Assembly and method for the moderation of inflator output
First Claim
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1. A combination comprising:
- an airbag inflator having an exit area defined by at least one exit opening wherethrough, upon actuation of said inflator, gas for the inflation of an airbag is exhausted, anda compliance chamber defined by a pressure vessel adapted to withstand an internal pressure of at least about 200 psi and formed about the inflator exit area, said compliance chamber having an exit area formed by at least one exit orifice wherethrough the gas for the inflation of the airbag is discharged to the airbag,wherein the maximum gaseous mass flow rate through the compliance chamber exit area being no more than about 300% of the average gaseous mass flow rate through the compliance chamber exit area and, during the first 10 milliseconds after the inflator begins exhausting gas, the total mass flow through the compliance chamber exit area is at least 20 percent less than the total mass flow through the inflator exit area.
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Abstract
An inflatable restraint system assembly and method of operation are provided wherein a compliance chamber pressure vessel formed about the gas exit area of an inflator appropriately and desirably moderates the inflation gas output from the inflator into an associated inflatable device such as inflatable vehicle occupant restraint. The invention has particular utility for use in conjunction with high mass flow rate inflators.
24 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A combination comprising:
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an airbag inflator having an exit area defined by at least one exit opening wherethrough, upon actuation of said inflator, gas for the inflation of an airbag is exhausted, and a compliance chamber defined by a pressure vessel adapted to withstand an internal pressure of at least about 200 psi and formed about the inflator exit area, said compliance chamber having an exit area formed by at least one exit orifice wherethrough the gas for the inflation of the airbag is discharged to the airbag, wherein the maximum gaseous mass flow rate through the compliance chamber exit area being no more than about 300% of the average gaseous mass flow rate through the compliance chamber exit area and, during the first 10 milliseconds after the inflator begins exhausting gas, the total mass flow through the compliance chamber exit area is at least 20 percent less than the total mass flow through the inflator exit area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An airbag module subassembly comprising:
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an inflator having an exit area defined by at least one exit opening wherethrough, upon actuation of said inflator, gas for the inflation of an airbag is exhausted, said inflator having; a) a maximum gaseous mass flow rate through the inflator exit area of at least about 300% of the average gaseous mass flow rate through the inflator exit area, and b) the maximum mass flow rate through the inflator exit area occurs within 5 milliseconds after the inflator begins exhausting gas, and a one-piece reaction canister structure body part including first and second opposite side walls and a bridging portion joining said first and second opposite side walls wherein the bridging portion at least in part defines a pressure vessel adapted to withstand an internal pressure of at least about 200 psi, wherein at least the bridging portion and said inflator cooperate to define a compliance chamber about the inflator exit area, said compliance chamber having an exit area formed by at least one exit orifice wherethrough the gas for the inflation of the airbag is discharged to the airbag, said compliance chamber having; a) a maximum gaseous mass flow rate through the compliance chamber exit area of no more than about 300% of the average gaseous mass flow rate through the compliance chamber exit area, and b) less than about 15% of the total mass exiting through the compliance chamber exit area exits within the first 5 milliseconds after the inflator begins exhausting gas. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for the operation of an airbag inflator having an exit area defined by at least one exit opening wherethrough, upon actuation of the inflator, gas for the inflation of an airbag is exhausted, said method comprising the steps of:
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exhausting gas for the inflation of the airbag through the inflator exit area and into a pressure vessel defining a compliance chamber about the inflator exit area, the compliance chamber pressure vessel being adapted to withstand an internal pressure of at least about 200 psi and having an exit area formed by at least one exit orifice, and discharging airbag inflation gas from the compliance chamber and into the airbag through the compliance chamber exit area at a maximum gaseous mass flow rate of no more than about 300% of the average gaseous mass flow rate through the compliance chamber exit area, wherein during the first 10 milliseconds after the inflator begins said exhausting of gas, the total mass flow through the compliance chamber exit area is least 20 percent less than the total mass flow through the inflator exit area. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification