Inflator combustion control mechanism

• US 20060197325A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Patterson, Donald B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,438,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A gas generator (10) is provided including a housing (12). A gas generating composition (16) produces expanded gases upon activation of the inflator (10), thereby increasing the internal pressure and compressing the spring (50) operably coupled to the gas release member (40). As the spring (50) is compressed, a gas exit aperture (27), sealed prior to gas generator (10) activation, is opened as the gas release member (40) is unseated from gas exit aperture (27). After gas generator (10) activation, the spring energy of the spring (50) gradually equalizes and then counters the gas pressure of the system gases, thereby once again attenuating the gas exit opening (27) to maintain an optimum average system pressure as the gas is released from the housing (12).

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

a housing formed by a perforate outer wall;

a combustion chamber within said housing, said combustion chamber formed by an inner wall having a first end and a second end, said second end defining a gas exit aperture;

a gas generating composition contained within said combustion chamber, for producing combustion gases upon activation of said gas generator;

a gas release member seated within said gas exit aperture, said gas release member employed for sealing said combustion chamber prior to activation of said gas generator, and, said gas release member movable within said gas exit aperture upon production of combustion gases, thereby releasing gas from said gas exit aperture; and

a spring operably coupled to said gas release member and to said housing, thereby affecting a resilient sealing of said gas exit aperture both before and after activation of said gas generator.

2. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said gas release member is a plug.

3. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a first end and a second end, and, said spring is positioned between said gas release member and said second end.

7. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising the gas generator of claim 1.

8. A gas generating system comprising the gas generator of claim 1.

4. A gas generating system comprising:

a housing formed by a perforate outer wall;

a combustion chamber within said housing, said combustion chamber formed by an inner wall having a first end and a second end, said second end defining a gas exit aperture;

a gas generating composition contained within said combustion chamber, for producing combustion gases upon activation of said gas generator; and

a spring-biased gas release member seated within said gas exit aperture, said gas release member employed for sealing said combustion chamber prior to activation of said gas generator, and, said gas release member movable within said gas exit aperture upon production of combustion gases, thereby releasing gas from said gas exit aperture.

5. The gas generating system of claim 4 wherein said spring-biased gas release member is a plug.

6. The gas generating system of claim 4 wherein said housing further comprises a first end and a second end, and, a spring positioned between said gas release member and said second end thereby exerting a bias on said gas release member for sealing said at least one gas exit orifice.

9. A method of controlling combustion within a gas generator comprising the steps of:

providing a gas generant composition within a combustion chamber for production of gases upon combustion thereof;

resiliently sealing a gas exit aperture of the combustion chamber, thereby permitting egress of gases produced upon combustion of the gas generant composition; and

modulating the open area of the gas exit aperture to maintain a predetermined pressure range within the gas generator upon combustion of the gas generant composition.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of resiliently sealing the gas exit aperture is facilitated by providing a spring-biased gas release member seated within the gas exit aperture.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of modulating the open area of the gas exit aperture is facilitated by providing a spring member operably coupled to a plug seated within the gas exit aperture.

12. A gas generator implementing the method of claim 9.

13. A gas generating system implementing the method of claim 9.

14. A vehicle occupant protection system implementing the method of claim 9.