Dual chamber inflator

• US 6,422,601 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Quioc, Eduardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/568,719
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/741, 280/742, 102/530, 102/531
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A dual chamber inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two combustion chambers 14 and 16, respectively contained within a monolithic body 18. A partition 32 integral to the monolithic body 18 and centrally disposed thereof, forms two discrete propellant chambers 14 and 16 in fluid communication with the housing 12.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

a housing comprising a first plurality of apertures spaced therein;

a cup-shaped body fluidly communicating with and coupled to said housing;

a plurality of partitions contained within said housing and integral to said cup-shaped body, wherein, a first integral partition forms a first igniter support having a second plurality of apertures spaced therein, a second integral partition forms a second igniter support having a third plurality of apertures spaced therein, and a third integral partition forms a discrete first propellant chamber and a discrete second propellant chamber, said first and second igniter supports fluidly communicating with and separately contained within said first and second propellant chambers, respectively;

a first propellant within said first igniter support;

a second propellant within said second igniter support;

a first igniter contained by said first igniter support; and

a second igniter contained by said first igniter support.

2. The gas generator of claim 1 further comprising an annular filter fluidly communicating with and radially spaced about said cup-shaped body and within said housing.

3. A gas generator comprising:

a housing comprising a first plurality of apertures spaced therein;

a monolithic body fluidly communicating with and coupled to said housing;

a plurality of partitions contained within said housing and integral to said monolithic body, wherein a first integral partition forms a first igniter support having a second plurality of apertures spaced therein, a second integral partition forms a second igniter support having a third plurality of apertures spaced therein, and a third integral partition forms a discrete first propellant chamber and a discrete second propellant chamber, said first and second igniter supports fluidly communicating with and separately contained within said first and second propellant chambers, respectively;

a first propellant within said first igniter support;

a second propellant within said second igniter support;

a first igniter contained by said first igniter support; and

a second igniter contained by said first igniter support.

4. The gas generator of claim 3 further comprising an annular filter fluidly communicating with and radially spaced about said monolithic body and within said housing.

5. A gas generator comprising:

a housing comprising a first plurality of apertures spaced therein;

an impact extrusion fluidly communicating with and coupled to said housing;

a plurality of partitions contained within said housing and integral to said impact extrusion, wherein a first integral partition forms a first igniter support having a second plurality of apertures spaced therein, a second integral partition forms a second igniter support having a third plurality of apertures spaced therein, and a third integral partition forms a discrete first propellant chamber and a discrete second propellant chamber, said first and second igniter supports separately contained within said first and second propellant chambers, respectively;

a first propellant within said first igniter support;

a second propellant within said second igniter support;

a first igniter contained by said first igniter support; and

a second igniter contained by said first igniter support.

6. The gas generator of claim 5 further comprising an annular filter fluidly communicating with and radially spaced about said monolithic body and within said housing.