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Inflator for inflatable restraint

  • US 6,224,097 B1
  • Filed: 08/29/2000
  • Issued: 05/01/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An inflator device adapted for producing a sufficient quantity of a gaseous product to substantially inflate an inflatable member operatively associated therewith without substantial heating of the device or the member, the device comprising:

  • a housing, defining an interior volume, and having an inner surface, the housing containing a pressurized gas at a first pressure in the interior volume, means for maintaining the pressurized gas at the First pressure within the interior volume and for opening when the gas attains a predetermined second, higher pressure upon combustion of a pyrotechnic material within the housing to allow the gas to pass from the housing;

    a container within the interior volume of the housing, having stored therein a quantity of the pyrotechnic material, at least a portion of which, upon combustion, exits the container, and generates heat and combustion products within the pressurized gas; and

    an ignitor in thermal contact with the pyrotechnic material, the ignitor including a pyrotechnic firing compound, which, upon combustion thereof, transfers heat to the pyrotechnic material, which, in turn, causes the combustion of the pyrotechnic material, wherein the first pressure is sufficiently high and the pyrotechnic material has a burning time that is sufficiently short, such that, upon combustion, the pyrotechnic material burns substantially completely without substantial contact of burning material upon the inner surface of the housing, such that substantially all of the heat generated by the combustion of the pyrotechnic material is transferred directly and thermally to the pressurized gas without substantial transfer of heat to the housing, thereby heating the pressurized gas at the first pressure, increasing the gas pressure to at least the second, higher pressure to cause the pressure maintaining means to open and the gas to exit the interior volume without substantial heating of the inflator device.

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