METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING VEHICLE GAS BAGS

• US 3,674,059 A
• Filed: 10/19/1970
• Issued: 07/04/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Stephenson
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Stephenson
• Inventors: Stephenson, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Jr., Houston S.
• Application Number:
  US05/081,947
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 141/4,114,67,68,313-317 280/15AB 23/281 102/39
• US Class Current: 141/4
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators

Abstract

A method and apparatus for filling motor vehicle gas bags. A gas-filled cylinder is provided with an inlet pressure sensitive rupture disc and a dislodgeable outlet plug. The inlet disc is in communication with a combustible material. The material is fired, yielding a gaseous product. The outlet plug is dislodged before, concurrently or subsequent to the rupture of the inlet disc. The liberated gas flows to a diffuser, about which a motor vehicle gas bag is disposed, whereby the gas bag is filled.

Claims

1. A method for filling a gas bag, disposed in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

a. filling a gas containing means with a compressed gas;

b. firing a combustible material, disposed in a closed chamber adjacent to said gas containing means, upon impact of said vehicle whereby combustion gases are generated in said chamber; and

c. releasing said compressed gas to an outlet means, in communication with said gas bag, simultaneously with the release of said combustion gases into said gas containing means, whereby said gas bag is inflated.

2. A method for supplying gas to an air bag comprising the steps of generating gas, directing the generated gas into and through a reservoir at least partially containing compressed gas, flowing compressed gas and generated gas into said air bag, initially flowing said compressed gas into said air bag at a time in relation to the directing of the generated gas into the reservoir selected from a class consisting of (1) before said direction, (2) substantially simultaneous with said direction, and (3) after said direction, and said direction of the gas into and through said reservoir and the flowing of the compressed gas and said generated gas from said reservoir being substantially in a single direction.

3. A method for filling a gas bag, disposed in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

a. filling a gas containing means with a compressed gas;

b. releasing said compressed gas to an outlet means, in communication with said gas bag;

c. firing a combustible material, disposed in a closed chamber adjacent to said gas containing means, upon impact oF said vehicle whereby combustion gases are generated in said chamber; and

d. thereafter releasing said combustion gases into said gas containing means, whereby said gas bag is inflated.

4. An apparatus for filling at least one gas bag, disposed in a vehicle comprising:

a. an enclosed gas containing means, filled with a pressurized gas;

b. an enclosed gas generating means provided with a combustible material, disposed adjacent to said gas containing means;

c. an actuating means for igniting said combustible material whereby the product of the combustion reaction which results therefrom is high pressure combustion gas;

d. a pressure sensitive barrier means disposed between said gas generating means and said gas containing means, said barrier designed to rupture when the pressure in said gas generating means exceeds the maximum design pressure of said barrier means whereby said combustion gas flows into said gas containing means;

e. a means to release said gas in said gas containing means; and

f. outlet means connected to and downstream of said gas containing means, in communication with said gas bag, whereby said released gas flows into and fills said gas bag, wherein said means to release said gas in said gas containing means comprises an outlet plug, provided with an explosive means, in electrical communication with said pressure sensitive barrier means whereby said explosive means are actuated by rupturing of said barrier means causing said plug to be dislodged simultaneously with the rupture of said barrier means.

5. An apparatus for filling at least one gas bag, disposed in a vehicle comprising:

a. an enclosed gas containing means, filled with a pressurized gas;

b. an enclosed gas generating means provided with a combustible material, disposed adjacent to said gas containing means;

c. an actuating means for igniting said combustible material whereby the product of the combustion reaction which results therefrom is high pressure combustion gas;

d. a pressure sensitive barrier means disposed between said gas generating means and said gas containing means, saId barrier designed to rupture when the pressure in said gas generating means exceeds the maximum design pressure of said barrier means whereby said combustion gas flows into said gas containing means;

e. a means to release said gas in said gas containing means; and

f. outlet means connected to and downstream of said gas containing means, in communication with said gas bag, whereby said released gas flows into and fills said gas bag, wherein said means to release said gas in said gas containing means comprises an outlet plug, provided with an explosive means, in electrical communication with said actuating means whereby ignition of said squib and said explosive means occurs simultaneously whereby dislodgement of said plug occurs prior to rupture of said pressure sensitive barrier means.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said explosive means comprises a detonator disposed adjacent to said outlet plug.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said explosive means comprises a plurality of shaped charges disposed within said gas generating means about said outlet plug.

8. An apparatus for filling at least one gas bag disposed in an automobile comprising:

a. a cylindrical tank, provided with an inlet means, said tank containing a pressurized gas to fill said gas bag;

b. an enclosed gas generating means, disposed within said cylindrical tank, and filled with a combustible material;

c. an ignition means adjacent to said gas generating means, said ignition means actuated by impact of said automobile whereby said ignition means is ignited, resulting in a combustion reaction with the resultant formation of a high temperature gaseous combustion product;

d. a rupture disc disposed in the downstream wall of said enclosed chamber, axially parallel with the center axis of said cylindricaL tank, said disc designed to rupture when the pressure built by the generation of gas in said gas generating means reaches the desired combustion gas pressure whereby the combustion gas flows into said cylindrical tank;

e. a frangible outlet plug disposed in the downstream end of said cylinder; and

f. an outlet means disposed downstream of said outlet plug and in communication with a diffuser, about which a gas bag is disposed, whereby said gas in said gas generating means is transported to said gas bag upon release of said outlet plug.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 whereby said inlet to said cylindrical tank comprises a ball check valve.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said combustibel material comprises black powder.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said pressurized gas in said cylindrical tank, prior to the release of said gas in said gas generating means is at a pressure in the range of about 1,000 to 2,500 pound per square inch.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said gas is at a pressure of about 2,000 pounds per square inch.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said rupture disc is designed to rupture at a pressure in the rang of about 3, 000 to 5,000 pounds per square inch.