Air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflation fluid source actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device;
a first actuatable initiator for, when energized, effecting actuation of said inflation fluid source and creating a temperature rise;
a second actuatable initiator for, when energized, effecting actuation of said inflation fluid source;
means for energizing said first initiator to actuate said inflation fluid source, without energizing said second initiator; and
means for energizing said second initiator in response to a rise in temperature resulting from energization of said first actuatable initiator and at a time delay after energization of said first initiator, said means for energizing said second initiator comprising an ignitable material which ignites to energize said second initiator at a predetermined temperature to which said ignitable material is exposed as a result of said rise in temperature.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (34) includes an inflation fluid source (12) actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid (52) to inflate the inflatable device. The apparatus (10) includes a first actuatable initiator (50) for, when actuated, effecting actuation of the inflation fluid source (12) and creating a temperature rise. The apparatus (10) also includes a second actuatable initiator (50a) for, when actuated, effecting actuation of the inflation fluid source (12). The apparatus includes an igniter (72) for actuating the first initiator (50) to actuate the inflation fluid source (12), without actuating the second initiator (50a). The second initiator (50a) can be actuated in response to a rise in temperature resulting from actuation of the first actuatable initiator (50) and at a time delay after actuation of the first initiator. An ignitable material (80) ignites to actuate the second initiator (50a) at a predetermined temperature to which the ignitable material is exposed as a result of the rise in temperature.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflation fluid source actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device; a first actuatable initiator for, when energized, effecting actuation of said inflation fluid source and creating a temperature rise; a second actuatable initiator for, when energized, effecting actuation of said inflation fluid source; means for energizing said first initiator to actuate said inflation fluid source, without energizing said second initiator; and means for energizing said second initiator in response to a rise in temperature resulting from energization of said first actuatable initiator and at a time delay after energization of said first initiator, said means for energizing said second initiator comprising an ignitable material which ignites to energize said second initiator at a predetermined temperature to which said ignitable material is exposed as a result of said rise in temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification