ADDITIVES FOR LIQUID-COOLED INFLATORS
First Claim
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1. An inflator comprising:
- a housing at least in part defining a first chamber containing a quantity of gas generant;
an initiator operatively associated with the first chamber and in reaction initiating communication with at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant, the initiator, upon actuation, to ignite at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant to form gas;
the housing further at least in part defining a second chamber adjacently disposed to the first chamber, the second chamber containing a quantity of liquid, the liquid includes at least one of a fuel soluble in the liquid or an oxidizer soluble in the liquid, wherein during deployment, the second chamber to release at least a portion of the quantity of liquid to contact and cool gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant; and
the housing further having at least one discharge opening to permit gas to exit the housing.
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Abstract
An inflator that includes a quantity of gas generant housed within a chamber. A liquid including at least one of a fuel soluble in the liquid or an oxidizer soluble in the liquid and a piston are housed within another chamber of the inflator. This chamber is sealed. Upon actuation, movement of the piston hydraulically expels the liquid through an opening in the piston such that the liquid contacts the gas formed by combustion of the gas generant and cools the same. The fuel and/or oxidizer in the liquid can react to form additional gas.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An inflator comprising:
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a housing at least in part defining a first chamber containing a quantity of gas generant; an initiator operatively associated with the first chamber and in reaction initiating communication with at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant, the initiator, upon actuation, to ignite at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant to form gas; the housing further at least in part defining a second chamber adjacently disposed to the first chamber, the second chamber containing a quantity of liquid, the liquid includes at least one of a fuel soluble in the liquid or an oxidizer soluble in the liquid, wherein during deployment, the second chamber to release at least a portion of the quantity of liquid to contact and cool gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant; and the housing further having at least one discharge opening to permit gas to exit the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An inflator comprising:
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a housing at least in part defining a first chamber containing a quantity of gas generant solid; an initiator operatively associated with the first chamber and in reaction initiating communication with at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant solid, the initiator, upon actuation, to ignite at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant solid to form gas; the housing further at least in part defining a second chamber adjacently disposed to the first chamber, the second chamber containing a quantity of liquid, the liquid comprising water and at least one of a fuel soluble in the liquid or an oxidizer soluble in the liquid, wherein during deployment, the second chamber to release at least a portion of the quantity of liquid to contact and cool gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant solid; and the housing further having at least one discharge opening to permit gas to exit the housing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of cooling gas formed in an inflator, the inflator comprising a housing at least in part defining a first chamber containing a quantity of gas generant, an initiator, the housing further at least in part defining a second chamber adjacently disposed to the first chamber, the second chamber containing a quantity of liquid, the liquid including at least one of a fuel or an oxidizer soluble in the liquid, the method comprising:
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igniting the gas generant to form gas, and contacting at least a portion of the formed gas with at least a portion of the quantity of liquid to cool the formed gas and to react at least a portion of the at least one of a fuel soluble in the liquid or an oxidizer soluble in the liquid to form additional gas. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification