Air bag inflator with pressure regulation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a fluid outlet for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device;
an igniter housing in said housing;
a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber within said housing and extending around said igniter housing;
said propellant chamber having first and second axially spaced portions;
a quantity of ignitable propellant located in said first portion of said propellant chamber for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device; and
a heat sink located in said second portion of said propellant chamber for cooling inflation fluid flowing from said first portion of said propellant chamber, said heat sink having a generally conical configuration and acting between said propellant and said housing to limit movement of said propellant in said housing, said heat sink having a first surface in abutting engagement with said igniter housing.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes a housing (20) defining a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber (116) extending around an axis (50) of the inflator. The housing (20) has a fluid outlet (52) for directing flow of inflation fluid out of the housing to the inflatable device (14). The propellant chamber (116) has first and second axially spaced portions (158, 159). A quantity of ignitable propellant (140) is located in the first portion (158) of the propellant chamber (116) for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device (14). A heat sink (160) is located in the second portion (159) of the propellant chamber (116) for cooling inflation fluid flowing from the propellant chamber. The heat sink (160) has a generally conical configuration and acts between the propellant (140) and the housing (20) to limit movement of the propellant in the housing.
37 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a fluid outlet for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device;
an igniter housing in said housing;
a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber within said housing and extending around said igniter housing;
said propellant chamber having first and second axially spaced portions;
a quantity of ignitable propellant located in said first portion of said propellant chamber for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device; and
a heat sink located in said second portion of said propellant chamber for cooling inflation fluid flowing from said first portion of said propellant chamber, said heat sink having a generally conical configuration and acting between said propellant and said housing to limit movement of said propellant in said housing, said heat sink having a first surface in abutting engagement with said igniter housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a fluid outlet for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device;
a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber extending around an axis of said inflator, said propellant chamber having first and second axially spaced portions;
a flow control member having a domed central wall extending across the entire propellant chamber;
a quantity of ignitable propellant located in said first portion of said propellant chamber for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device; and
a heat sink located in said second portion of said propellant chamber for cooling inflation fluid flowing from said first portion of said propellant chamber, said heat sink having a generally conical configuration, a second surface of said heat sink being in abutting engagement with said flow control member, said heat sink acting between said propellant and said flow control member to limit movement of said propellant in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a fluid outlet for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device;
a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber extending around an axis of said inflator, said propellant chamber having first and second axially spaced portions;
a quantity of ignitable propellant located in said first portion of said propellant chamber for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device; and
a heat sink located in said second portion of said propellant chamber for cooling inflation fluid flowing from said first portion of said propellant chamber, said heat sink being made from knitted metal wire, said heat sink having a generally conical configuration and acting between said propellant and said housing to limit movement of said propellant in said housing.
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Specification