Initiator for air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
- a first container defining a first chamber for inflation fluid, said first container having an opening through which inflation fluid flows to inflate the protection device;
a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said first container to block fluid flow through the opening;
a second container defining a second chamber for communication with the first chamber;
a plate located between the first and second chambers, said plate having at least one passage, having a first diameter, which allows fluid communication between the first and second chambers;
a rupturable membrane having a first portion extending across the passage in said plate to restrict fluid communication between the first and second chambers, the first portion of said membrane having an orifice to allow limited fluid communication between the first and second chambers, the orifice being aligned with the passage and having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter; and
,ignitable material in the second chamber for, upon ignition, producing combustion products which increase the pressure in the second chamber to rupture said membrane and open the passage in said plate for combustion products to flow into the first chamber and effect heating of the inflation fluid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (20, 220) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises a first container (22, 222) defining a first chamber (24, 224) for inflation fluid. The first container (22, 222) has an opening (26, 226) through which inflation fluid may flow to inflate the protection device. A rupturable closure (28, 228) extends across the opening (26, 226) in the first container (22, 222) to block fluid flow through the opening. A second container (68, 268) defines a second chamber (70, 270). A plate (82, 282) is located between the first chamber (24, 224) and the second chamber (70, 270) and has a passage (84, 84a, 284 or 284a) which allows fluid communication between the first and second chambers. A rupturable membrane (86, 286) extends across the passage (84, 84a, 284, or 284a) in the plate (82, 282) to restrict fluid communication between the first chamber (24, 224) and the second chamber (70, 270) and has an orifice (100, 300) to allow limited fluid communication between the first and second chambers. Ignitable material (80, 280) is located in the second chamber (70, 270) and produces combustion products (P), upon ignition, which increase pressure in the second chamber to a predetermined pressure to rupture the membrane (86, 286) and open the passage (84, 84a, 284, 284a) in the plate (82, 282) for the combustion products to flow into the first chamber (24, 224) and effect heating of inflation fluid (F).
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
-
a first container defining a first chamber for inflation fluid, said first container having an opening through which inflation fluid flows to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said first container to block fluid flow through the opening; a second container defining a second chamber for communication with the first chamber; a plate located between the first and second chambers, said plate having at least one passage, having a first diameter, which allows fluid communication between the first and second chambers; a rupturable membrane having a first portion extending across the passage in said plate to restrict fluid communication between the first and second chambers, the first portion of said membrane having an orifice to allow limited fluid communication between the first and second chambers, the orifice being aligned with the passage and having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter; and
,ignitable material in the second chamber for, upon ignition, producing combustion products which increase the pressure in the second chamber to rupture said membrane and open the passage in said plate for combustion products to flow into the first chamber and effect heating of the inflation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
-
first means defining a first chamber for inflation fluid, said first means having an opening through which inflation fluid flows to inflate the protection device; second means defining a second chamber; a plate located between the first and second chambers, said plate having a passage, having a first diameter, which allows fluid communication between the first and second chambers; a rupturable membrane extending across the passage in said plate to restrict fluid communication between the first and second chambers and having an orifice to allow limited fluid communication between the first and second chambers, the orifice being aligned with the passage and having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter; and ignitable material in the second chamber for, upon ignition, producing combustion products which increase the pressure in the second chamber to rupture said membrane and open the passage in said plate for combustion products to flow into the first chamber and heat inflation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
-
a first container defining a first chamber for storing a gas mixture under pressure, said gas mixture including an oxidizer gas, said first container having an opening through which gas flows to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said first container to block fluid flow through the opening; a second container defining a second chamber for communication with the first chamber; a plate located between the first and second chambers, said plate having a plurality of passages which allow communication between the first and second chambers; a rupturable membrane extending across said plurality of passages in said plate for restricting communication between the first and second chambers, said membrane having an orifice for allowing limited communication between the first and second chambers; and ignitable material in the second chamber for producing, upon ignition, fuel-rich combustion products to rupture said membrane and open said plurality of passages in said plate for the fuel-rich combustion products to flow into the first chamber, combustion of said fuel-rich combustion products in the first chamber being supported by said oxidizer gas to heat and pressurize the gas mixture in the first chamber. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
-
a first container defining a first chamber for inflation fluid, said first container having an opening through which inflation fluid flows to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said first container to block fluid flow through the opening; a second container defining a second chamber for communication with the first chamber; a plate located between the first and second chambers, said plate having a passage which allows fluid communication between the first and second chambers; a rupturable membrane extending across the passage in said plate to restrict fluid communication between the first and second chambers, said membrane having an orifice to allow limited fluid communication between the first and second chambers; and
,ignitable material in the second chamber for, upon ignition, producing combustion products which increase the pressure in the second chamber to rupture said membrane and open the passage in said plate for combustion products to flow into the first chamber and effect heating of the inflation fluid, wherein said ignitable material comprises a non-metallic nitrogen containing compound for, upon ignition, producing fuel-rich combustion products, and further including an oxidizer in the first chamber for supporting combustion of said fuel-rich combustion products.
-
-
18. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
-
first means defining a first chamber for inflation fluid, said first means having an opening through which inflation fluid flows to inflate the protection device; second means defining a second chamber; a plate located between the first and second chambers, said plate having a passage which allows fluid communication between the first and second chambers; a rupturable membrane extending across the passage in said plate to restrict fluid communication between the first and second chambers and having an orifice to allow limited fluid communication between the first and second chambers; and ignitable material in the second chamber for, upon ignition, producing combustion products which increase the pressure in the second chamber to rupture said membrane and open the passage in said plate for combustion products to flow into the first chamber and heat inflation fluid, wherein said ignitable material comprises a non-metallic nitrogen containing compound for, upon ignition, producing fuel-rich combustion products, and further including an oxidizer in the first chamber which supports combustion of the fuel-rich combustion products in the first chamber.
-
-
19. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
-
first means defining a first chamber for inflation fluid, said first means having an opening through which inflation fluid flows to inflate the protection device; second means defining a second chamber; a plate located between the first and second chambers, said plate having a passage which allows fluid communication between the first and second chambers; a rupturable membrane extending across the passage in said plate to restrict fluid communication between the first and second chambers and having an orifice to allow limited fluid communication between the first and second chambers; and ignitable material in the second chamber for, upon ignition, producing combustion products which increase the pressure in the second chamber to rupture said membrane and open the passage in said plate for combustion products to flow into the first chamber and heat inflation fluid, further including first actuatable means for igniting said ignitable material in the second chamber, further including a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said first means to block flow through the opening and second actuatable means for producing a shock wave which propagates through inflation fluid in the first chamber to rupture said closure. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification