Elliptical plenum for gas flow control in an automotive airbag system
First Claim
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1. In an inflatable restraint airbag module comprising:
- (a) an inflatable airbag cushion having an inflation gas inlet opening;
(b) an inflator capable of producing sufficient gas to inflate said airbag cushion upon activation and having outlet ports at one end thereof for discharging said gas;
(c) a reaction canister for housing said airbag cushion and said inflator, said reaction canister forming a chamber for said airbag cushion, said chamber including an elongated opening along one side thereof for deployment of the airbag cushion therethrough;
the improvement comprising providing a plenum surrounding said inflator, said plenum comprising a side wall having a generally elliptical shape and extending between two essentially closed ends, said side wall having at least one gas flow aperture providing flow communication between said outlet ports and said inlet opening, said at least one gas flow aperture being located in a quadrant of said generally elliptical shape which is traversed by the minor axis of said generally elliptical shape.
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Abstract
A plenum having a generally elliptical cross-section is provided around an end discharge cylindrical inflator to redistribute the inflation gases before they enter the airbag cushion, thereby avoiding a skewed initial deployment thereof.
30 Citations
26 Claims
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1. In an inflatable restraint airbag module comprising:
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(a) an inflatable airbag cushion having an inflation gas inlet opening; (b) an inflator capable of producing sufficient gas to inflate said airbag cushion upon activation and having outlet ports at one end thereof for discharging said gas; (c) a reaction canister for housing said airbag cushion and said inflator, said reaction canister forming a chamber for said airbag cushion, said chamber including an elongated opening along one side thereof for deployment of the airbag cushion therethrough; the improvement comprising providing a plenum surrounding said inflator, said plenum comprising a side wall having a generally elliptical shape and extending between two essentially closed ends, said side wall having at least one gas flow aperture providing flow communication between said outlet ports and said inlet opening, said at least one gas flow aperture being located in a quadrant of said generally elliptical shape which is traversed by the minor axis of said generally elliptical shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A reaction canister for use as a housing for an inflatable restraint airbag system, comprising:
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(a) end walls; (b) longitudinal side walls extending between said end walls and defining therewith an elongated opening which is capable of allowing an airbag cushion to be deployed therethrough; (c) a plenum comprising a side wall having a generally elliptical cross section and having a gas flow aperture in its top surface, said top surface being defined by a sealing engagement of said plenum side wall with said longitudinal side walls and said end walls, and wherein said sealing engagement of said plenum side wall with said longitudinal side walls being located at locations which substantially span the major axis of said generally elliptical cross section of said side wall of said plenum. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An assembly for use in an inflatable restraint airbag system, comprising:
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(a) an elongated inflator having at least one gas outlet port at one end thereof; and (b) an elongated plenum comprising a side wall which extends around said inflator and which has a generally elliptical cross-section extending the length of said inflator, said plenum side wall having at least one gas flow aperture at a location contiguous with the minor axis of its elliptical cross-section. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification