Vehicle airbag inflator and related method
First Claim
1. A vehicle airbag inflator comprising:
- a contained volume;
a gas producing source disposed within the contained volume for producing a main gas in the contained volume, the main gas comprising a working gas;
an initiating system in fluid or thermal communication with the gas producing source for causing the gas producing source to produce the main gas; and
at least one exhaust orifice in fluid communication with the contained volume for providing an exhaust path for the working gas from the contained volume and for controlling the flow of the working gas as it is exhausted from the contained volume, the at least one exhaust orifice including at least one contained volume closure in or across the at least one exhaust orifice for selectively creating a fluid-tight seal in the contained volume;
the working gas creating a pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVcv (t)), the working gas has associated with it a pressure-volume quantity for the cumulative amount of the working gas (PVcum (t)), and the working gas having associated with it a total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal) when the gas producing source is fully converted to the main gas;
the pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVcv (t)) reaching a peak (PVpeak) during the conversion of the gas producing source to the main gas that is at least about one half of the total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal).
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle airbag inflator is provided which comprises a contained volume, a gas producing source for producing a main gas in the contained volume, an initiating system for causing the conversion of the gas producing source to the main gas, wherein the main gas comprises a working gas, and at least one exhaust orifice for providing an exhaust path for the working gas from the contained volume and for controlling the flow of the working gas as it is exhausted from the contained volume. The at least one exhaust orifice includes a contained volume closure for selectively creating a fluid-tight seal in the contained volume. The working gas creates a pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVCV (t)). The working gas has associated with it a pressure-volume quantity for the cumulative amount of the working gas (PVcum (t)), and it also has associated with it a total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal) when the gas producing source is fully converted to the main gas. The pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVCV (t)) reaches a peak (PVpeak) during the conversion of the gas producing source to the main gas that is at least about one half of the total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal).
110 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle airbag inflator comprising:
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a contained volume; a gas producing source disposed within the contained volume for producing a main gas in the contained volume, the main gas comprising a working gas; an initiating system in fluid or thermal communication with the gas producing source for causing the gas producing source to produce the main gas; and at least one exhaust orifice in fluid communication with the contained volume for providing an exhaust path for the working gas from the contained volume and for controlling the flow of the working gas as it is exhausted from the contained volume, the at least one exhaust orifice including at least one contained volume closure in or across the at least one exhaust orifice for selectively creating a fluid-tight seal in the contained volume; the working gas creating a pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVcv (t)), the working gas has associated with it a pressure-volume quantity for the cumulative amount of the working gas (PVcum (t)), and the working gas having associated with it a total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal) when the gas producing source is fully converted to the main gas; the pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVcv (t)) reaching a peak (PVpeak) during the conversion of the gas producing source to the main gas that is at least about one half of the total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle airbag inflator comprising:
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a contained volume; a gas producing source disposed within the contained volume for producing a main gas in the contained volume; an initiating system in fluid or thermal communication with the gas producing source which produces an ignition gas and heat for causing the gas producing source to produce the main gas, the main gas and the ignition gas comprising a working gas; and at least one exhaust orifice in fluid communication with the contained volume for providing an exhaust path for the working gas from the contained volume and for controlling the flow of the working gas as it is exhausted from the contained volume, the at least one exhaust orifice including at least one contained volume closure in or across the at least one exhaust orifice for selectively creating a fluid-tight seal in the contained volume; the working gas creating a pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVcv (t)), the working gas having associated with it a pressure-volume quantity for the cumulative amount of the working gas (PVcum (t)), and the working gas having associated with it a total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal) when the gas producing source is fully converted to the main gas; the pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVcv (t)) reaching a peak (PVpeak) during the conversion of the gas producing source to the main gas that is at least about one half of the total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal).
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14. A method for generating a gas, the method comprising:
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prestoring a gas producing source; beginning at a time to, converting the gas producing source into a main gas in a contained volume, the main gas comprising a working gas, the working gas creating a pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVcv (t)), the working gas having associated with it a pressure-volume quantity for the cumulative amount of the working gas (PVcum (t)), and the working gas having associated with it a total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal) when the gas producing source is fully converted to the main gas; and exhausting the working gas from the contained volume; the pressure-volume quantity in the contained volume (PVcv (t)) reaching a peak (PVpeak) during the conversion of the gas producing source to the main gas that is at least about one half of the total pressure-volume quantity (PVtotal). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification