Inflator

• US 20030234526A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• 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: Quioc, Eduardo L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,997,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• 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 laterally oriented propellant chambers 20 and 22. A perforated divider 18 provides lateral separation between chambers 20 and 22, and facilitates fluid communication between chambers 20 and 22 when both chambers are operated. Upon inflator 10 operation, the first chamber 20 is activated operatively independent of the second chamber 22, and if desired, the second chamber 22 may be activated simultaneously or sequentially with chamber 20. A perforated divider 18 provides lateral separation between chambers 20 and 22, and facilitates fluid communication between chambers 20 and 22 when both chambers are activated. The aforementioned design provides simplified manufacturing with equivalent or enhanced structural integrity relative to known inflators.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

a housing having a plurality of apertures spaced therein;

a first propellant chamber located within said housing in fluid communication with said plurality of apertures upon actuation of said gas generator;

a second propellant chamber located within said housing in lateral juxtaposition to and in fluid communication with said first propellant chamber upon actuation of said gas generator;

a perforated divider laterally disposed between said first and second propellant chambers and circumferentially fixed to said housing, thereby providing fluid communication from said second chamber to said first chamber upon actuation of said gas generator;

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 housing and ignitably communicating with said first chamber for ignition of said first gas generant composition;

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

a second igniter fixed within said housing and ignitably communicating with said second chamber for ignition of said second gas generant composition,

wherein upon gas generator operation the first chamber is first activated operatively independent of the second chamber,

and if desired, the second chamber is activated simultaneously with or after the first chamber thereby producing combustion products that exit said plurality of apertures.

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

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

4. A gas generator comprising:

a housing having a plurality of apertures spaced therein;

a first propellant chamber located within said housing in fluid communication with said plurality of apertures upon actuation of said gas generator;

a second propellant chamber located within said housing in lateral juxtaposition to and in fluid communication with said first propellant chamber upon actuation of said gas generator;

an annular perforated divider laterally disposed between said first and second propellant chambers and circumferentially fixed to said housing, thereby providing fluid communication from said second chamber to said first chamber upon actuation of said gas generator;

a tubular igniter assembly fixed within said housing and radially central of said annular perforated divider, said tubular igniter separated to form a first igniter chamber and a second igniter chamber, said first and second igniter chambers operatively independent of the other;

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 igniter chamber and ignitably communicating with said first propellant chamber for ignition of said first gas generant composition;

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

a second igniter fixed within said second igniter chamber and ignitably communicating with said second chamber for ignition of said second gas generant composition,

wherein upon gas generator operation the first propellant chamber is initially activated operatively independently of the second propellant chamber whereby gases produced from said first gas generant composition exit through said plurality of apertures.

5. The gas generator of claim 4 wherein the second propellant chamber is activated simultaneously with or after the first propellant chamber thereby producing combustion products that exit said plurality of apertures.