Vehicle occupant protection apparatus with multiple stage inflator
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a pressure vessel defining first and second chambers;
a first combustible mixture of gases in said first chamber, said first combustible mixture including a fuel gas at a first volume percentage;
a second combustible mixture of gases in said second chamber, said second combustible mixture including a fuel gas at a second, greater volume percentage;
an initiator assembly including a first igniter which is actuatable to ignite said first combustible mixture and a second igniter which is actuatable to ignite said second combustible mixture; and
means for actuating said initiator assembly in a selected one of a plurality of differing stages corresponding to a plurality of differing conditions, said differing stages including a stage in which said first igniter is actuated and said second igniter is not actuated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) comprises a pressure vessel (16) and an initiator assembly (18). The pressure vessel (16) defines first and second chambers (20, 22). A first combustible mixture in the first chamber (20) includes fuel gas at a first volume percentage. A second combustible mixture of gases in the second chamber (22) includes fuel gas at a second, greater volume percentage. The initiator assembly (18) includes a first igniter (26) which is actuatable to ignite the first combustible mixture. The initiator assembly (18) further includes a second igniter (28) which is actuatable to ignite the second combustible mixture. A controller (30) actuates the initiator assembly (18) in a selected one of a plurality of differing stages corresponding to a plurality of differing conditions. The differing stages of actuation include a stage in which the first igniter (26) is actuated and the second igniter (28) is not actuated.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel defining first and second chambers; a first combustible mixture of gases in said first chamber, said first combustible mixture including a fuel gas at a first volume percentage; a second combustible mixture of gases in said second chamber, said second combustible mixture including a fuel gas at a second, greater volume percentage; an initiator assembly including a first igniter which is actuatable to ignite said first combustible mixture and a second igniter which is actuatable to ignite said second combustible mixture; and means for actuating said initiator assembly in a selected one of a plurality of differing stages corresponding to a plurality of differing conditions, said differing stages including a stage in which said first igniter is actuated and said second igniter is not actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel defining first and second chambers, a first rupturable closure wall separating said first chamber from the exterior of said pressure vessel, and a second rupturable closure wall separating said chambers from each other; a first combustible mixture of gases in said first chamber, said first combustible mixture including a fuel gas at a first volume percentage; a second combustible mixture of gases in said second chamber, said second combustible mixture including a fuel gas at a second, greater volume percentage; and an initiator assembly which is actuatable to ignite said first and second combustible mixtures. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel defining first and second chambers, a first rupturable closure wall separating said first chamber from the exterior of said pressure vessel, and a second rupturable closure wall separating said chambers from each other; a first combustible mixture of gases in said first chamber; a second combustible mixture of gases in said second chamber; an initiator assembly including a first igniter which is actuatable to ignite said first combustible mixture of gases and a second igniter which is actuatable to ignite said second combustible mixture of gases; and means for actuating said initiator assembly in a selected one of a plurality of differing stages corresponding to a plurality of differing conditions, said differing stages including a stage in which said first igniter is actuated and said second igniter is not actuated; said first combustible mixture of gases including a fuel gas at a first volume percentage, said second combustible mixture of gases including a fuel gas at a second, greater volume percentage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. Apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel defining first and second chambers, a first rupturable closure wall separating said first chamber from the exterior of said pressure vessel, and a second rupturable closure wall separating said chambers from each other; a first combustible mixture of gases filling said first chamber; a second combustible mixture of gases filling said second chamber; an initiator assembly including a first igniter which is actuatable to ignite said first combustible mixture of gases and a second igniter which is actuatable to ignite said second combustible mixture of gases; and means for actuating said initiator assembly in a selected one of a plurality of differing stages corresponding to a plurality of differing conditions, said differing stages including a stage in which said first igniter is actuated and said second igniter is not actuated, wherein said first combustible mixture of gases includes a fuel gas at a first volume percentage, said second combustible mixture of gases including a fuel gas at a second, greater volume percentage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification