Dual stage air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
- a container defining a chamber;
inflation fluid and ignitable material in the chamber;
means defining an opening in said container through which inflation fluid may flow from the chamber to inflate the protection device;
a rupturable closure blocking flow through the opening in said container;
a projectile supported by said container at a location spaced from said closure; and
actuatable means supported by said container for producing combustion products which propel said projectile to rupture said closure and which are directed into the chamber to ignite said ignitable material in the chamber before said projectile ruptures said closure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (20) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (22) comprises a container (24) which defines a chamber (26). Inflation fluid and ignitable material are in the chamber (26). The container (24) has an opening (60) through which inflation fluid may flow to inflate the protection device (22). A rupturable closure (62) blocks flow through the opening (60) in the container (24). A projectile (120) is supported by the container (24) in the chamber (26) at a location spaced from the closure (62). An actuatable igniter (104) is supported by the container (24) and produces combustion products to propel the projectile (120) to rupture the closure (62). The combustion products are directed into the chamber (26) to ignite the ignitable material in the chamber (26) before the projectile (120) ruptures the closure (62).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a container defining a chamber; inflation fluid and ignitable material in the chamber; means defining an opening in said container through which inflation fluid may flow from the chamber to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure blocking flow through the opening in said container; a projectile supported by said container at a location spaced from said closure; and actuatable means supported by said container for producing combustion products which propel said projectile to rupture said closure and which are directed into the chamber to ignite said ignitable material in the chamber before said projectile ruptures said closure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14)
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8. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a container defining a chamber for inflation fluid, said container having an opening through which fluid may flow to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure blocking fluid flow through the opening in said container; actuatable means for, upon actuation, producing combustion products to effect the rupture of said closure; a recess in said container for receiving said actuatable means, said recess being defined in part by a surface portion that limits movement of said actuatable means in a first direction relative to said container; a passage in said container communicating with the recess; and a member receivable in the passage for limiting movement of said actuatable means in a second direction opposite the first direction when said member is in the passage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 15)
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12. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a container defining a chamber; inflation fluid and ignitable material in the chamber; means defining an opening in said container through which inflation fluid may flow from the chamber to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure blocking flow through the opening in said container; a projectile supported by said container at a location spaced from said closure; actuatable means supported by said container for producing combustion products which propel said projectile to rupture said closure and are directed into the chamber to ignite said ignitable material in the chamber before said projectile ruptures said closure; surface means in said container for defining a recess which receives said actuatable means and a passage communicating with the recess, the recess being at least partially defined by a shoulder that limits movement of said actuatable means in a first direction relative to said container; and a member receivable in the passage to engage said actuatable means for limiting movement of said actuatable means relative to said container in a second direction opposite the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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16. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said combustible mixture of gases is stored in said chamber.
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19. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a container defining first and second chambers, said first chamber containing a combustible comprising mixture of gasescomprising inflation fluid and fuel gas, said second chamber containing ignitable material which, when ignited, produces combustion products for heating said inflation fluid; means for defining an opening through which said combustion products flow from said second chamber to said first chamber to heat said inflation fluid; means for igniting said ignitable material in said second chamber; and means for igniting said fuel gas in said first chamber before said combustion products flow from said second chamber to said first chamber to heat said inflation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a container having a chamber containing a combustible mixture of gases under pressure, said combustible mixture of gases including a fuel gas which is stored in said container; a first igniter which, when actuated, ignites said combustible mixture of gases in said chamber to increase said pressure; a second igniter which, when actuated, ignites said combustible mixture of gases in said chamber to increase said pressure; and controller means for actuating said first and second igniters in a selected one of a plurality of differing modes in response to parameters monitored by said controller means. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification