Adaptive output pyrotechnic inflator
First Claim
1. A combination comprising:
- an inflator device including a first chamber wherein a supply of a combustible gas generant material having a burn rate which is pressure dependent is burned to produce gas, the inflator device also including an exit of adjustable cross sectional area in fluid communication with the first chamber and wherethrough at least a portion of the product gas can exit the inflator device and a control assembly in operational control communication with the inflator device, the control assembly providing a reaction initiating signal to the inflator device to initiate reaction of at least a portion of the combustible gas generant material and a control signal to the inflator device to effect adjustment of the cross sectional area of the exit and at least one chosen product gas output performance factor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator device and control assembly combination is provided wherein the inflator device includes a first chamber wherein a supply of a combustible gas generant material having a burn rate which is pressure dependent is burned to produce gas. The inflator device also includes an exit of adjustable cross sectional area in fluid communication with the first chamber and wherethrough at least a portion of the product gas can exit the inflator device. The control assembly is in operational control communication with the inflator device and provides a control signal to the inflator device to effect adjustment of the cross sectional area of the exit dependent on at least one chosen product gas output performance factor. Also provided are associated or related methods for adjusting inflation gas output from an inflator device.
66 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A combination comprising:
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an inflator device including a first chamber wherein a supply of a combustible gas generant material having a burn rate which is pressure dependent is burned to produce gas, the inflator device also including an exit of adjustable cross sectional area in fluid communication with the first chamber and wherethrough at least a portion of the product gas can exit the inflator device and a control assembly in operational control communication with the inflator device, the control assembly providing a reaction initiating signal to the inflator device to initiate reaction of at least a portion of the combustible gas generant material and a control signal to the inflator device to effect adjustment of the cross sectional area of the exit and at least one chosen product gas output performance factor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A combination comprising:
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an inflator device including a first chamber wherein a supply of a pyrotechnic gas generant material having a burn rate which is pressure dependent is burned to produce gas, the inflator device having an exit of adjustable cross sectional area, the exit of adjustable cross sectional area including a plurality of first exit ports in fluid communication with the first chamber and wherethrough at least a portion of the product gas can exit the inflator device and a plurality of second exit ports also in fluid communication with the first chamber with a cover element movable to selectively cover the second exit ports and prevent product gas to exit the inflator device through the second exit ports, the inflator device also having an adjustable mass flow rate of product gas therefrom and a control assembly in operational control communication with the inflator device, the control assembly providing a control signal to the inflator device to effect movement of the cover element to selectively cover the second exit ports and the mass flow rate of product gas from the inflator device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for adjusting inflation gas output from a device having a first chamber wherein a supply of a combustible gas generant material is burned to produce gas, the device having an exit of adjustable cross sectional area in fluid communication with the first chamber and wherethrough at least a portion of the produced gas can exit the device, the method comprising:
adjusting the cross sectional area of the exit in response to receipt of a control signal from an associated control assembly, the control signal being dependent on at least one chosen product gas output performance factor for the device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for adjusting inflation gas output from a device in view of at least one selected inflatable restraint operating condition, wherein the device includes a first chamber wherein in response to a reaction initiating signal a supply of a combustible gas generant material is burned to produce gas, the device having an exit of adjustable cross sectional area in fluid communication with the first chamber and wherethrough at least a portion of the produced gas can exit the device, the method comprising:
adjusting the cross sectional area of the exit in response to receipt of a control signal from an associated control assembly. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
Specification