Inflator

• US 20080061541A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yano, Kanji
• Application Number:
  US11/822,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20080061541A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence

Abstract

An inflator supplies gas into an airbag mounted on a motor vehicle and deploys the airbag. The inflator includes a first chamber wherein a gas blowing-outlet is provided and a gas-generating agent generating the gas by being ignited by an initiator is encapsulated. A filter is interposed between the gas blowing-outlet of the first chamber and the gas-generating agent. A second chamber is attached to the first chamber with a flow amount control member interposed therebetween, wherein compressed gas is encapsulated. A blocking member blocks a control hole of the flow amount control member so that the control hole is opened by being ruptured or removed by expanding pressure of the gas-generating agent.

Claims

1. An inflator for supplying gas into an airbag mounted on a motor vehicle and deploying the airbag, comprising:

a first chamber having a gas blowing-outlet and containing an initiator and a gas-generating agent generating the gas by being ignited by the initiator;

a filter for covering the gas blowing-outlet of the first chamber, said filter absorbing heat of combustion of the gas-generating agent, and capturing a residue of the gas-generating agent;

a second chamber attached to the first chamber and containing compressed gas therein; and

a flow amount control member partitioning the first and second chambers, said flow amount control member being ruptured by gas of the gas-generating agent so that the compressed gas is ejected after the gas from the gas-generating agent is ejected.

2. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein said flow amount control member includes a hole, and a blocking member for blocking the hole, said blocking member being ruptured by the gas of the gas-generating agent.

3. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein said filter is interposed between the gas blowing-outlet of the first chamber and the gas-generating agent.

4. The inflator according to claim 2, wherein the first and second chambers are formed in a cylindrical housing, and the gas blowing-outlet is formed to be directed to a radial direction in an outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical housing.

5. The inflator according to claim 3, wherein the filter is formed into a cylindrical shape and is installed closely to an inner wall of the first chamber.

6. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the compressed gas contains nitrous oxide gas.

7. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is a curtain airbag capable of deploying at a side portion of a vehicle interior.

8. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the filter has a size to be clogged by residues of the gas-generating agent after the combustion for slowing down a speed of gas flow from the second gas chamber.