Device for pressure relief during bonfire and tell-tale of compressed gas

• US 5,738,372 A
• Filed: 05/15/1996
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Francis, Joseph D., Lowe, Wm. Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/648,459
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/737, 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

A device for sealing a gas fill port of an inflator of a vehicle restraint system, for providing pressure release of gases during bonfire of the inflator. During normal functioning of the inflator, the device can be examined to indicate the amount of compressed gas present in the inflator at the time of deployment. In one embodiment, a seal seals the fill port of the inflator. The seal is made of a material which melts at or just below auto-ignition temperature of the inflator during bonfire to allow the gases to vent from the inflator chamber, thereby preventing the inflator from experiencing extremely high internal pressures. Another embodiment of the device seals the fill port of the inflator and also acts as a tell-tale device, whereupon examination of the device after deployment, the amount of gas present in the inflator at the time of functioning can be determined.

Claims

1. A device for sealing a gas fill port of an inflator of a vehicle restraint system, and for providing pressure relief of gases during bonfire of the inflator, comprising:

means for sealing the fill port of the inflator, the sealing means being made of a material which melts at or just below an auto-ignition temperature of the inflator during bonfire to allow gases to vent from the inflator, thereby preventing the inflator from experiencing extremely high internal pressures, and wherein the sealing means deforms an amount which is proportional to the amount of gas present in the inflator prior to deployment, and the amount of deformation can be examined after functioning of the inflator to determine the amount of gas present in the inflator.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for sealing the fill port comprises a seal sealing the fill port of the inflator.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the material of the sealing means is selected from the group comprising thermoplastic, tin lead and an alloy having a low temperature melting point.