Pressurized gas inflator for vehicle occupant protection systems
First Claim
1. A pressurized gas inflator comprising:
- A) a bottle having an outlet opening;
B) a diaphragm sealingly secured across the outlet to form a chamber containing only pressurized gas;
C) a cup-shaped diffuser having a sidewall with an open end, and an end wall opposite the open end, the open end of the diffuser secured to the bottle surrounding the outlet opening, the sidewall of the diffuser defining a plurality of outlet ports, and the diffuser providing a flow path from the outlet opening covered by the diaphragm to the outlet ports; and
D) an electro-explosive initiator mounted to the end wall of the diffuser and including an explosive material contained within the electro-explosive initiator, the explosive material positioned within the diffuser spaced apart from the diaphragm and not blocking the flow path from the outlet opening to the diffuser ports, for rupturing the diaphragm upon operation thereof to release the pressurized gas for delivery through the diffuser outlet ports.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pressurized gas inflator suited for side impact airbags comprises an elongated cylindrical bottle having a closed end and an open end defining an outlet opening. A diaphragm is sealed across the open end of the bottle to form a chamber containing pressurized gas. A cup-shaped diffuser also has an open end secured to the open end of the bottle with the periphery of the diaphragm therebetween. A squib is mounted in the diffuser for rupturing the diaphragm. An enhanced squib with 300-400 milligrams of ZPP is used in one disclosed inflator and an augmented directional initiator is used in another disclosed inflator. The enhanced squib and augmented directional initiator provide heating to offset adiabatic cooling of the gas. The diffuser defines outlet ports for delivering the inflation gas. The cylindrical bottle has a mounting flange on its closed end, and the mounting flange may be an end cap with a radially extending flange. The diameter of the bottle may be necked down at the open end defining the outlet opening. The squib may be mounted through the wall of the diffuser, with the squib terminals exposed for plug connection.
-
Citations
39 Claims
-
1. A pressurized gas inflator comprising:
-
A) a bottle having an outlet opening; B) a diaphragm sealingly secured across the outlet to form a chamber containing only pressurized gas; C) a cup-shaped diffuser having a sidewall with an open end, and an end wall opposite the open end, the open end of the diffuser secured to the bottle surrounding the outlet opening, the sidewall of the diffuser defining a plurality of outlet ports, and the diffuser providing a flow path from the outlet opening covered by the diaphragm to the outlet ports; and D) an electro-explosive initiator mounted to the end wall of the diffuser and including an explosive material contained within the electro-explosive initiator, the explosive material positioned within the diffuser spaced apart from the diaphragm and not blocking the flow path from the outlet opening to the diffuser ports, for rupturing the diaphragm upon operation thereof to release the pressurized gas for delivery through the diffuser outlet ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A pressurized gas inflator comprising:
-
A) an elongated cylindrical bottle having a closed end and an open end defining an outlet opening from the bottle; B) a diaphragm extending across the open end of the bottle and having its peripheral edge sealingly secured to the open end of the bottle to seal the outlet opening and thereby form a chamber containing only pressurized gas; C) a cup-shaped diffuser having a sidewall with an open end and an end wall opposite the open end, the sidewall having substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical bottle and the open end thereof juxtaposed the outlet opening of the bottle, the open end of the diffuser secured to the open end of the bottle with the open end of the diffuser mating with the outlet opening of the bottle, the sidewall of the diffuser defining a plurality of outlet ports, and the diffuser providing a flow path from the outlet opening covered by the diaphragm to the outlet ports,; and D) an electro-explosive initiator mounted to the end wall of the diffuser and including an explosive material contained within the electro-explosive initiator, the explosive material positioned within the diffuser spaced apart from the diaphragm and not blocking the flow path from the outlet opening to the diffuser ports, for rupturing the diaphragm upon operation of the initiator; wherein the explosive action of the initiator ruptures the diaphragm to non-mechanically release the pressurized gas for delivery through the diffuser ports. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
Specification