Self-compensating airbag inflator and method

• US 6,221,186 B1
• Filed: 03/26/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rink, Linda M., Rink, Karl K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANCHEZ, GLENDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/276,942
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 280/740, 280/742, 280/737, 149/1, 149/74
• US Class Current: 149/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2725 using a fluid fuel gas generator
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 23/008 Tagging additives
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/00 Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets explosive compositions containing an oxidizer, fuels for rocket engines intended for reaction with an oxidant other than air C06B
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/04 by auto-decomposition of single substances
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

An inflator apparatus and a method are provided using a quantity of a compensatory material to supplement a stored pressurized gas.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising:

a first chamber having contents consisting essentially of inert stored pressurized gas and at least about 5 mole percent to no more than about 95 mole percent of a material of a first molar content and which material, when initiated, undergoes dissociation to form dissociation products having a molar content, where the second molar content is greater than the first molar content, and

a heat source actuatable to be in heat transmitting communication with the contents of said first chamber to heat the contents and to initiate dissociation of at least a portion of the material of a first molar content to form dissociation products of the second molar content.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the material of a first molar content is nitrous oxide.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the material of a first molar content is acetylene.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heat source is internally situated relative to said first chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heat source is externally situated relative to said first chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said externally situated heat source is a part of a heat source and projectile combination which comprises a projectile to mechanically effect opening of said first chamber upon actuation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first chamber comprises a rupturable wall segment.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said rupturable wall segment includes an opening to permit passage out of said chamber of at least a portion of the contents thereof and a burst disc normally preventing passage through said opening.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the material of a first molar content is present in said chamber in an amount of at least about 10 mole percent and no more than about 90 mole percent.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the material of a first molar content is present in said chamber in an amount of at least about 20 mole percent and no more than about 70 mole percent.

11. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising:

a first chamber having contents consisting essentially of inert stored pressurized gas and at least about 5 mole percent to no more than about 95 mole percent of nitrous oxide, and

a heat source actuatable to be in heat transmitting communication with the contents of said first chamber to heat the contents and to initiate dissociation of at least a portion of the nitrous oxide to form N₂ and O₂.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said heat source is internally situated relative to said first chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said heat source is externally situated relative to said first chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said externally situated heat source is a part of a heat source and projectile combination which comprises a projectile to mechanically effect opening of said first chamber upon actuation.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first chamber comprises a rupturable wall segment.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said rupturable wall segment includes an opening to permit passage out of said chamber of at least a portion of the contents thereof and a burst disc normally preventing passage through said opening.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the nitrous oxide is present in said chamber in an amount of at least about 10 mole percent and no more than about 90 mole percent.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the nitrous oxide is present in said chamber in an amount of at least about 20 mole percent and no more than about 70 mole percent.