Hybrid inflator

• US 5,660,412 A
• Filed: 09/23/1996
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arc Automotive Incorporated (The Jordan Co. LP)
• Original Assignee: Bendix-Atlantic Inflator Company
• Inventors: Rose, James, Ludeke, Steven L., Brown, Roy G., Frantom, Richard L., Renfroe, Donald, Robbins, Richard K., Bilbrey, David A., Husband, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/718,035
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 280/737, 280/741, 280/742, 422/164-166
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators

Abstract

A hybrid inflator (20) comprising: a pressure vessel (22) including a central member (24) closed at ends by a first (28) and a second closure member (30), one of the closure members including a passage means (70) for introducing pressurized inflation gas into the pressure vessel and the other of the closure members including a breakable disk (34) in communication with at least one exit port (40); a pyrotechnic container (80), within the pressure vessel, secured at one end to one of the closure members (28) and including a plurality of vent openings (90) thereabout, a first quantity of pyrotechnic material (100), located within the pyrotechnic container for providing, at a first controlled gas generation rate, the primary source of heating the inflation gas in the pressure vessel, a second quantity of pyrotechnic material (102) located at least partially within the first quantity of pyrotechnic material characterized by a gas generation rate greater than that of the gas generation rate of the first quantity of material, for producing products of combustion that ignite the first quantity of material and wherein a portion of these products of combustion directly heat the inflation gas, an initiator (104) for igniting the second quantity of pyrotechnic material.

Claims

1. A hybrid inflator (20) comprising:

a pressure vessel (22) having pressurized gas therein, including a central member (24) closed at ends by a first (28) and a second closure member (30), one of the closure members including means (70) for introducing the pressurized inflation gas into the pressure vessel and the other of the closure members including a breakable disk (34) in communication with at least one exit port (40);

an unsealed pyrotechnic container (80), within the pressure vessel including a plurality of vent openings (90) thereabout for permitting pressurized gas flow therethrough and to stabilize gas pressure interior thereto to the pressure exterior thereto,

a first quantity of pyrotechnic material (100), located within the pyrotechnic container for generating products of combustion at a first controlled gas generation rate, as the primary means of heating the pressurized gas in the pressure vessel,

a second quantity of pyrotechnic material (102) located at least partially within the first quantity of pyrotechnic material characterized by a gas generation rate greater than that of the gas generation rate of the first quantity of material, for producing products of combustion that ignite the first quantity of material and wherein a portion of these products of combustion provide for initial rapid heating of the pressurized gas causing the disk to rapidly open, and

means (104) for igniting the second quantity of pyrotechnic material.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the vent openings are located proximate an end of the pressure vessel opposite the at least one exit port.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for igniting is located outside of the pressure vessel.

4. A hybrid inflator (20) comprising:

a pressure vessel (22), having pressurized gas therein, including a central member (24) closed at ends by a first (28) and a second closure member (30), one of the closure members including a breakable disk (34) in communication with at least one exit port (40);

a pyrotechnic container (80), within the pressure vessel including a plurality of vent openings (90) thereabout,

a first quantity of pyrotechnic material (100), located within the pyrotechnic container for providing, at a first controlled gas generation rate, the primary means of heating the pressurized gas in the pressure vessel,

a second quantity of pyrotechnic material (102) located at least partially within the first quantity of pyrotechnic material characterized by a gas generation rate greater than that of the gas generation rate of the first quantity of material, for producing products of combustion that ignite the first quantity of material and wherein a portion of these products of combustion provide for the initial rapid heating of the pressurized gas causing the disk to rapidly open, and

means (104) for igniting the second quantity of pyrotechnic material;

wherein the second quantity of material is contained within a pyrotechnic housing (120) situated at least partially within and coaxial to the pyrotechnic container and to the first quantity of material, having a first vent opening (139) facing the interior of the pressure vessel through which the products of combustion flow to directly heat the inflation gas and a plurality of radially situated apertures (124) through which products of combustion flow to ignite the first quantity of material.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein the plurality of apertures (124) are located proximate one end of the first quantity of material and proximate one end of the pyrotechnic container.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein the first and second quantity of material are exposed to the pressure internal the pressure vessel.

7. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein the plurality of vent openings in the pyrotechnic container are opposite the first vent opening in the pyrotechnic housing.

8. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein the vent openings are located proximate an end of the pressure vessel opposite the at least one exit port.

9. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for igniting is located outside of the pressure vessel.

10. A hybrid inflator (20) comprising:

a pressure vessel (22) having pressurized gas therein, including a central member (24) closed at ends by a first (28) and a second closure member (30), one f the the closure members including a breakable disk (34) in communication with at least one exit port (40);

a pyrotechnic container (80), within the pressure vessel including a plurality of vent openings (90) thereabout,

a first quantity of pyrotechnic material (100), located within the pyrotechnic container for providing, at a first controlled gas generation rate, the primary means of heating the pressurized gas in the pressure vessel,

a second quantity of pyrotechnic material (102) located at least partially within the first quantity of pyrotechnic material characterized by a gas generation rate greater than that of the gas generation rate of the first quantity of material, for producing products of combustion that ignite the first quantity of material and wherein a portion of these products of combustion provide for the initial rapid heating of the pressurized gas causing the disk to rapidly open, and

means (104) for igniting the second quantity of pyrotechnic material; and

spring means (112,110) including a spring and a plate for biasing the first quantity of material against an inner end (84) of the pyrotechnic container.

11. The device as defined in claim 10 wherein the vent openings are located proximate an end of the pressure vessel opposite the at least one exit port.

12. The device as defined in claim 10 wherein the means for igniting is located outside of the pressure vessel.