Air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
- a container defining a chamber for material which effects inflation of the protection device, said container including a first opening of a first flow area through which fluid flows to inflate the protection device;
a rupturable first closure blocking fluid flow through the first opening in said container;
first actuatable means for, upon actuation, effecting the rupture of said first closure;
a member movable from a first position in which the fluid flow through the first opening is unrestricted when said first closure is ruptured to a second position in which fluid flow through the first opening is restricted by a portion of said member; and
second actuatable means for, upon actuation, moving said member from the first position to the second position and effecting the rupture of said first closure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (24) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (22) comprises a container (40) which defines a chamber (42) for material which effects inflation of the protection device. The container (40) includes an opening (60) of a flow area through which fluid flows to inflate the protection device (22). A rupturable closure (64) blocks fluid flow through the opening (60) in the container (40). A first actuatable initiator (164), upon actuation, effects the rupture of the closure (64). A member (120) is movable from a first position in which the flow of fluid through the opening (60) is unrestricted when the closure (64) is ruptured. The member (120) is movable to a second position in which fluid flow through the opening (60) is restricted by a portion of the member to reduce the flow area of the opening. A second actuatable initiator (162), upon actuation, moves the member (120) from the first position to the second position and effects the rupture of the closure (64).
63 Citations
20 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 for material which effects inflation of the protection device, said container including a first opening of a first flow area through which fluid flows to inflate the protection device; a rupturable first closure blocking fluid flow through the first opening in said container; first actuatable means for, upon actuation, effecting the rupture of said first closure; a member movable from a first position in which the fluid flow through the first opening is unrestricted when said first closure is ruptured to a second position in which fluid flow through the first opening is restricted by a portion of said member; and second actuatable means for, upon actuation, moving said member from the first position to the second position and effecting the rupture of said first closure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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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 for holding fluid under pressure, said container including a wall having a first opening of a first flow area through which fluid flows to inflate the protection device; a rupturable first closure blocking fluid flow through the first opening; first actuatable means for producing combustion products which effect the heating of fluid in the chamber to increase the pressure in the chamber to a predetermined pressure at which said first closure ruptures; a guide; a member having a second opening of a second flow area through which fluid flows to inflate the protection device, the second flow area being less than the first flow area, said member being movable from a first position spaced from said wall in which fluid flow through the first opening is unrestricted when said first closure is ruptured to a second position adjacent said wall in which fluid flow through the first opening is restricted by a portion of said member and fluid flows through the second opening in said member; a rupturable second closure inhibiting fluid flow through the second opening; and second actuatable means for producing combustion products which cause said member to move from the first position to the second position and effect the heating of fluid in the chamber to increase the pressure in the chamber to a predetermined pressure at which said second closure ruptures. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a container defining a chamber for holding a mixture of gases including a combustible gas and an inert gas, said container having a first opening of a first flow area through which gas flows to inflate the protection device; a rupturable first closure blocking fluid flow through the first opening; a member having a second opening of a second flow area through which gas flows to inflate the protection device, the second flow area being less than the first flow area, said member being movable from a first position in which gas flow through the first opening in said container is unrestricted to a second position in which gas flow through the first opening is restricted by a portion of said member; first actuatable means for igniting combustible gas in a first portion of the chamber to rupture said first closure; and second actuatable means for igniting combustible gas in a second portion of the chamber to move said member from the first position to the second position and rupture said first closure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification