Side impact air bag inflator
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal central axis and an annular end surface defining an open end of said tubular member centered on said axis, said tubular member further having a closed end portion and a plurality of outlet openings;
a support member fixed to said tubular member at a location axially between said outlet openings and said closed end portion;
a rupturable closure wall fixed to said support member;
a quantity of inflation fluid contained under pressure within said tubular member between said closure wall and said closed end portion;
initiator means for releasing said inflation fluid to flow outward through said outlet openings, said initiator means including an initiator containing pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, produces combustion products which rupture said closure wall, said initiator having a base extending across said open end of said tubular member to close said open end of said tubular member; and
filter means for blocking the passage of particulate combustion products through said outlet openings, said filter means comprising a tubular cylindrical filter having an axially inner end portion abutting said support member and an axially outer end portion abutting said base of said initiator.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side impact air bag inflator (14) includes an elongated tubular member (40) having an open end (52), a closed end portion (44), and a cylindrical portion (42) with a uniform inner diameter (d1) and a plurality of outlet openings (38). A rupturable closure wall (82) is fixed to the tubular member (40) at a location axially between the outlet openings (38) and the closed end portion (44). Inflation fluid is contained under pressure within the tubular member (40) between the closure wall (82) and the closed end portion (44). An initiator (100) has a cylindrical casing (106) extending coaxially within the tubular member (40) at a location axially between the closure wall (82) and the open end (52). A circular base (102) of the initiator (100) closes the open end (52).
39 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal central axis and an annular end surface defining an open end of said tubular member centered on said axis, said tubular member further having a closed end portion and a plurality of outlet openings; a support member fixed to said tubular member at a location axially between said outlet openings and said closed end portion; a rupturable closure wall fixed to said support member; a quantity of inflation fluid contained under pressure within said tubular member between said closure wall and said closed end portion; initiator means for releasing said inflation fluid to flow outward through said outlet openings, said initiator means including an initiator containing pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, produces combustion products which rupture said closure wall, said initiator having a base extending across said open end of said tubular member to close said open end of said tubular member; and filter means for blocking the passage of particulate combustion products through said outlet openings, said filter means comprising a tubular cylindrical filter having an axially inner end portion abutting said support member and an axially outer end portion abutting said base of said initiator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus comprising:
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an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal central axis and an annular end surface defining an open end of said tubular member centered on said axis, said tubular member further having a closed end portion and a cylindrical portion extending axially from said open end to said closed end portion, said cylindrical portion having a plurality of outlet openings; a rupturable closure wall supported within said cylindrical portion of said tubular member at a location axially between said outlet openings and said closed end portion, said closure wall being fixed to said tubular member; a quantity of inflation fluid contained under pressure within said tubular member between said closure wall and said closed end portion; initiator means for releasing said inflation fluid to flow outward through said outlet openings, said initiator means including a casing containing pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, produces combustion products which rupture said closure wall, said casing extending within said tubular member at a location axially between said closure wall and said open end of said tubular member; means for closing said open end of said tubular member; said casing defining boundaries of a fluid flow space extending axially from said closure wall to said casing and radially from said casing to said outlet openings, said inflation fluid being released to flow throughout said fluid flow space when said closure wall is ruptured; said combustion products including hot particles, said apparatus further comprising filter means for blocking the passage of said particles through said outlet openings, said filter means comprising a tubular cylindrical filter located in said fluid flow space concentrically between said cylindrical casing and said cylindrical portion of said tubular member; said cylindrical casing being part of an initiator having a circular base from which said casing projects axially; and said means for closing said open end of said tubular member comprising a peripheral portion of said circular base which overlies said annular end surface of said tubular member, said fluid flow space extending axially from said circular base to said closure wall. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. Apparatus comprising:
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an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal central axis, an open end, a closed end portion, and a plurality of outlet openings; a rupturable closure wall fixed to said tubular member at a location axially between said outlet openings and said closed end portion; a quantity of inflation fluid contained under pressure within said tubular member between said closure wall and said closed end portion; and initiator means for releasing said inflation fluid to flow outward through said outlet openings, said initiator means including a casing containing pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, produces combustion products which rupture said closure wall, said casing extending within said tubular member at a location axially between said closure wall and said open end of said tubular member; said casing partially defining boundaries of a fluid flow space extending axially from said closure wall to said casing and radially from said casing to said outlet openings, said inflation fluid being released to flow throughout said fluid flow space when said closure wall is ruptured; and said casing being part of an initiator having a base from which said casing projects along said axis, said base extending across said open end of said tubular member to close said open end, said fluid flow space extending axially from said base to said closure wall. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus comprising:
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an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal central axis and an annular end surface defining an open end of said tubular member centered on said axis, said tubular member further having a closed end portion and a cylindrical portion extending axially from said open end to said closed end portion, said cylindrical portion having a uniform inner diameter and a plurality of outlet openings; an annular support member closely received coaxially within said tubular member at a location axially between said outlet openings and said closed end portion, said support member being fixed to said tubular member; a rupturable closure wall fixed to said annular support member, said closure wall extending entirely across said inner diameter of said cylindrical portion of said tubular member, said closure wall being rupturable to create an opening which is substantially equal in diameter to the inner diameter of said annular support member; a quantity of inflation fluid contained under pressure within said tubular member between said closure wall and said closed end portion; initiator means for releasing said inflation fluid to flow outward through said outlet openings, said initiator means including a casing containing pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, produces combustion products which rupture said closure wall, said casing extending within said tubular member at a location axially between said closure wall and said open end of said tubular member; and means for closing said open end of said tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. Apparatus comprising:
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an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal central axis and an annular end surface defining an open end of said tubular member centered on said axis, said tubular member further having a closed end portion and a plurality of outlet openings; an annular support member fixed to said tubular member at a location axially between said outlet openings and said closed end portion; a rupturable closure wall fixed to said annular support member; a quantity of inflation fluid contained under pressure within said tubular member between said closure wall and said closed end portion; initiator means for releasing said inflation fluid to flow outward through said outlet openings, said initiator means including an initiator containing pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, produces combustion products which rupture said closure wall; closing means for closing said open end of said tubular member; and filter means for blocking the passage of particulate combustion products through said outlet openings, said filter means comprising a tubular cylindrical filter having an axially inner end portion abutting said annular support member and an axially outer end portion abutting said closing means, said tubular cylindrical filter having an inner diameter which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of said annular support member.
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15. Apparatus comprising:
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an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal central axis and an annular end surface defining an open end of said tubular member centered on said axis, said tubular member further having a closed end portion and a cylindrical portion extending axially from said open end to said closed end portion, said cylindrical portion having a uniform inner diameter and a plurality of outlet openings; a rupturable closure wall supported within and fixed to said cylindrical portion of said tubular member at a location axially between said outlet openings and said closed end portion, said closure wall extending entirely across said inner diameter of said cylindrical portion of said tubular member; a quantity of inflation fluid contained under pressure within said tubular member between said closure wall and said closed end portion; initiator means for releasing said inflation fluid to flow outward through said outlet openings, said initiator means including a casing containing pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, produces combustion products which rupture said closure wall, said casing extending within said tubular member at a location axially between said closure wall and said open end of said tubular member; and means for closing said open end of said tubular member; wherein, prior to the ignition of said initiator means, said casing defines boundaries of a fluid flow space extending axially without interruption from said closure wall to said casing and radially from said casing to said outlet openings, said inflation fluid being released to flow throughout said fluid flow space when said closure wall is ruptured. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification