DELAYED FILLING OF AIR BAG

• US 3,786,843 A
• Filed: 08/24/1971
• Issued: 01/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald J. Lewis, Robert L. Stephenson
• Original Assignee: Donald J. Lewis, Robert L. Stephenson
• Inventors: Stephenson, Robert L., Lewis, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morse, Jr., Wayne A.
• Application Number:
  US05/174,444
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 141/4,5,9,10,13,49,98 102/37.1,37.3,39 280/15AB
• US Class Current: 141/13
• 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 the rupture of the inlet disc at least substantially emptying the cylinder before said disc ruptures. The liberated gas flows to a diffuser, about which a motor vehicle gas bag or bags are disposed, whereby the filling of gas bag (or bags) is delayed, it being filled first with gas filling the cylinder and then with gas generated from the combustible material when the disc ruptures.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delaying at least substantial filling of an inflatable restraint comprising:

a. a gas containing vessel to be filled with a pressurized gas and provided with an inlet and outlet means;

b. gas generating material producing a generated gas in a chamber disposed adjacent to said gas containing vessel;

c. barrier means disposed between said gas containing means and said gas generating material;

d. an outlet means in communication with said gas containing vessel and said inflatable restraint whereby a gas stream first comprising substantially said pressurized gas and then substantially said generated gas flows from said gas containing vessel to said restraint, thereby filling said restraint, said outlet means sealed from said vessel by rupturable seal means;

e. a means for breaking the seal means whereby at least a substantial portion of said pressurized gas in said vessel exits from said vessel through said outlet means to said inflatable restraint;

f. a gas actuating means to actuate the generation of gas by said gas generating material, electrical means operatively associated with said vessel and chamber, comprising an electric current source and delay means to delay said generation of gas so as to provide sufficient pressure to rupture said barrier means from about 5 ms. to about 120 ms. after the time said seal means is broken; and

g. said actuating means comprising a squib disposed adjacent to said gas generating material, said squib ignited by an electric current communicated to it from said electrical meAns through said delay timer means whereby said squib ignites said gas generating material.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said delay means responsive to the breaking of the seal means to actuate gas generation actuating material.