Air bag inflator having a corrugated filter wall
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
- a source of inflation fluid for inflating the restraint;
a tubular wall having a central axis, oppositely facing inner and outer surfaces extending around said axis, and an array of fluid flow openings extending through said tubular wall between said surfaces, said array of openings having a total fluid flow area, each of said surfaces having a total surface area substantially greater than said total fluid flow area; and
means for initiating a flow of said inflation fluid from said source upon the occurrence of a vehicle collision, said flow of inflation fluid following a flow path extending through said openings in said tubular wall;
said tubular wall further having a plurality of elongated corrugations, each of said corrugations having a pair of radially extending side portions, said array of openings comprising rows of said openings extending along said side portions of said corrugations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag inflator (10) includes a source (50) of inflation fluid, a tubular wall (90) with rows (132) of fluid flow openings (130), and an initiator (36) for initiating a flow of inflation fluid from the source (50) upon the occurrence of a vehicle collision. The tubular wall (90) further has a central axis (104) and a plurality of elongated corrugations (106). The corrugations (106) have radially extending side portions (110). The rows (132) of openings (130) extend along the side portions (110) of the corrugations (106).
44 Citations
25 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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a source of inflation fluid for inflating the restraint; a tubular wall having a central axis, oppositely facing inner and outer surfaces extending around said axis, and an array of fluid flow openings extending through said tubular wall between said surfaces, said array of openings having a total fluid flow area, each of said surfaces having a total surface area substantially greater than said total fluid flow area; and means for initiating a flow of said inflation fluid from said source upon the occurrence of a vehicle collision, said flow of inflation fluid following a flow path extending through said openings in said tubular wall; said tubular wall further having a plurality of elongated corrugations, each of said corrugations having a pair of radially extending side portions, said array of openings comprising rows of said openings extending along said side portions of said corrugations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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a source of inflation fluid comprising an ignitable gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating the restraint; a tubular wall comprising means for defining a combustion chamber containing said gas generating material, said tubular wall having a central axis and means for defining gas flow openings; and means for igniting said gas generating material upon the occurrence of a vehicle collision; said tubular wall further having a plurality of radially projecting corrugations, each of said corrugations defining a corresponding plenum portion of said combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification