Variable output inflator
First Claim
1. A variable output inflator comprising a housing having a combustion chamber therein and at least one port for expelling combustion gas from said combustion chamber, an initiator mounted on said housing for introducing a combustion gas into said combustion chamber;
- an injection piston slidably mounted in said combustion chamber of said housing for movement between an initial position and a second position in response to the introduction of a combustion gas into said combustion chamber from said initiator, said piston including a propellant chamber therein for containing a charge of liquid propellant therein and means communicating said propellant chamber with said combustion chamber to deliver liquid propellant thereto; and
a magnetic control unit for controlling movement of said injection piston from said first position to said second position, said magnetic control unit including a sleeve within said housing coaxially of said injection piston to define a third chamber therebetween for receiving a magneto-rheological fluid, a core disposed in and concentrically spaced from said sleeve to define a gap therebetween communicating with said third chamber, and at least one electromagnetic coil for producing an electromagnetic field across said gap to affect the rheological properties of the magneto-rheological fluid in said gap whereby an increase in the electromagnetic field effects an increase in the flow resistance of the magneto-rheological fluid in said gap to slow the movement of said injection piston.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The variable output inflator includes an injection piston assembly containing a liquid propellant chamber from which liquid propellant is injected through one or more nozzles in the injection piston into a combustion chamber. The movement of the injection piston is controlled by a magnetic control unit employing an annular gap through which the MR fluid flows in a controlled manner. The inflator is of cylindrical type and may be made of small compact dimensions.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A variable output inflator comprising
a housing having a combustion chamber therein and at least one port for expelling combustion gas from said combustion chamber, an initiator mounted on said housing for introducing a combustion gas into said combustion chamber; -
an injection piston slidably mounted in said combustion chamber of said housing for movement between an initial position and a second position in response to the introduction of a combustion gas into said combustion chamber from said initiator, said piston including a propellant chamber therein for containing a charge of liquid propellant therein and means communicating said propellant chamber with said combustion chamber to deliver liquid propellant thereto; and
a magnetic control unit for controlling movement of said injection piston from said first position to said second position, said magnetic control unit including a sleeve within said housing coaxially of said injection piston to define a third chamber therebetween for receiving a magneto-rheological fluid, a core disposed in and concentrically spaced from said sleeve to define a gap therebetween communicating with said third chamber, and at least one electromagnetic coil for producing an electromagnetic field across said gap to affect the rheological properties of the magneto-rheological fluid in said gap whereby an increase in the electromagnetic field effects an increase in the flow resistance of the magneto-rheological fluid in said gap to slow the movement of said injection piston. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A variable output inflator comprising
a housing having a combustion chamber therein and at least one port for expelling combustion gas from said combustion chamber; -
an initiator mounted on said housing for introducing a combustion gas into said combustion chamber;
an injection piston slidably mounted in said combustion chamber of said housing for movement between an initial position and an expelled position in response to the introduction of a combustion gas into said combustion chamber from said initiator, said piston including a propellant chamber therein for containing a charge of liquid propellant therein, at least one nozzle communicating said propellant chamber with said combustion chamber to deliver liquid propellant thereto, and means for releaseably closing said nozzle to prevent communication between said propellant chamber and said combustion chamber;
a plug mounted in said housing coaxially of said piston to slidably receive said piston; and
a magnetic control unit for controlling movement of said injection piston relative to said plug. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An inflator comprising
a cylindrical housing having a combustion chamber therein and at least one exhaust port for expelling combustion gas from said combustion chamber; -
an initiator mounted on one end of said housing for introducing a combustion gas into said combustion chamber;
an injection piston slidably mounted in said combustion chamber of said housing for movement between an initial position and an expelled position in response to the introduction of a combustion gas into said combustion chamber from said initiator, said piston including a propellant chamber therein for containing a charge of liquid propellant therein, at least one nozzle communicating said propellant chamber with said combustion chamber to deliver liquid propellant thereto, and means for releaseably closing said nozzle to prevent communication between said propellant chamber and said combustion chamber;
a plug mounted in said housing on an opposite side of said injection piston from said initiator and coaxially of said piston to slidably receive said piston; and
a magnetic control unit for controlling movement of said injection piston relative to said plug. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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- 31. A liquid propellant comprising hydroxyl ammonium nitrate based liquid monopropellant including hydroxyl ammonium nitrate, triethyl ammonium nitrate and water.
Specification