Air bag inflator with heat sink and retainer
First Claim
1. An inflator for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
- a housing defining a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber extending around an axis of said inflator, said housing having a fluid outlet for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device;
a quantity of ignitable propellant located in said propellant chamber for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device;
said housing having a fluid passage between said propellant chamber and said fluid outlet, said fluid passage being normally closed, said fluid passage opening upon actuation of said inflator to enable fluid flow from said propellant chamber to said fluid outlet, said fluid passage, when open, having a variable flow area depending upon the pressure in said housing;
a heat sink located in said propellant chamber between said ignitable propellant and said fluid passage for cooling and filtering inflation fluid flowing from said propellant chamber through said fluid passage; and
a retainer in said propellant chamber between said heat sink and said fluid passage for retaining said heat sink in said propellant chamber upon actuation of said inflator.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a housing (20) defining a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber (200) extending around an axis (50) of the inflator. The housing (20) has a fluid outlet (52) for directing flow of inflation fluid out of the housing to the inflatable device. A quantity of ignitable propellant (240) is located in the propellant chamber for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device. The housing (20) has a fluid passage (90) between the propellant chamber (200) and the fluid outlet (52). The fluid passage (90), which is normally closed, opens upon actuation of the inflator (10) to enable fluid flow from the propellant chamber (200) to the fluid outlet (52). The fluid passage (90), when open, has a variable flow area depending upon the pressure in the housing (20). A heat sink (270) is located in the propellant chamber (200) between the ignitable propellant (240) and the fluid passage (90) for cooling and filtering inflation fluid flowing from the propellant chamber through the fluid passage. The inflator (10) includes a retainer (280) in the propellant chamber (200) between the ignitable propellant (240) and the fluid passage (90) for retaining the heat sink (270) in the propellant chamber upon actuation of the inflator.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An inflator for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
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a housing defining a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber extending around an axis of said inflator, said housing having a fluid outlet for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device; a quantity of ignitable propellant located in said propellant chamber for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device; said housing having a fluid passage between said propellant chamber and said fluid outlet, said fluid passage being normally closed, said fluid passage opening upon actuation of said inflator to enable fluid flow from said propellant chamber to said fluid outlet, said fluid passage, when open, having a variable flow area depending upon the pressure in said housing; a heat sink located in said propellant chamber between said ignitable propellant and said fluid passage for cooling and filtering inflation fluid flowing from said propellant chamber through said fluid passage; and a retainer in said propellant chamber between said heat sink and said fluid passage for retaining said heat sink in said propellant chamber upon actuation of said inflator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
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a housing defining a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber extending around an axis of said inflator, said housing having a fluid outlet for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device; a quantity of ignitable propellant located in said propellant chamber for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device; said inflator having first and second fluid passages between said propellant chamber and said fluid outlet, said first and second fluid passages opening upon actuation of said inflator to enable fluid flow from said propellant chamber to said fluid outlet, said first and second fluid passages when open having variable flow areas depending upon the pressure in said housing; a heat sink located in said propellant chamber between said ignitable propellant and said first and second fluid passages for cooling and filtering inflation fluid flowing from said propellant chamber through said first and second fluid passages, said heat sink being made from metal wire; and a retainer in said propellant chamber between said heat sink and said first and second fluid passages for retaining said heat sink in said propellant chamber upon actuation of said inflator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification