Adaptive heated stage inflator
First Claim
1. A multi-stage inflator comprising.(a) a housing defining an interior chamber;
- (b) a primary igniter assembly disposed in said interior chamber, said primary igniter assembly being configured to initiate the generation of a primary inflation fluid to inflate an air bag;
(c) a secondary igniter assembly disposed in said interior chamber of said housing, said secondary igniter assembly being configured to augment said primary inflation fluid by producing a secondary inflation fluid which is provided to the air bag at substantially the same temperature as produced by said secondary igniter assembly, thereby increasing the pressure of said primary inflation fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptive multi-stage inflator for inflating an air bag in an air bag safety system. The adaptive multi-stage inflator comprises a housing, a primary igniter assembly and a secondary igniter assembly. The housing has a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, which together define an interior chamber therebetween. The primary igniter assembly is disposed in the interior chamber of the housing and is configured to initiate the generation of a primary inflation fluid to inflate an air bag. The secondary igniter assembly is also disposed in the interior chamber of said housing. The secondary igniter assembly is configured to augment the primary inflation fluid by producing a secondary inflation fluid to further inflate the air bag. The inflator also includes a bypass assembly that is configured to provide the secondary inflation fluid to the air bag at substantially the same temperature as it was produced by the secondary igniter assembly, thereby increasing the pressure of the primary inflation fluid. The bypass assembly comprises a bypass passage configured such that the secondary igniter assembly is in direct fluid communication with the air bag. The bypass assembly has a retainer disk which in combination with the interior surface of the housing defines the bypass passage. The inflator also includes a filter disposed in the housing proximate to the side wall thereof to prevent the passage of particulates. The bypass assembly is configured to direct the secondary inflation fluid to the air bag without the secondary inflation fluid passing through the filter. Both the primary igniter assembly and the secondary igniter assembly comprises a quantity of igniter material.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A multi-stage inflator comprising.
(a) a housing defining an interior chamber; -
(b) a primary igniter assembly disposed in said interior chamber, said primary igniter assembly being configured to initiate the generation of a primary inflation fluid to inflate an air bag; (c) a secondary igniter assembly disposed in said interior chamber of said housing, said secondary igniter assembly being configured to augment said primary inflation fluid by producing a secondary inflation fluid which is provided to the air bag at substantially the same temperature as produced by said secondary igniter assembly, thereby increasing the pressure of said primary inflation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A multi-stage inflator comprising:
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(a) a housing comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, which define an interior chamber therebetween; (b) a primary igniter assembly disposed in said interior chamber, said primary igniter assembly being configured to initiate the generation of a primary inflation fluid to inflate an air bag; (c) a secondary igniter assembly disposed in said interior chamber of said housing, said secondary igniter assembly being configured to augment said primary inflation fluid by producing a secondary inflation fluid to further inflate the air bag; and (d) bypass assembly configured to provide said secondary inflation fluid to the air bag at substantially the same temperature as produced by said secondary igniter assembly, thereby increasing the pressure of said primary inflation fluid. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23)
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22. A multi-stage inflator comprising:
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(a) a housing defining an interior chamber therein, said housing being configured to cooperate with an air bag; (b) a filter disposed within said interior chamber proximate to said housing; (c) a primary igniter assembly disposed in said interior chamber, said primary igniter assembly being configured to initiate the generation of a primary inflation fluid which passes through said filter prior to inflating the air bag; (d) a secondary igniter assembly disposed in said interior chamber of said housing, said secondary igniter assembly being configured to augment said primary inflation fluid by producing a secondary inflation fluid; and (e) bypass assembly configured to direct said secondary inflation fluid to the air bag at substantially the same temperature as produced by said secondary igniter assembly, thereby increasing the pressure of said primary inflation fluid, a bypass passage being configured. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification