Pintle controlled orifice inflator
First Claim
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1. An inflator for providing gas to inflate an air bag comprising:
- a gas source stored under pressure in a container, said container having a gas outlet endsaid container including a diffuser shaped in the form of a cylinder affixed to said gas outlet end of said container,means for defining a gas outlet opening in said diffuser to allow flow of gas from said gas source into said air bag to cause said air bag to inflate, andvalve means for controlling flow of said gas through said diffuser gas outlet opening,said valve means comprising a spring loaded piston slidably contained within said cylinder,said piston having formed as a part thereof a conical or curved pintle portion terminating in a first non-linear surface against which said flow of gas moves said piston in a first direction to allow increased flow of gas through said gas outlet opening,said valve means including a coil spring disposed in the path of movement of said piston for controlling the movement of said piston in said cylinder.
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Abstract
An air bag inflator which includes a gas source and a gas outlet opening for allowing flow of gas from the gas source into the air bag wherein the flow of gas is controlled with a valve assembly including a piston disposed in a cylinder and features a piston which has a pintle shaped surface against which the gas acts to cause movement of the piston in a first direction in the cylinder to provide an increased flow of gas through the gas outlet opening and further includes a spring disposed in the path of movement of the piston so that as the piston moves in the cylinder the spring provides resistance to the movement of the piston.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An inflator for providing gas to inflate an air bag comprising:
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a gas source stored under pressure in a container, said container having a gas outlet end said container including a diffuser shaped in the form of a cylinder affixed to said gas outlet end of said container, means for defining a gas outlet opening in said diffuser to allow flow of gas from said gas source into said air bag to cause said air bag to inflate, and valve means for controlling flow of said gas through said diffuser gas outlet opening, said valve means comprising a spring loaded piston slidably contained within said cylinder, said piston having formed as a part thereof a conical or curved pintle portion terminating in a first non-linear surface against which said flow of gas moves said piston in a first direction to allow increased flow of gas through said gas outlet opening, said valve means including a coil spring disposed in the path of movement of said piston for controlling the movement of said piston in said cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification