Inflator for vehicular air bags
First Claim
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1. A gas generator to provide gases under pressure for inflating a vehicular air bag comprising:
- a capsular enclosure forming a reaction chamber, said enclosure having a wall with a frangible portion therein which fractures upon the exertion of a sufficient gas pressure in said reaction chamber;
an electrically conductive, heat-generating initiator inside reaction chamber;
fill means through said wall to enable the injection of a liquid charge into said reaction chamber and to retain it therein; and
a liquid gas-generating charge which is autoignitable by said initiator, and whose reaction is self-sustaining after ignition;
said frangible portion being disposed between said initiator and a major proportion of said charge, whereby upon ignition said charge generates a gas pressure to open said portion, and the face of the reaction progresses into the chamber on the opposite side of said portion from said initiator.
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Abstract
A gas generator for a vehicular air bag. A capsular enclosure forms a reaction chamber with a wall having a frangible portion. An electrically-conductive, heat-generating initiator inside the chamber initiates a liquid gas-generating charge that is auto-ignitable by the initiator. Its reaction is self-sustaining after ignition. The gas generated bursts the frangible portion and supplies the air bag. The active components of the charge are nitrous oxide and oxygen.
17 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A gas generator to provide gases under pressure for inflating a vehicular air bag comprising:
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a capsular enclosure forming a reaction chamber, said enclosure having a wall with a frangible portion therein which fractures upon the exertion of a sufficient gas pressure in said reaction chamber; an electrically conductive, heat-generating initiator inside reaction chamber; fill means through said wall to enable the injection of a liquid charge into said reaction chamber and to retain it therein; and a liquid gas-generating charge which is autoignitable by said initiator, and whose reaction is self-sustaining after ignition; said frangible portion being disposed between said initiator and a major proportion of said charge, whereby upon ignition said charge generates a gas pressure to open said portion, and the face of the reaction progresses into the chamber on the opposite side of said portion from said initiator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification