Inflator for vehicle protection apparatus
First Claim
1. A pressurized container comprising:
- a hollow vessel defining a chamber therein, the chamber having first and second portions separated by an isolator member which includes a passage therethrough fluidly connecting the first and second portions;
a housing connected to the vessel, the housing defining an outlet;
a closure member connected to the housing and fluidly separating the outlet from the chamber of the vessel;
a moveable member seated within and forming a seal with the housing and abutting the closure member; and
an initiator connected to the housing, the initiator comprising a pyrotechnic charge housed within a body;
wherein activation of the initiator ignites the charge, thereby producing expanding gases that burst the body and propel the moveable member through the closure member, thereby fluidly connecting the first portion of the chamber and the outlet to release pressurized gas within the chamber from the first portion of the chamber with sufficient volume to completely inflate an air bag of an automobile, and to release the pressurized gas within the chamber from the second portion of the chamber to maintain the inflation of the air bag of the automobile.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pressurized container includes a vessel defining a chamber therein. A housing that is connected to the vessel defines an outlet that is fluidly separated from the chamber by a closure member. A moveable member may be seated within and form a seal with the housing and abut the closure member. Activation of an initiator propels the moveable member through the closure member, thereby fluidly connecting the chamber and the outlet. The pressurized container might include an obstruction partially blocking an outlet path and another initiator that breaks the obstruction when activated, thereby further opening the outlet path. The pressurized container might include a main path fluidly connected to the outlet, a first secondary path that connects the main path to the chamber, and a second secondary path that also connects the main path to the chamber. If the pressurized container includes two secondary paths, a first closure member can fluidly separate the outlet from the chamber of the vessel along the first secondary path, and a second closure member can fluidly separate the outlet from the chamber of the vessel along the second secondary path. Also, the chamber might include a first portion and a second portion, wherein an isolator member substantially fluidly separates the first portion and the second portion.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A pressurized container comprising:
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a hollow vessel defining a chamber therein, the chamber having first and second portions separated by an isolator member which includes a passage therethrough fluidly connecting the first and second portions;
a housing connected to the vessel, the housing defining an outlet;
a closure member connected to the housing and fluidly separating the outlet from the chamber of the vessel;
a moveable member seated within and forming a seal with the housing and abutting the closure member; and
an initiator connected to the housing, the initiator comprising a pyrotechnic charge housed within a body;
wherein activation of the initiator ignites the charge, thereby producing expanding gases that burst the body and propel the moveable member through the closure member, thereby fluidly connecting the first portion of the chamber and the outlet to release pressurized gas within the chamber from the first portion of the chamber with sufficient volume to completely inflate an air bag of an automobile, and to release the pressurized gas within the chamber from the second portion of the chamber to maintain the inflation of the air bag of the automobile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pressurized container comprising:
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a hollow vessel defining a chamber therein, the chamber comprising a first portion and a second portion;
an isolator member substantially fluidly separating the first portion and the second portion;
a passage fluidly connecting the first portion of the chamber and the second portion of the chamber;
a housing connected to the vessel, the housing defining an outlet;
a closure member fluidly separating the outlet from the first portion of the chamber of the vessel; and
an initiator at least partially contained within the housing;
wherein activation of the initiator breaks the closure member, thereby fluidly connecting the first portion of the chamber and the outlet to release pressurized gas within the chamber from the first portion of the chamber with sufficient volume to completely inflate an air bag of an automobile, and to release the pressurized gas within the chamber from the second portion of the chamber to maintain the inflation of the air bag of the automobile. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A pressurized container comprising:
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a hollow vessel defining a chamber therein, the chamber comprising a first portion and a second portion;
an isolator member substantially fluidly separating the first portion and the second portion;
a passage fluidly connecting the first portion of the chamber and the second portion of the chamber;
a pressurized gas within the chamber, the pressurized gas comprising a mixture of helium and carbon dioxide;
a housing connected to the vessel, the housing defining an outlet;
a closure member connected to the housing and fluidly separating the outlet from the chamber of the vessel; and
an initiator connected to the housing;
wherein activation of the initiator breaks the closure member, thereby fluidly connecting the first portion of the chamber and the outlet such that the pressurized gas within the first portion escapes from the chamber through the outlet at a first rate, pressurized helium gas within the second portion of the chamber escapes at a second rate, and pressurized carbon dioxide within the second portion of the chamber escapes at a third rate slower than the first and second rates. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A pressurized container comprising:
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a hollow vessel defining a chamber therein separated into first and second portions by an isolator member which includes a passage therethrough fluidly connecting the first and second portions;
a pressurized gas within the chamber, the pressurized gas comprising a mixture of at least a first gas and a second gas, the second gas having a molecule size larger than that of the first gas;
a housing connected to the vessel, the housing defining an outlet fluidly separated from the chamber by a closure member; and
an initiator connected to the housing;
wherein the pressurized chamber is configured such that activation of the initiator breaks the closure member, thereby fluidly connecting the first portion of the chamber and the outlet to release the pressurized gas within the chamber from the first portion of the chamber at a first flow rate and with sufficient volume to completely inflate an air bag of an automobile, to release the first gas from the second portion of the chamber at a second flow rate, and to release the second gas from the second portion of the chamber at a third flow rate slower than the first and second flow rates. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A pressurized container for an air bag, the pressurized container comprising:
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a hollow vessel defining a chamber having first and second portions separated by an isolator member which includes a passage therethrough fluidly connecting the first and second portions;
a pressurized gas within the chamber;
an initiator within a housing having an outlet, the housing connected to the chamber and the initiator and outlet separated from the first portion by a closure member;
wherein the pressurized container is configured such that activation of the initiator breaks the closure member thereby fluidly connecting the first portion of the chamber and the outlet to release the pressurized gas within the chamber from the first portion of the chamber at a first flow rate and with sufficient volume to completely inflate the air bag of an automobile, and to release the pressurized gas within the chamber from the second portion of the chamber at a second flow rate different from the first flow rate to maintain the inflation of the air bag of the automobile. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification