Air bag inflator with pressure regulation
First Claim
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.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes a housing (20) and an inflation fluid source (140) in the housing actuatable to provide inflation fluid under pressure. The housing (20) has a fluid passage (130) for directing flow of inflation fluid out of the housing (20) to the inflatable device (14). The housing (20) deforms due to the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing upon actuation of the inflation fluid source (140). The flow area of the fluid passage (130) increases due to deformation of the housing (20) and varies in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing upon actuation of the inflation fluid source (140). The apparatus also includes a flow control member (180) defining a control passage (210) located between the inflation fluid source (140) and the fluid passage (130). The control passage (210) has a smaller flow area than the fluid passage (130). The flow area of the control passage (210) increases due to deformation of the housing (20) and varies in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing (20) upon actuation of the inflation fluid source (140).
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An apparatus for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
-
a housing;
an inflation fluid source in said housing actuatable to provide inflation fluid under pressure;
said housing having a fluid passage 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;
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;
a 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; and
a filter located in said housing and downstream of said fluid passage and said control passage for filtering inflation fluid prior to the inflation fluid flowing into the inflatable device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
-
a housing;
an inflation fluid source in said housing actuatable to provide inflation fluid under pressure;
said housing having a fluid passage 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;
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;
a 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; and
a frustoconical heat sink for cooling and filtering inflation fluid, said heat sink being located between said flow control member and said inflation fluid source and being compressed by said flow control member prior to actuation of said inflation fluid source. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification