FILTER WITH INTEGRATED BAFFLE
First Claim
1. An inflator for an airbag assembly for protecting a vehicle occupant from injury, the inflator comprising:
- an exterior wall comprising an aperture;
a first gas source contained within a first chamber defined within the exterior wall, wherein, in response to receipt by the inflator of a first activation signal, the first gas source provides a gas that defines a first gas flow pathway that moves through the inflator and exits the inflator via the aperture; and
a filter module positioned in the first gas flow pathway, the filter module comprising;
a filter medium having plurality of holes sized such that, as the gas flows through the filter medium, particulate matter entrained in the gas is trapped in the filter medium; and
a baffle secured to the filter medium, the baffle comprising an impingement surface positioned such that the gas impinges against the impingement surface in a manner that causes redirection of the first gas flow pathway;
wherein the baffle is positioned such that the baffle is in contact with no component of the inflator outside the filter module.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag assembly may include an airbag and an inflator in fluid communication with the airbag. The inflator may have a first chamber containing a first gas source and a second chamber containing a second gas source. A filter module may be positioned to filter and redirect gas flows from the first and second gas sources. The filter module may be constructed by securing a baffle within an interior cavity of a filter medium having a generally tubular shape, prior to installation of the filter module the inflator. The baffle may be supported directly by the material of the filter module, by a bracket, or by a support structure formed of wire thicker than that of the filter medium. The baffle may maintain isolation between the first and second chambers, or may help gas from the first gas source initiate gas provision from the second gas source.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflator for an airbag assembly for protecting a vehicle occupant from injury, the inflator comprising:
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an exterior wall comprising an aperture; a first gas source contained within a first chamber defined within the exterior wall, wherein, in response to receipt by the inflator of a first activation signal, the first gas source provides a gas that defines a first gas flow pathway that moves through the inflator and exits the inflator via the aperture; and a filter module positioned in the first gas flow pathway, the filter module comprising; a filter medium having plurality of holes sized such that, as the gas flows through the filter medium, particulate matter entrained in the gas is trapped in the filter medium; and a baffle secured to the filter medium, the baffle comprising an impingement surface positioned such that the gas impinges against the impingement surface in a manner that causes redirection of the first gas flow pathway; wherein the baffle is positioned such that the baffle is in contact with no component of the inflator outside the filter module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of manufacturing an inflator, the method comprising:
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providing an exterior wall comprising an aperture; providing a first gas source; positioning the first gas source within a first chamber defined within the exterior wall such that, in response to receipt by the inflator of a first activation signal, the first gas source provides a gas that defines a first gas flow pathway that moves through the inflator and exits the inflator via the aperture; providing a filter module comprising a filter medium having plurality of holes, and a baffle secured to the filter medium, the baffle comprising an impingement surface; and positioning the filter module in the first gas flow pathway such that, as the gas flows through the filter medium, particulate matter entrained in the gas is trapped in the filter medium and the gas impinges against the impingement surface in a manner that causes redirection of the first gas flow pathway; wherein providing the filter module comprises securing the baffle to the filter medium prior to positioning of the filter module in the first gas flow pathway. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An inflator for an airbag assembly for protecting a vehicle occupant from injury, the inflator comprising:
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an exterior wall comprising an aperture; a first gas source contained within a first chamber defined within the exterior wall, wherein, in response to receipt by the inflator of a first activation signal, the first gas source provides a gas that defines a first gas flow pathway that moves through the inflator and exits the inflator via the aperture; a second gas source contained within a second chamber defined within the exterior wall; and a filter module positioned in the first gas flow pathway, the filter module comprising; a filter medium having plurality of holes sized such that, as the gas flows through the filter medium, particulate matter entrained in the gas is trapped in the filter medium; and a baffle secured to the filter medium, the baffle comprising an impingement surface positioned such that the gas impinges against the impingement surface in a manner that causes redirection of the first gas flow pathway; wherein the filter medium comprises a generally tubular shape comprising an interior surface that defines an interior cavity within which the baffle entirely resides. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification