Hybrid inflator
First Claim
1. Inflator device, comprising a pressure tank having stored therein a quantity of inflation gas under pressure, said pressure tank including closure means which prevents egress of said gas from said tank, a sleeve member extending in substantially axial alignment with said closure means, a piston having a first end portion slidably received in an open end of said sleeve member and having a second end portion which includes means thereon for puncturing said closure means, a first pyrotechnic material positioned adjacent said first end portion of said piston, means for igniting said first quantity of pyrotechnic material upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, and a second pyrotechnic material positioned externally of said sleeve member, whereby upon ignition of said first pyrotechnic material a first combustion gas is produced which drives said piston a predetermined distance toward said closure means such that said second end portion thereof punctures said closure means to permit the stored inflation gas to exit the inflation device through a first passageway, and further wherein each of said sleeve member and said first end portion is sized in length so that said sleeve member and said first end portion cooperate to shield said second pyrotechnic material from said first combustion gas until after said piston has moved said predetermined distance and said closure means has been ruptured, driving of said piston creating a passage adjacent said open end of said sleeve member which enables said first combustion gas to contact and ignite said second pyrotechnic material after said piston has moved said predetermined distance to produce a second combustion gas which contacts the inflation gas by flowing through a second passageway in said inflator device in communication with said tank to increase the temperature of said inflation gas, wherein shielding of said second pyrotechnic material delays the flow of said second combustion gas into said inflation gas exiting the inflator device and the heating thereof.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflation device including a pressure tank having stored therein a quantity of inflation gas under pressure, the pressure tank including a burst disk which prevents egress of the inflation gas from the tank, a sleeve member extending in substantially axial alignment with the burst disk, a piston having a first end portion slidably received in the sleeve member and having a second end portion which includes a cutting edge thereon for puncturing the burst disk. A first pyrotechnic material is positioned adjacent the first end portion of the piston, and a second pyrotechnic material is positioned externally of the sleeve member. Upon ignition of the first pyrotechnic material, a first combustion gas is produced which drives the piston to rupture the burst disk and permit the egress of the stored inflation gas. The sleeve member and the piston member are constructed to shield the second pyrotechnic material from the first combustion gas until after the piston has moved a predetermined distance and the burst disk has been ruptured. Upon the piston moving the predetermined distance a passage is created which enables the first combustion gas to contact and ignite the second pyrotechnic material to produce a second combustion gas which is operable to increase the temperature of the inflation gas, thereby providing an inflation device which has a delay between the release of the stored inflation gas and the heating thereof.
48 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. Inflator device, comprising a pressure tank having stored therein a quantity of inflation gas under pressure, said pressure tank including closure means which prevents egress of said gas from said tank, a sleeve member extending in substantially axial alignment with said closure means, a piston having a first end portion slidably received in an open end of said sleeve member and having a second end portion which includes means thereon for puncturing said closure means, a first pyrotechnic material positioned adjacent said first end portion of said piston, means for igniting said first quantity of pyrotechnic material upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, and a second pyrotechnic material positioned externally of said sleeve member, whereby upon ignition of said first pyrotechnic material a first combustion gas is produced which drives said piston a predetermined distance toward said closure means such that said second end portion thereof punctures said closure means to permit the stored inflation gas to exit the inflation device through a first passageway, and further wherein each of said sleeve member and said first end portion is sized in length so that said sleeve member and said first end portion cooperate to shield said second pyrotechnic material from said first combustion gas until after said piston has moved said predetermined distance and said closure means has been ruptured, driving of said piston creating a passage adjacent said open end of said sleeve member which enables said first combustion gas to contact and ignite said second pyrotechnic material after said piston has moved said predetermined distance to produce a second combustion gas which contacts the inflation gas by flowing through a second passageway in said inflator device in communication with said tank to increase the temperature of said inflation gas, wherein shielding of said second pyrotechnic material delays the flow of said second combustion gas into said inflation gas exiting the inflator device and the heating thereof.
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16. Inflator device, comprising a pressure tank having stored therein a quantity of inflation gas under pressure, said pressure tank including closure means which prevents egress of said gas from said tank, a sleeve member extending in substantially axial alignment with said closure means, a piston having a first end portion slidably received in an open end of said sleeve member and having a second end portion which includes means thereon for puncturing said closure means, a first pyrotechnic material positioned adjacent said first end portion of said piston, means for igniting said first quantity of pyrotechnic material upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, and a second pyrotechnic material positioned externally of said sleeve member, whereby upon ignition of said first pyrotechnic material a first combustion gas is produced which drives said piston a predetermined distance toward said closure means such that said second end portion thereof punctures said closure means to permit the stored inflation gas to exit the inflation device through a first passageway, and further wherein each of said sleeve member and said first end portion is sized in length so that said sleeve member and said first end portion cooperate to shield said second pyrotechnic material from said first combustion gas until after said piston has moved said predetermined distance and said closure means has been ruptured, driving of said piston creating a passage adjacent said open end of said sleeve member which enables said first combustion gas to contact and ignite said second pyrotechnic material after said piston has moved said predetermined distance to produce a second combustion gas which contacts the inflation gas by flowing through a second passageway in said inflator device in communication with said tank to increase the temperature of said inflation gas, said second passageway located in said piston and including a means for blocking flow of said second combustion gas into said inflation gas until a predetermined pressure is built up, wherein said shielding and said means for blocking delay release of said second combustion gas into said inflation gas exiting the inflator device.
Specification