Inflator with temperature responsive valve
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a container which contains a source of inflation fluid;
a valve located outside said container in an inflation fluid flow path extending from said container to said protection device; and
an initiator which is actuatable to initiate a flow of said inflation fluid from said container to said valve along said flow path;
said valve including a metering member and a thermostatic metal element engaging said metering member to move said metering member in said flow path under the influence of changes in the ambient temperature prior to initiation of said flow.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and a container (16) which contains a source of inflation fluid. A valve (30) is located outside the container (16) in an inflation fluid flow path extending from the container (16) to the protection device (14). An initiator (20) is actuatable to initiate a flow of the inflation fluid from the container (16) to the valve (30) along the flow path. The valve (30) includes a metering member (70) and a thermostatic metal element (72). The thermostatic metal element (72) engages the metering member (70) to move the metering member (70) in the flow path under the influence of changes in the ambient temperature prior to initiation of the flow of inflation fluid from the container (16) to the valve (30).
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; a container which contains a source of inflation fluid; a valve located outside said container in an inflation fluid flow path extending from said container to said protection device; and an initiator which is actuatable to initiate a flow of said inflation fluid from said container to said valve along said flow path; said valve including a metering member and a thermostatic metal element engaging said metering member to move said metering member in said flow path under the influence of changes in the ambient temperature prior to initiation of said flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; a container storing inflation fluid at an ambient temperature and an elevated storage pressure; a valve located outside said container in an inflation fluid flow path extending from said container to said protection device; and means for initiating a flow of said inflation fluid from said container to said valve along said flow path in an unheated condition, said flow causing the fluid pressure in said container to decrease continuously from said storage pressure to an ambient atmospheric pressure; said valve including a metering member and a thermostatic metal element engaging said metering member to move said metering member in said flow path under the influence of changes in said ambient temperature prior to initiation of said flow. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification