Vehicle inflator with stored gas for supplementing inflation
First Claim
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1. A method for maintaining pressure in an activated inflatable located in a vehicle, comprising:
- providing stored gas to be received by the inflatable, said stored gas having a weight of less than about 200 grams; and
activating a propellant to generate a hot propellant gas to be received by the inflatable, wherein the inflatable is subject to a peak output within at least one second after initiating said activating step and an output associated with the inflatable at about seven seconds after initiating said activating step is at least 40% of said peak output.
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Abstract
An inflator system that includes an inflatable and an inflator apparatus having a supplemental gas assembly is provided. The supplemental gas assembly supplies gas to the inflatable in order to maintain a desired inflatable volume and pressure for a relatively longer period of time. The inflator apparatus also includes a pyrotechnic inflator. The supplemental gas assembly and the pyrotechnic inflator can be activated at essentially the same time using the same initiator assembly. The supplemental gas assembly preferably has a stored gas that weighs less than 200 grams.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining pressure in an activated inflatable located in a vehicle, comprising:
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providing stored gas to be received by the inflatable, said stored gas having a weight of less than about 200 grams; and activating a propellant to generate a hot propellant gas to be received by the inflatable, wherein the inflatable is subject to a peak output within at least one second after initiating said activating step and an output associated with the inflatable at about seven seconds after initiating said activating step is at least 40% of said peak output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for maintaining pressure in an activated inflatable located in a vehicle, comprising:
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a gas generator assembly including a propellant for generating propellant gas; an initiator assembly for activating said propellant; and a supplemental gas assembly including stored gas; wherein said initiator assembly controls operation of each of said gas generator assembly to cause activation of said propellant and release of said stored gas to the inflatable and in which the inflatable is subject to a peak output substantially using the propellant gas within one second of activation of said propellant and an output associated with the inflatable at about seven seconds after activation of said propellant is at least 40% of said peak output using at least said stored gas. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification