Air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An inflator for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
- a vessel containing stored gas and ignitable material, said vessel having a portion that provides a first opening for fluid to flow from said vessel when the pressure in said vessel reaches a predetermined pressure;
an igniter for igniting said ignitable material and increasing the pressure in said vessel; and
a control part upstream of said portion for controlling fluid flow to said first opening, said control part defining a second opening that increases in size as the pressure in said vessel increases.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator (10) for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device (34) comprises a vessel (12) containing stored gas (54) and ignitable material (62). The vessel (12) has a portion (30) that provides a first opening for fluid to flow from the vessel when the pressure in the vessel reaches a predetermined pressure. The inflator (10) also comprises an igniter (72) for igniting the ignitable material (62) and increasing the pressure in the vessel (12). The inflator (10) also comprises a control part (40) upstream of the portion (30) for controlling fluid flow to the first opening. The control part (40) defines a second opening (46) that increases in size as the pressure in the vessel (12) increases.
59 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An inflator for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
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a vessel containing stored gas and ignitable material, said vessel having a portion that provides a first opening for fluid to flow from said vessel when the pressure in said vessel reaches a predetermined pressure;
an igniter for igniting said ignitable material and increasing the pressure in said vessel; and
a control part upstream of said portion for controlling fluid flow to said first opening, said control part defining a second opening that increases in size as the pressure in said vessel increases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An inflator for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
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a vessel containing stored gas and ignitable material, said vessel having a portion that provides a first opening for fluid to flow from said vessel when the pressure in said vessel reaches a predetermined pressure;
an igniter for igniting said ignitable material and increasing the pressure in said vessel; and
a control part upstream of said portion for controlling fluid flow to said first opening, said control part defining a second opening that increases in size as the pressure in said vessel increases;
wherein said portion comprises a burst disk which ruptures when the pressure in said vessel reaches a predetermined pressure;
wherein said ignitable material comprises a fuel gas mixed with said stored gas; and
further including a hollow needle that moves through said portion of said vessel and directs combustion products into said vessel to ignite said fuel gas upon actuation of said igniter, the increase in pressure causing said portion to separate from said vessel and define said first opening for gas to flow from said vessel. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. An inflator for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
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a vessel containing stored gas and ignitable material, said vessel having a portion that provides a first opening for fluid to flow from said vessel when the pressure in said vessel reaches a predetermined pressure;
an igniter for igniting said ignitable material and increasing the pressure in said vessel; and
a control part upstream of said portion for controlling fluid flow to said first opening, said control part defining a second opening that increases in size as the pressure in said vessel increases;
wherein said control part further increases the time of burning of said ignitable material if the temperature of said stored gas decreases. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An inflator for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
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a vessel containing stored gas and an ignitable material, said vessel having a portion that provides a first opening for fluid to flow from said vessel when the pressure in said vessel reaches a predetermined pressure;
an igniter for igniting said ignitable material and increasing the pressure in said vessel, and a control part for increasing the time of burning of said ignitable material if the temperature of said stored gas decreases, said control part comprising a cup in said vessel and having a chamber containing ignitable material, said cup having a second opening communicating said chamber with the interior of said vessel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An inflator for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
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a vessel having a chamber containing stored gas and ignitable material, said vessel having a portion that defines a first opening for fluid to flow from said vessel when the pressure in said vessel reaches a predetermined pressure;
an igniter for igniting said ignitable material and increasing the pressure in said vessel; and
a control part upstream of said first opening in the path of fluid flow from said chamber to said first opening for controlling fluid flow from said chamber to said first opening, said control part defining a second opening upstream of said first opening, said second opening increasing in size as the pressure in said vessel increases while fluid is flowing through said first opening. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification