Dual stage augmented inflator for an air bag
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in inflating an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
- a first housing;
a second housing fixed to and surrounded by said first housing to define a chamber for an inflation fluid;
a flow passage extending through one of said first and second housings for conducting inflation fluid from the chamber to an air bag;
a rupturable closure member fixed to one of said first and second housings for blocking fluid communication through said flow passage when the closure member is in an unruptured condition;
first actuatable initiator means located in said second housing for effecting the rupture of said closure member, upon actuation, to enable fluid flow through said flow passage;
a second actuatable initiator located in said second housing; and
an ignitable material for effecting an increase in the temperature and pressure of the inflation fluid in the chamber in response to actuation of said second initiator, said ignitable material located in a passage in said second housing and extending between said second initiator and the chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator (20) for inflating a vehicle air bag (22) comprises a housing (42, 44) defining a toroidal chamber (46) containing an inflation fluid for inflating the air bag. The toroidal chamber (46) extends around a central axis (A) of the housing (42, 44). A rupturable closure member (102) is fixed to the housing (42, 44) for blocking fluid communication from the toroidal chamber (46) to the air bag (22) when the closure member (102) is in an unruptured condition. The closure member (102) is located along the central axis (A) of the housing (42, 44). A first actuatable initiator (142) is supported in the housing (42, 44). The first initiator (142), when actuated, effects the rupture of the closure member (102) to allow inflation fluid to flow from the toroidal chamber (46) to the air bag (22). A second initiator (182) is also supported in the housing (42, 44). An ignitable material (222) is ignited by the second initiator (182) to effect an increase in the temperature and pressure of the inflation fluid flowing from the toroidal chamber (46).
37 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in inflating an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a first housing; a second housing fixed to and surrounded by said first housing to define a chamber for an inflation fluid; a flow passage extending through one of said first and second housings for conducting inflation fluid from the chamber to an air bag; a rupturable closure member fixed to one of said first and second housings for blocking fluid communication through said flow passage when the closure member is in an unruptured condition; first actuatable initiator means located in said second housing for effecting the rupture of said closure member, upon actuation, to enable fluid flow through said flow passage; a second actuatable initiator located in said second housing; and an ignitable material for effecting an increase in the temperature and pressure of the inflation fluid in the chamber in response to actuation of said second initiator, said ignitable material located in a passage in said second housing and extending between said second initiator and the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for use in inflating an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a first housing; a second housing fixed to said first housing to define a chamber for containing an inflation fluid and having a flow passage permitting fluid flow between the chamber and an air bag; a rupturable closure member fixed to said second housing for blocking fluid flow through the flow passage when said closure member is in an unruptured condition; a first actuatable initiator supported in said second housing; a second actuatable initiator supported in said second housing; an ignitable material located in a passage in the second housing and extending between the chamber and said second initiator, said ignitable material igniting in response to actuation of said second initiator for effecting an increase in the temperature and pressure of the inflation fluid; and a movable member located between said closure member and said first initiator for rupturing said closure member in response to actuation of said first initiator to enable fluid flow through the flow passage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for use in inflating an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing including a central portion and an outer portion surrounding said central portion, said housing defining a toroidal chamber containing inflation fluid for inflating an air bag, said toroidal chamber extending around a central axis of said housing; a rupturable closure member fixed to said housing for blocking fluid communication from the toroidal chamber to the air bag when said closure member is in an unruptured condition, said closure member being located on said central axis; a first actuatable initiator located in said central portion of said housing, said first initiator, when actuated, effecting the rupture of said closure member to enable inflation fluid to flow from the toroidal chamber to the air bag; a second actuatable initiator located in said central portion of said housing; and an ignitable material located in said central portion of said housing and ignited by actuation of said second initiator for effecting an increase in the temperature and pressure of the inflation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for use in inflating an air bag, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a closed toroidal chamber containing inflation fluid for inflating an air bag, said toroidal shaped chamber extending around a central axis of said housing; first actuatable initiator means supported in said housing for, when actuated, effecting the opening of said closed toroidal chamber to allow inflation fluid to flow from the toroidal chamber to the air bag; second initiator means supported in said housing for, when actuated, effecting an increase in the temperature and pressure of the inflation fluid, said first and second initiator means extending in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis; and ignitable material located in a passage in said housing, the passage extending in a direction transverse to the central axis, said ignitable being transversely spaced from said first and second initiator means and axially positioned at least partially between the axial ends of said first and second initiator means.
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Specification