Inflation device for a vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 20040227337A1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Achim, Ruckdeschel, Rolf, Esau, Anja
• Application Number:
  US10/797,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20040227337A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• 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 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

An inflation device (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a first pyrotechnic gas generator (12) having a cord-type fuel line (20) and an igniter (18) associated with the fuel line, and a second pyrotechnic gas generator (14) having a housing (30) and fuel elements (32) arranged in the housing (30). The cord-type fuel line (20) is passed through the housing (30) of the second pyrotechnic gas generator (14) and is adapted to release combustion products for igniting the fuel elements (32) of the second gas generator.

Claims

1. An inflation device (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a first pyrotechnic gas generator (12) having a cord-type fuel line (20) and an igniter (18) associated with the fuel line, and a second pyrotechnic gas generator (14) having a housing (30) and fuel elements (32) arranged in the housing (30), wherein the cord-type fuel line (20) passes through the housing (30) of the second pyrotechnic gas generator (14) and wherein the cord-type fuel line (20) within said housing (30) is adapted to release combustion products for igniting the fuel elements (32) of the second gas generator.

2. The inflation device according to claim 1, wherein the first pyrotechnic gas generator has a housing (16) with overflow openings (38), through which combustion products released from the fuel line (20) pass, and wherein the housing (16) of the first pyrotechnic gas generator (12) with the overflow openings (38) passes through the housing (30) of the second pyrotechnic gas generator (14).

3. The inflation device according to claim 1, wherein the first pyrotechnic gas generator (14) has a housing (16) adjoining the housing (30) of the second pyrotechnic gas generator (14), and wherein the fuel line (20) passing through the housing (30) of the second gas generator (14) being directly in contact with the fuel elements.

4. The inflation device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel elements (32) are fuel tablets which are arranged in a fill.

5. The inflation device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel elements (32) are of hollow cylindrical shape and each hollow cylindrical fuel element (32) surrounds the fuel line (20) peripherally within the housing (30) of the second pyrotechnic gas generator (14).

6. The inflation device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel elements (32) have a higher combustion rate than the fuel line (20).