the compressed inert gas in the gas storage chamber. The heated, compressed gas in the gas storage chamber flows through the gas nozzle and ignites the distributed charge. Combustion of the distributed charge generates a high volume of gas and inflates an inflatable component of an inflatable system.

Claims

1. An inflatable system comprising:

an inflatable component;

a charge distributed within the inflatable component for generating inflating gas; and

a housing including a first chamber and a second chamber in communication with the first chamber,

wherein the first chamber includes an initiator and a gas propellant, and the second chamber includes a compressed gas, wherein the charge is connected to the housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge is connected to the first chamber.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge is connected to the second chamber.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge is connected to the initiator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the initiator ignites the gas propellant and the charge.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the initiator ignites the gas propellant in the first chamber and the ignited gas propellant heats the compressed gas in the second chamber.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the heated, compressed gas sustains an inflation of the inflatable component.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the heated compressed gas ignites the charge.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge is enclosed in a sheath.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge is made of a rod of pyrotechnic materials.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes a plurality of charges distributed within the inflatable component for generating inflating gas.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of charges are connected to the first chamber.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of charges are connected to the second chamber.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the inflatable component includes a plurality of inflatable chambers.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of charges is distributed within one of each of the plurality of inflatable chambers.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge is mechanically joined to the housing by a ferrule.

17. An inflatable system comprising:

an inflatable component;

a charge distributed within the inflatable component for generating inflating gas;

a first chamber including an initiator and a gas propellant; and

a second chamber in communication with the first chamber, including a compressed gas, wherein the charge is in direct fluid communication with the first chamber.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the charge is enclosed in a sheath.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the charge is made of a rod of pyrotechnic materials.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the system includes a plurality of charges distributed within the inflatable component for generating inflating gas.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the inflatable component includes a plurality of inflatable chambers.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of charges is distributed within one of each of the plurality of inflatable chambers.

23. An inflatable system comprising:

an inflatable component;

a charge distributed within the inflatable component for generating inflating gas;

a first chamber including an initiator and a gas propellant; and

a second chamber in communication with the first chamber, including a compressed gas, wherein the charge is in direct fluid communication with the second chamber.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein ignition of the charge and the gas propellant inflates the inflatable component and heats the compressed gas, and then the heated compressed gas sustains the inflation of the inflatable component.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the system includes a plurality of charges distributed within the inflatable component for generating inflating gas.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the inflatable component includes a plurality of inflatable chambers.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of charges is distributed within one of each of the plurality of inflatable chambers.

28. An inflatable system comprising:

an inflatable component including a plurality of inflatable chambers;

a plurality of charges for generating inflating gas; and

a housing connected to the plurality of charges, including an initiator,

wherein each of the plurality of charges is distributed in one of each of the plurality of inflatable chambers.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the each of the plurality of charges inflates the one of each of the plurality of inflatable chamber.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the housing includes a first chamber including an initiator and a gas propellant, and the second chamber including a compressed gas.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of charges are connected to the first chamber.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of charges are connected to the second chamber.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of charges are connected to the initiator.

34. An inflatable system comprising:

an inflatable component;

a charge to be distributed within the inflatable component for generating inflating gas; and

a housing including a first chamber and a second chamber,

wherein the first chamber includes an initiator and a gas propellant, and the second chamber includes an inert gas and a gas nozzle, wherein the charge is connected to the housing through the gas nozzle, wherein upon receiving an electrical signal from an activator, the initiator ignites the gas propellant in the first chamber, and then the ignited gas propellant flows into the second chamber and heat the inert gas in the second chamber, and then the heated inert gas in the second chamber flows through the gas nozzle and ignites the charge to inflate the inflatable component.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the charge is mechanically joined to the housing by a ferrule.