Variable output using piezo valve technology
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag inflator comprising:
- a first quantity of gas;
a quantity of liquid fuel being housed within a liquid fuel chamber, the quantity of inflation gas for pressurizing the liquid fuel chamber;
a valve that seals the liquid fuel chamber, the valve for variably releasing liquid fuel from the chamber.
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Abstract
An airbag inflator that contains a first quantity of inflation gas. This gas may be housed in a chamber. A quantity of liquid fuel may also be added. This fuel may be housed within a liquid fuel chamber. The quantity of inflation gas may operate to pressurize the liquid fuel chamber. A piezo-valve is also added. The piezo-valve seals the liquid fuel chamber. The piezo-valve is capable of variably releasing liquid fuel from the chamber such that when this secondary liquid is ignited, the airbag inflation gas can be augmented as desired.
9 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An airbag inflator comprising:
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a first quantity of gas; a quantity of liquid fuel being housed within a liquid fuel chamber, the quantity of inflation gas for pressurizing the liquid fuel chamber; a valve that seals the liquid fuel chamber, the valve for variably releasing liquid fuel from the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for variably inflating an airbag comprising:
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obtaining an airbag and an inflator, the inflator comprising; a first quantity of gas; a quantity of liquid fuel being housed within a liquid fuel chamber, the quantity of inflation gas being capable of pressurizing the liquid fuel chamber; a piezo-valve that seals the liquid fuel chamber, the piezo-valve capable of variably opening the liquid fuel chamber; and obtaining a sensor for determining the severity of a crash and communicating the severity of the crash to the piezo-valve, wherein the piezo-valve releases liquid fuel corresponding to the severity of the crash.
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- 10. A method as in claim 9 wherein the first quantity of gas being housed within a compressed gas chamber that is sealed by a rupture disk, the inflator further comprising a frangible support that supports the rupture disk, frangible support being rupturable, wherein the rupture disk fails when the frangible support fails.
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12. An airbag system comprising:
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a sensor that determines the severity of the crash an inflator comprising a quantity of liquid fuel being housed within a liquid fuel chamber and an igniter that combusts the liquid fuel into a quantity of gas; and a piezo-valve that seals the liquid fuel chamber, the piezo-valve for variably releasing liquid fuel from the chamber, wherein the piezo-valve releases an amount of liquid fuel corresponding to the severity of the crash. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification