Hybrid gas generator

• US 6,289,820 B1
• Filed: 09/01/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
• Original Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
• Inventors: Zhang, Jiang, Kraft, Josef, Bretfeld, Anton, Bayer, Karl, Brede, Uwe, Anacker, Lothar, Weuter, Waldemar, Scheiderer, Gerrit, Berenz, Eduard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tudor, Harold J.
• Application Number:
  US09/331,778
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736-741, 102/530-531
• US Class Current: 102/530
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators

Abstract

The hybrid gas generator to inflate airbags comprises two combustion chambers (14, 16), in each of which a solid material charge (15, 17) is placed, and a storage chamber (11) containing a pressurized storage gas. The storage chamber (11) is connected to diffusion chamber (30) by a closing member (29) which can be perforated. The first solid material charge (15), and the second solid material charge (17) can, for instance, can be sequentially ignited by separate igniter elements (18, 19), thereby determining the pressure accumulation.

Claims

1. Hybrid gas generator with a first solid charge arranged in a first combustion chamber, a storage chamber containing a compressed gas, which storage chamber is sealed by a closure element, and a pushing element pushing open the closure element under the pressure of the combustion gases,

characterized in that

a second combustion chamber is provided, which contains a second solid charge, which is ignitable in a time-delayed manner in relation to the first solid charge, the two combustion chambers being connected to a collecting chamber which has an outflow opening connected to the pushing element, with each of the solid charges being provided with its own ignition element, and that solid charge which is to burn away first being able to be selected by the activation of the relevant ignition element.

2. Hybrid gas generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the first solid charge and the closure element are arranged at opposite ends of the storage chamber, and the pushing element extends through the storage chamber.

3. Hybrid gas generator according to claim 1, characterized in that a valve is provided, which protects the second solid charge against back-igniting when the first solid charge burns away.

4. A hybrid gas generator comprising:

a storage chamber containing a compressed gas, the storage container being sealed by a closure element;

a first combustion chamber containing a first solid charge and having a first outflow opening for releasing combustion gases;

a second combustion chamber containing a second solid charge and having a second outflow opening for releasing combustion gases;

means for igniting the second solid charge in a time-delayed manner in relation to the first solid charge;

a collecting chamber connected to the first and second outflow openings and having an outflow opening; and

a pushing element provided between the outflow opening of the collecting chamber and the closure element of the storage chamber for pushing open the closure element under pressure of combustion gases.

5. A hybrid gas generator according to claim 4, wherein the means for igniting the second solid charge in a time-delayed manner in relation to the first solid charge comprises a first ignition element for igniting the first solid charge and a second ignition element for igniting the second solid charge.

6. A hybrid gas generator according to claim 5, wherein the means for igniting the second solid charge in a time-delayed manner in relation to the first solid charge further comprises a valve movable between a neutral position, a position closing the first outflow opening of the first combustion chamber in response to combustion gases released first from the second combustion chamber and a position for closing the second outflow opening of the second combustion chamber in response to combustion gases released first from the first combustion chamber.