Belt and side impact inflator
First Claim
1. An inflator comprising:
- an inflator body;
a substantially cylindrical booster cup extending in said body, said booster cup having an outer peripheral wall and an end surface extending radially inwardly from said wall;
a plurality of apertures formed in said outer peripheral wall;
a first propellant charge positioned in said booster cup;
a second propellant charge positioned in said inflator body;
an initiator assembly operable to activate said first propellant charge, wherein a combustion thereof initiates a combustion of said second propellant charge and ejection of an inflation gas from said inflator body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an airbelt inflator (10) designed primarily for supplying and directing gas from the combustion of gas generant materials into a vehicle airbelt. Inflator (10) includes a substantially cylindrical inflator body (12), having a first end (11) and a second end (13). A unique booster cup (22) is positioned within inflator body (12), and is preferably press fit with initiator body (15), suspending cup (22) within inflator body (12). Cup (22) facilitates consistent burn of the main propellant, imparting repeatable bag performance. A cylindrical mesh filter (38) is positioned in inflator body (12). A nozzle (36) is preferably positioned adjacent a disc (30). A variety of different nozzles giving inflator (10) varying gas output characteristics can be utilized with inflator (10), for example thrusting inflators or thrust-neutral inflators, depending on the operating requirements of the airbelt system. Booster cup (22) is sized such that it extends into inflator body (12), and abuts filter (38), thereby serving as a stand off or locator for filter (38), and providing a relatively snug packing arrangement for propellant tablets (28).
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An inflator comprising:
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an inflator body;
a substantially cylindrical booster cup extending in said body, said booster cup having an outer peripheral wall and an end surface extending radially inwardly from said wall;
a plurality of apertures formed in said outer peripheral wall;
a first propellant charge positioned in said booster cup;
a second propellant charge positioned in said inflator body;
an initiator assembly operable to activate said first propellant charge, wherein a combustion thereof initiates a combustion of said second propellant charge and ejection of an inflation gas from said inflator body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An inflator for an inflatable restraint system in a vehicle comprising:
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an inflator body having first and second ends and an inner peripheral wall;
a booster cup extending in said body and having an outer peripheral wall and an end surface extending inwardly from said outer peripheral wall, said booster cup having a first propellant charge positioned therein;
said inner peripheral wall and said outer peripheral wall are separated by a substantially annular space having a second propellant charge positioned therein;
an initiator assembly disposed proximate said first end and operable to ignite said first propellant charge; and
a nozzle positioned at said second end of said body and defining a nozzle outlet for supplying an inflation gas to the inflatable restraint system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an inflatable restraint device;
an inflator operable to provide an inflation gas to said inflatable restraint device, said inflator comprising an elongate substantially cylindrical inflator body having first and second ends and an inner peripheral wall;
an elongate combustion cup mounted to said inflator body proximate said first end and extending substantially coaxially therewith, said combustion cup having an outer peripheral wall separated from said inner peripheral wall by an annular space, and a plurality of apertures formed in said outer peripheral wall;
a propellant charge positioned in said space;
a filter in said inflator body and securing said propellant charge in said space;
a nozzle member proximate said second end of said inflator body, said nozzle member constraining said filter against axial displacement. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An inflatable airbelt system for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an inflatable airbelt;
an inflator operable to provide an inflation gas to said airbelt, said inflator comprising an inflator body and a booster cup extending in said body, said booster cup having an outer peripheral wall and an end surface extending radially inwardly from said wall;
said booster cup includes a plurality of apertures formed in said outer peripheral wall;
a first propellant charge positioned in said booster cup;
a second propellant charge positioned in said inflator body;
an initiator assembly operable to activate said first propellant charge, wherein a combustion thereof initiates a combustion of said second propellant charge via said apertures. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. An inflator module for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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a module housing;
an inflator positioned in said housing, said inflator comprising a combustion cup mounted to said inflator body and extending substantially coaxially therewith, said combustion cup having an outer peripheral wall partially defining an annular space and a plurality of apertures formed in said outer peripheral wall;
a propellant charge positioned in said space;
a filter in said inflator body and securing said propellant charge in said space. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method of manufacturing a gas generator comprising the steps of:
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positioning a combustion cup within an elongate substantially cylindrical inflator body;
placing a propellant charge in a space extending between an outer peripheral wall of the combustion cup and an inner peripheral wall of the inflator body;
inserting a filter member into the inflator body up to a point at which the filter bears against an end surface of the combustion cup; and
positioning a nozzle member in the inflator body at a selected axial position such that the filter is constrained from axial movement between the nozzle member and the combustion cup, whereby the filter secures the propellant charge in the space. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification