Inflator assembly
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
- means defining a storage chamber for storing gas which is releasable to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint, and for containing a first ignitable material which produces first combustion products to pressurize and supplement the stored gas;
actuator means for igniting the first ignitable material, said actuator means including supporting means for supporting a second ignitable material which produces second combustion products to ignite the first ignitable material; and
said actuator means further including moving means for moving said supporting means within said storage chamber when said second ignitable material is burning.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a storage chamber (18) containing a mixture of gases which is releasable to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint (12). The mixture of gases includes a combustible fuel gas which, when burning, produces first combustion products which pressurize and supplement the mixture of gases. The apparatus (10) also includes an actuator assembly (16) for igniting the combustible fuel gas. The actuator assembly (16) includes a movable container (104) in which an ignitable material (122) is contained. The ignitable material (122) in the movable container (104), when burning, produces second combustion products which ignite the combustible fuel gas. The actuator assembly (16) casts the movable container (104) across the storage chamber when the second ignitable material (122) is burning.
56 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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means defining a storage chamber for storing gas which is releasable to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint, and for containing a first ignitable material which produces first combustion products to pressurize and supplement the stored gas; actuator means for igniting the first ignitable material, said actuator means including supporting means for supporting a second ignitable material which produces second combustion products to ignite the first ignitable material; and said actuator means further including moving means for moving said supporting means within said storage chamber when said second ignitable material is burning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for opening a sealed pressure vessel and for igniting a combustible fuel and oxidizer gas mixture contained within the pressure vessel, said apparatus comprising:
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supporting means for supporting an ignitable material which produces combustion products to ignite the combustible gas mixture; and moving means for moving said supporting means within the pressure vessel when said ignitable material is burning. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification