Air bag inflator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising a center member and a shell member defining a stored gas chamber containing gas for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, means for defining an outlet opening through which gas can flow from said stored gas chamber, and a closure member on said housing for closing said outlet opening;
a piston movable in said housing for opening said closure member; and
an igniter connected with said housing for, upon actuation, moving said piston to open said closure member;
said center member of said housing including a cylindrical side wall extending around an axis of said apparatus, said cylindrical side wall having first and second axial end portions;
said center member of said housing including an end wall that includes said means for defining an outlet opening and having a flange portion extending radially outward from said cylindrical side wall;
said shell member of said housing including an annular side wall which encircles said cylindrical side wall of said center member, said annular side wall of said shell member having a first wall portion welded to said flange portion of said center member at an annular first weld location, said annular side wall having a second wall portion welded to said second end portion of said center member at an annular second weld location spaced axially from said first weld location;
said piston having a first axial end portion with a cutting edge for opening said closure member and a second axial end portion welded at said second weld location to said shell member and to said center member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An augment inflator (10) includes a rupture disk (140) covering an annular outlet opening (133) in a housing (40). A piston (150) is welded in the housing (40). Upon actuation of the inflator (10), gas generating material (220) ignites in a combustion chamber (158) in the piston (150). The pressure increases in the combustion chamber (158) until a stress riser (190) on the piston (150) ruptures. A severed portion of the piston (150) moves and a circular cutting edge (182) on the piston shears a circular opening in the rupture disk (140).
20 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing comprising a center member and a shell member defining a stored gas chamber containing gas for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, means for defining an outlet opening through which gas can flow from said stored gas chamber, and a closure member on said housing for closing said outlet opening; a piston movable in said housing for opening said closure member; and an igniter connected with said housing for, upon actuation, moving said piston to open said closure member; said center member of said housing including a cylindrical side wall extending around an axis of said apparatus, said cylindrical side wall having first and second axial end portions; said center member of said housing including an end wall that includes said means for defining an outlet opening and having a flange portion extending radially outward from said cylindrical side wall; said shell member of said housing including an annular side wall which encircles said cylindrical side wall of said center member, said annular side wall of said shell member having a first wall portion welded to said flange portion of said center member at an annular first weld location, said annular side wall having a second wall portion welded to said second end portion of said center member at an annular second weld location spaced axially from said first weld location; said piston having a first axial end portion with a cutting edge for opening said closure member and a second axial end portion welded at said second weld location to said shell member and to said center member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing including a shell and a center member defining a stored gas chamber containing gas for inflating the inflatable restraint, said housing including walls which encircle an axis and which define a ring shaped portion of said stored gas chamber centered on said axis; said housing including means for defining an outlet opening through which gas can flow from said stored gas chamber; a shearable closure member on said housing for closing said outlet opening; an igniter connected with said housing radially inward of said ring shaped portion of said stored gas chamber; an annular piston encircling said igniter and disposed radially inward of said walls which define said ring shaped portion of said stored gas chamber, said piston defining an ignitable material chamber which is located radially inward of said stored gas chamber and within which said igniter is disposed; an ignitable material in said ignitable material chamber for, upon actuation, producing combustion products including heat for heating and pressurizing said stored gas in said stored gas chamber; and a circular cutting edge on said piston for shearing and penetrating said closure member to enable flow of gas from said stored gas chamber through said outlet opening; said housing comprising a center member and a shell member; said center member of said housing including a cylindrical side wall extending around said axis and having first and second axial end portions, said center member including an end wall which includes said means for defining an outlet opening and which has a flange portion extending radially outward from said cylindrical side wall; said shell member of said housing including an annular side wall which encircles said cylindrical side wall of said center member, said annular side wall of said shell member having a first wall portion welded to said flange portion of said center member at an annular first weld location, said annular side wall having a second wall portion welded to said second end portion of said center member at an annular second weld location spaced axially from said first weld location; said piston having a first axial end portion including said cutting edge and a second axial end portion welded at said second weld location to said shell member and to said center member. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification