Fluid fueled air bag inflator
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising:
- a pressurized first chamber wherein at least one fuel in the form of a fluid and at least one oxidant are burned to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, said first chamber including at least one gas exit opening and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit opening, the combustion of said fluid fuel and said oxidant increasing the temperature and pressure within said first chamber, said first chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized,whereby at least a portion of said hot combustion gas is expelled from said first chamber,a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said gas exit opening sealing means, said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixing with said pressurized stored gas to produce inflation gas, said second chamber including at least one gas exit port and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit port, the mixing of said hot combustion gas with said pressurized stored gas increasing the temperature and pressure within said second chamber, said second chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixes with said pressurized stored gas to produce said inflation gas,whereby at least a portion of said inflation gas is expelled from said second chamber to inflate said device, andinitiator means for initiating the burning of said at least one fluid fuel and said at least one oxidant.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for inflating a vehicular inflatable device adaptable to a variety of fuels and oxidants wherein a fluid fuel is burned and mixed with stored, pressurized gas to produce inflation gas containing little or no particulate.
84 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising:
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a pressurized first chamber wherein at least one fuel in the form of a fluid and at least one oxidant are burned to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, said first chamber including at least one gas exit opening and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit opening, the combustion of said fluid fuel and said oxidant increasing the temperature and pressure within said first chamber, said first chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized, whereby at least a portion of said hot combustion gas is expelled from said first chamber, a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said gas exit opening sealing means, said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixing with said pressurized stored gas to produce inflation gas, said second chamber including at least one gas exit port and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit port, the mixing of said hot combustion gas with said pressurized stored gas increasing the temperature and pressure within said second chamber, said second chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixes with said pressurized stored gas to produce said inflation gas, whereby at least a portion of said inflation gas is expelled from said second chamber to inflate said device, and initiator means for initiating the burning of said at least one fluid fuel and said at least one oxidant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising:
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a fluid fuel storage element storing at least one fuel in the form of a fluid and free of oxidant, said fuel selected from the group of H2 and hydrocarbon-based fuels selected from the group consisting of naphthenic, olefinic and paraffinic hydrocarbon groups and alcohols, ethers, and esters, a first chamber wherein said at least one fluid fuel and at least one oxidant are burned to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, said first chamber including at least one gas exit opening and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit opening, the combustion of said fluid fuel and said oxidant increasing the temperature and pressure within said first chamber, said first chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized, whereby at least a portion of said hot combustion gas is expelled from said first chamber, a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon said opening of said gas exit opening sealing means, said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixing with said pressurized stored gas to produce inflation gas, said second chamber including at least one gas exit port and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit port, said second chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixes with said pressurized stored gas to produce said inflation gas, whereby at least a portion of said inflation gas is expelled from said second chamber to inflate said device, and initiator means for initiating the burning of said at least one fluid fuel and said at least one oxidant, and wherein at least one of said first chamber sealing means and said second chamber sealing means is pressure sensitive, wherein when the first chamber sealing means is pressure sensitive, the increase in pressure within said first chamber upon the combustion of said fluid fuel and said oxidant effects the opening of said first chamber sealing means and wherein when the second chamber sealing means is pressure sensitive, the increase in pressure within said second chamber upon the mixing of said hot combustion gas with said pressurized stored gas effects the opening of said second chamber sealing means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method for inflating an inflatable safety device in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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burning at least one fuel in the form of a fluid with at least one oxidant in a pressurized first sealed chamber to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, wherein the first sealed chamber includes at least one gas exit opening normally closed by a sealing means, said burning increasing the temperature and pressure within the first chamber, opening the first chamber sealing means when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized to expel the hot combustion gas from the first chamber into a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, mixing the expelled hot combustion gas with the pressurized stored gas in the second chamber to produce inflation gas, wherein the second chamber includes at least one gas exit port normally closed by a sealing means, said mixing increasing the temperature and pressure within the second chamber, and opening the second chamber port sealing means, after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber has mixed with said pressurized stored gas to produce the inflation gas and when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized, to expel the inflation gas from the second chamber to inflate the inflatable safety device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification