Multiple chamber dual stage inflator

• US 20030222445A1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Patterson, Donald B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,860,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A dual stage inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two supplemental propellant combustion chambers 16 and 26, both symmetrically oriented within a primary propellant combustion chamber 34. Chambers 16 and 26 are formed to be substantially equivalent in dimensions and volume thereby simplifying the assembly and manufacturing process.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

a perforated housing defining an inner wall;

a first perforated wall contained within said housing and forming a first combustion chamber, said first chamber having a first dimension and volume;

a first gas generant composition within said first chamber, said first gas generant ignitable to provide a gas upon combustion thereof;

a first igniter fixed within said first chamber for ignition of said first gas generant composition;

a second perforated wall contained within said housing and forming a second combustion chamber, said second chamber having a second dimension and volume substantially equivalent to said first dimension and volume;

a second gas generant composition within said second chamber, said second gas generant ignitable to provide a gas upon combustion thereof;

a second igniter fixed within said second chamber for ignition of said second gas generant composition;

a primary chamber defined by said housing inner wall, wherein contents of said primary chamber fluidly communicate with the combustion products of said first and/or second chambers upon activation of said gas generator; and

a primary gas generant composition contained within said primary chamber for producing a primary inflating gas upon contact by the gas of said first and/or second chambers,

wherein upon gas generator operation the first and/or second gas generant compositions are ignited to produce combustion products that upon exiting said first and/or second chambers, respectively, thereby ignites said primary gas generant composition.

2. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said first and second gas generant compositions are substantially equivalent in composition and quantity.

3. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said first and second chambers are symmetrically oriented within said primary chamber.

4. A gas generator comprising:

a perforated housing defining an inner wall;

a first perforated wall contained within said housing and forming a first combustion chamber, said first chamber having a first dimension and volume;

a first gas generant composition within said first chamber, said first gas generant ignitable to provide a gas upon combustion thereof;

a second perforated wall contained within said housing and forming a second combustion chamber, said second chamber having a second dimension and volume substantially equivalent to said first dimension and volume;

a second gas generant composition within said second chamber, said second gas generant ignitable to provide a gas upon combustion thereof; and

a primary chamber defined by said housing inner wall, wherein contents of said primary chamber fluidly communicate with the combustion products of said first and/or second chambers upon activation of said gas generator.