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Air bag inflator with pressure regulation

  • US 6,227,565 B1
  • Filed: 03/04/1999
  • Issued: 05/08/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:

  • a housing;

    a combustion cup in said housing defining a combustion chamber;

    an inflation fluid source in said combustion cup actuatable to provide inflation fluid under pressure;

    a fluid passage between said housing and said combustion cup for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device;

    said housing deforming due to the pressure of inflation fluid in said housing upon actuation of said inflation fluid source to open said fluid passage;

    a flow area of said fluid passage increasing due to deformation of said housing and varying in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in said housing upon actuation of said inflation fluid source; and

    a flow control member having a domed central wall extending across the entire combustion chamber, said flow control member defining a control passage located between said inflation fluid source and said fluid passage, said control passage having a smaller flow area than said fluid passage, the flow area of said control passage increasing due to deformation of said housing and varying in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in said housing upon actuation of said inflation fluid source.

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