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Abstract
A MULTIPLE STAGE INFLATER INCLUDES A CYLINDRICAL PRESSURE VESSEL HAVING AN OPENING AT ONE END RECEIVING AN IGNITER ASSEMBLY ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED WITH AN INTERIAL SWITCH OR OTHER TYPE OF INDICATING MEANS PROVIDING A SIGNAL INDICATIVE OF DEFORMATION OR THE ONSET OF DEFORMATION OF A VEHICLE BODY. THE OTHER END OF THE VESSEL INCLUDES AN OUTLET SEALED BY A FLUID PRESSURE RUPTURABLE DIAPHRAGM. THE OUTLET COMMUNICATES BY A MANIFOLD AND DIFFUSER ASSEMBLY WITH A CONVENTIONAL INFLATABLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CUSHION. A PROPELLANT TUBE EXTENDS PARTIALLY THROUGH THE VESSEL FROM THE IGNITER ASSEMBLY AND IS FILLED WITH SUITABLE PYROTECHNIC MATERIAL, SUCH AS BLACK POWDER. THE TUBE INCLUDES A NUMBER OF CIRCULAR OPENINGS IN THE WALL THEREOF. A PRIMARY INFLATION TUBE SURROUNDS THE PROPELLANT TUBE AND DEFINES A FIRST CHAMBER COMMUNICATING WITH THE DIAPHRAGM. THE PRIMARY INFLATION TUBE IS PROVIDED WITH A NUMBER OF CIRCULAR OPENINGS AND A REED VALVE WHICH PERMITS FLOW FROM THE FIRST CHAMBER TO A SECOND CHAMBER DEFINED BY THE PRIMARY INFLATION TUBE AND THE INTERIOR WALL OF THE VESSEL. THE SECOND CHAMBER AND THE SPACE WITHIN THE FIRST CHAMBER BETWEEN THE PROPELLANT AND PRIMARY INFLATION TUBES IS FILLED WITH AIR AT A PRESSURE LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED TO RUPTURE THE DIAPHRAGM. UPON IGNITION OF THE PYROTECHNIC MATERIAL, THE RESULTANT FLUID OR GAS FLOWS FROM THE PROPELLANT TUBE TO THE FIRST CHAMBER TO RUPTURE THE DIAPHRAGM AND INITIATE INFLATION OF THE CUSHION. THE RESULTANT FLUID ALSO FLOWS OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE PRIMARY INFLATION TUBE OPENINGS AND REED VALVE TO THE SECOND CHAMBER TO MIX WITH THE AIR THEREIN AND PROVIDE INCREASED PRESSURE FLUID. THE INCREASED PRESSURE FLUID THEN FLOWS AT A LESSER RATE BACK THROUGH THE OPENINGS IN THE PRIMARY INFLATION TUBE AND TO THE CUSHION TO CONTINUE INFLATION THEREOF. THE REED VALVE PERMITS ONE-WAY FLOW ONLY SO THAT THE INCREASED PRESSURE FLUID FLOWS AT A LESSER RATE THAN THE RESULTANT FLUID TO THE CUSHION.
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