Inflator with internally mounted initiator
First Claim
1. An inflator device comprising:
- a pressure vessel extending along a longitudinal axis, the pressure vessel forming a gas storage chamber having contents including a supply of stored pressurized gas;
a gas exit opening formed at a first end of the gas storage chamber;
a rupturable closure element normally covering the gas exit opening; and
an initiator assembly including an initiator cover mounted to a sidewall of the pressure vessel at a first end portion of the pressure vessel, at least a portion of the initiator cover extending radially inwardly into the gas storage chamber toward the longitudinal axis, the initiator assembly also including an initiator positioned within the initiator cover, the initiator producing a discharge effective to rupture the closure element to allow flow of at least a portion of the gas storage chamber contents through the gas exit opening;
a first radial aperture formed in the initiator cover, the first radial aperture positioned at a direct discharge distance with respect to the closure element to focus the initiator discharge at the closure element to rupture the closure element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator device including a pressure vessel forming a gas storage chamber having contents including a supply of stored pressurized gas. The pressure vessel forms a gas exit opening at a first end of the pressure vessel. An initiator assembly includes an initiator cover that extends through a sidewall of the pressure vessel at a first end portion of the pressure vessel, such that at least a portion of the initiator cover extends radially inwardly into the gas storage chamber. An initiator is positioned within the initiator cover, and produces a discharge effective to rupture a rupturable closure element normally covering the gas exit opening to allow flow of at least a portion of the gas storage chamber contents through the gas exit opening. A first radial aperture formed in the initiator cover is positioned at a direct discharge distance with respect to the closure element to focus the initiator discharge at the closure element to rupture the closure element. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the inflator device also includes a supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material contained within the gas storage chamber, wherein at least a portion of the supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material is reactable to produce a product gas. A second aperture is formed in the initiator cover, and is in reaction initiation communication with the supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. An inflator device comprising:
-
a pressure vessel extending along a longitudinal axis, the pressure vessel forming a gas storage chamber having contents including a supply of stored pressurized gas;
a gas exit opening formed at a first end of the gas storage chamber;
a rupturable closure element normally covering the gas exit opening; and
an initiator assembly including an initiator cover mounted to a sidewall of the pressure vessel at a first end portion of the pressure vessel, at least a portion of the initiator cover extending radially inwardly into the gas storage chamber toward the longitudinal axis, the initiator assembly also including an initiator positioned within the initiator cover, the initiator producing a discharge effective to rupture the closure element to allow flow of at least a portion of the gas storage chamber contents through the gas exit opening;
a first radial aperture formed in the initiator cover, the first radial aperture positioned at a direct discharge distance with respect to the closure element to focus the initiator discharge at the closure element to rupture the closure element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An inflator device comprising:
-
a pressure vessel forming a gas storage chamber having contents including a supply of stored pressurized gas;
a gas exit opening formed at a first end of the gas storage chamber;
a rupturable burst disk normally obstructing the gas exit opening, the burst disk rupturable to allow flow of at least a portion of the gas storage chamber contents through the gas exit opening; and
an initiator assembly including an initiator cover extending through a sidewall of the pressure vessel, at least a portion of the initiator cover extending radially inwardly into the gas storage chamber, the initiator assembly also including an initiator positioned within the initiator cover, the initiator producing a discharge effective to rupture the burst disk;
a first radial aperture formed in the initiator cover, the first radial aperture aligned with the gas exit opening and positioned at a direct discharge distance from the burst disk to focus the initiator discharge at the burst disk to rupture the burst disk, wherein the direct discharge distance is less than about 50% of a length of the gas storage chamber. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An inflator device comprising:
-
a pressure vessel forming a gas storage chamber;
a gas exit opening formed at a first end of the gas storage chamber;
a supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material contained within the gas storage chamber wherein at least a portion of the supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material is reactable to produce a product gas;
a burst disk normally obstructing the gas exit opening, the burst disk rupturable to allow fluidic communication between the gas storage chamber and the gas exit opening; and
an initiator assembly including an initiator cover extending through a sidewall of the pressure vessel at a first end portion of the gas storage chamber, at least a portion of the initiator cover extending radially inwardly into the gas storage chamber, the initiator assembly also including an initiator positioned within the initiator cover, the initiator producing a discharge effective to rupture the burst disk and initiate a reaction of at least a portion of the supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material to produce a product gas;
a first radial aperture formed in the initiator cover, the first radial aperture positioned at a direct discharge distance from the burst disk to focus the initiator discharge at the burst disk to rupture the burst disk;
a second aperture formed in the initiator cover, the second aperture in reaction initiation communication with the supply of gas-generating pyrotechnic material. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
Specification