Air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
- an inflator housing;
an inflation fluid source in said inflator housing actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device;
an ignitable material in said inflator housing for, when ignited, actuating said inflation fluid source;
an actuatable initiator in said inflator housing for igniting said ignitable material;
a first cap over said ignitable material in said inflator housing for containing said ignitable material adjacent said actuatable initiator, said first cap being movable away from said initiator upon ignition of said ignitable material, movement of said first cap away from said initiator upon ignition of said ignitable material uncovering at least one opening to establish fluid communication between said ignitable material and said inflation fluid source and enabling flow of combustion products of said ignitable material to said inflation fluid source to actuate said inflation fluid source; and
a second cap in said inflator housing, said second cap limiting movement of said first cap away from said initiator upon ignition of said ignitable material;
said inflator housing deforming due to the pressure of inflation fluid in said inflator housing upon actuation of said inflation fluid source to provide a fluid passage for directing inflation fluid out of said inflator housing to the inflatable device, the flow area of said fluid passage varying in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in said inflator housing.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator (10) for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes an inflator housing (20) and an inflation fluid source (240) in the inflator housing actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device. The inflator (10) also includes an ignitable material (210) in the inflator housing (20) for, when ignited, actuating the inflation fluid source (240), and an actuatable initiator (130) in the inflator housing for igniting the ignitable material. The inflator (10) includes a first cap (220) over the ignitable material (210) in the inflator housing (20) for containing the ignitable material adjacent the actuatable initiator (130). The first cap (220) is movable away from the initiator (130) upon ignition of the ignitable material (210). The inflator (10) includes a second cap (230) in the inflator housing (20), for limiting movement of the first cap (220) away from the initiator (130) upon ignition of the ignitable material. The inflator housing (20) deforms due to the pressure of inflation fluid in the inflator housing upon actuation of the inflation fluid source (240) to provide a fluid passage (90) for directing inflation fluid out of the inflator housing to the inflatable device. The flow area of the fluid passage (90) varies in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in the inflator housing (20).
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. An inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
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an inflator housing;
an inflation fluid source in said inflator housing actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device;
an ignitable material in said inflator housing for, when ignited, actuating said inflation fluid source;
an actuatable initiator in said inflator housing for igniting said ignitable material;
a first cap over said ignitable material in said inflator housing for containing said ignitable material adjacent said actuatable initiator, said first cap being movable away from said initiator upon ignition of said ignitable material, movement of said first cap away from said initiator upon ignition of said ignitable material uncovering at least one opening to establish fluid communication between said ignitable material and said inflation fluid source and enabling flow of combustion products of said ignitable material to said inflation fluid source to actuate said inflation fluid source; and
a second cap in said inflator housing, said second cap limiting movement of said first cap away from said initiator upon ignition of said ignitable material;
said inflator housing deforming due to the pressure of inflation fluid in said inflator housing upon actuation of said inflation fluid source to provide a fluid passage for directing inflation fluid out of said inflator housing to the inflatable device, the flow area of said fluid passage varying in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in said inflator housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification