Adaptive output, toroidal-shaped pyrotechnic inflator
First Claim
1. A toroidal-shaped adaptive output inflator comprising:
- a toroidal-shaped outer housing;
an inner housing connected to said outer housing and together defining an outer chamber and an inner chamber;
a supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material having a burn rate that is pressure dependent contained within said outer chamber and wherein at least a portion of said supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material is reactable to produce a product gas;
a primary initiator in discharge communication with said outer chamber, and in operational initiation communication with said supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material;
a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures each formed in said inner housing, and each providing independent fluidic communication between said outer chamber and said inner chamber; and
an output control device movable between a first position allowing fluidic communication between said outer chamber and said inner chamber through said first plurality of apertures and said second plurality of apertures, and a second position at least partially obstructing fluidic communication between said outer chamber and said inner chamber through at least one of said first plurality of apertures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A toroidal-shaped adaptive output inflator is provided wherein the inflator includes a toroidal-shaped outer housing and an inner housing together defining an outer chamber and an inner chamber. A supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material having a burn rate that is pressure dependent is contained within the outer chamber and at least a portion of the supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material is reactable to generate a product gas. The inflator also includes a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures each formed in the inner housing, and each providing independent fluidic communication between the outer chamber and the inner chamber wherethrough at least a portion of the product gas can exit the outer chamber into the inner chamber. An output control device positioned within the inner chamber is movable or rotatable between a first or open position allowing fluidic communication between the outer chamber and the inner chamber through the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures, and a second or closed position at least partially obstructing fluidic communication between the outer chamber and the inner chamber through at least one of the first plurality of apertures. Also provided is a control assembly in operational control communication with the inflator and associated or related methods for adjusting inflation gas output from the inflator.
43 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A toroidal-shaped adaptive output inflator comprising:
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a toroidal-shaped outer housing;
an inner housing connected to said outer housing and together defining an outer chamber and an inner chamber;
a supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material having a burn rate that is pressure dependent contained within said outer chamber and wherein at least a portion of said supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material is reactable to produce a product gas;
a primary initiator in discharge communication with said outer chamber, and in operational initiation communication with said supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material;
a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures each formed in said inner housing, and each providing independent fluidic communication between said outer chamber and said inner chamber; and
an output control device movable between a first position allowing fluidic communication between said outer chamber and said inner chamber through said first plurality of apertures and said second plurality of apertures, and a second position at least partially obstructing fluidic communication between said outer chamber and said inner chamber through at least one of said first plurality of apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A combination comprising:
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a toroidal-shaped adaptive output inflator including a toroidal-shaped outer housing and an inner housing, containing a supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material having a bum rate that is pressure dependent reactable to produce a product gas, said inflator including a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures each providing independent fluidic communication between an outer chamber and an inner chamber defined within said inflator; and
a control assembly in operational control communication with said inflator, and providing a reaction initiating signal to a primary initiator to initiate reaction of at least a portion of said supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material and a control signal to effect movement of an output control device between a first position allowing fluidic communication between said outer chamber and said inner chamber through said first plurality of apertures and said second plurality of apertures, and a second position at least partially obstructing fluidic communication between said outer chamber and said inner chamber through at least one of said first plurality of apertures. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for adaptively adjusting a mass flow rate of a product gas by controlling an internal combustion pressure in a toroidal-shaped inflator comprising a toroidal-shaped outer housing and an inner housing connected to the outer housing and together defining an outer chamber and an inner chamber, and a supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material contained within the outer chamber having a burn rate that is pressure dependent, at least a portion of the supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material reactable to produce the product gas, the method comprising:
at least partially selectively obstructing fluidic communication between the outer chamber and the inner chamber through at least one of a first plurality of apertures and a second plurality of apertures each formed in the inner housing, and each providing independent fluidic communication between the outer chamber and the inner chamber. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
Specification