Air bag inflator
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, comprising:
- a gas source,means for defining a gas outlet opening in said gas source to allow flow of gas from said gas source into the vehicle occupant restraint to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint, andvalve means for controlling flow of gas through said gas outlet opening,said valve means comprising a piston slidably received in a cylinder, said piston having a first surface against which said gas acts upon actuation of said apparatus to move said piston in a first direction to allow increased flow of gas through said gas outlet opening,said valve means including a crushable honeycomb disposed in the path of movement of said piston for controlling movement of said piston in said cylinder.
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Abstract
An air bag inflator includes a gas source and a gas outlet opening to allow flow of gas from the gas source into the air bag. A valve assembly for controlling flow of gas through the gas outlet opening includes a piston disposed in a cylinder. The piston has a surface against which the gas acts to move the piston in a first direction in the cylinder to allow increased flow of gas through the gas outlet opening. A honeycomb is disposed in the path of movement of the piston. The honeycomb is preferably made of aluminum or stainless steel. As the piston moves in the cylinder, the honeycomb crushes, resisting the movement of the piston.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, comprising:
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a gas source, means for defining a gas outlet opening in said gas source to allow flow of gas from said gas source into the vehicle occupant restraint to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint, and valve means for controlling flow of gas through said gas outlet opening, said valve means comprising a piston slidably received in a cylinder, said piston having a first surface against which said gas acts upon actuation of said apparatus to move said piston in a first direction to allow increased flow of gas through said gas outlet opening, said valve means including a crushable honeycomb disposed in the path of movement of said piston for controlling movement of said piston in said cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification