Airbag inflation gas generation

• US 6,634,302 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Moore, Walter A., Rink, Karl K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FELTON, AILEEN BAKER
• Application Number:
  US09/724,295
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 149/1, 149/74, 102/530, 102/531, 280/736, 280/737, 280/741
• US Class Current: 102/530
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/04 by auto-decomposition of single substances

Abstract

An inflator apparatus for inflating an inflatable device is provided wherein a gas generant reactant reacts with oxygen to produce a gaseous inflation medium. The apparatus includes a closed first chamber wherein a supply of oxygen and a quantity of at least one unreactive reaction modifier are stored. The apparatus also includes an initiator to initiate reaction of at least a fraction of the supply of oxygen with the gas generant reactant to produce a quantity of the gaseous inflation medium. Also provided are associated methods for inflating an inflatable safety device in a vehicle.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for inflating an inflatable device wherein a gas generant reactant reacts with oxygen to produce a gaseous inflation medium, the improvement comprising:

a closed first chamber having contents free of nitrous oxide and which contents include a supply of oxygen and a quantity of at least one unreactive reaction modifier selected from a group consisting of CO₂, Xe, SF₆ and mixtures thereof, and

an initiator to initiate reaction of at least a fraction of the supply of oxygen with the gas generant reactant to produce a quantity of the gaseous inflation medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the quantity of at least one unreactive reaction modifier is stored within the closed first chamber at least partially in liquefied form in fluid contact with at least a portion of the supply of oxygen.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas generant reactant comprises a pyrotechnic.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the pyrotechnic is oxygen-deficient.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas generant reactant is oxygen-deficient.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reaction modifier is CO₂.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprises a diffuser assembly including at least one exit port for directing at least a portion of the gaseous inflation medium to the inflatable device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a second chamber wherein the gas generant reactant is stored external to the first chamber and in discharge communication with the initiator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein discharge of the initiator onto the gas generant reactant produces discharge products effective to open the first chamber and place at least a portion of the first chamber contents in contact with one or more of the discharge products, remaining unreacted gas generant and remaining not fully reacted gas generant.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contents of the first chamber include the gas generant reactant in contact with at least a portion of the supply of oxygen.

11. In an apparatus for inflating an inflatable device wherein a gas generant reactant reacts with oxygen to produce a gaseous inflation medium, the improvement comprising:

a closed first chamber having contents free of nitrous oxide and which contents include a supply of oxygen and a quantity of an unreactive reaction modifier comprising CO₂, and

an initiator to initiate reaction of at least a fraction of the supply of oxygen with the gas generant reactant to produce a quantity of the gaseous inflation medium;

wherein the gas generant reactant is oxygen-deficient.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the quantity of at least one unreactive reaction modifier is stored within the closed first chamber at least partially in liquefied form in fluid contact with at least a portion of the supply of oxygen.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the gas generant reactant comprises a pyrotechnic.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 additionally comprising:

a second chamber wherein the gas generant reactant is stored external to the first chamber and in discharge communication with the initiator.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein discharge of the initiator onto the gas generant reactant produces discharge products effective to open the first chamber and place at least a portion of the first chamber contents in contact with one or more of the discharge products, remaining unreacted gas generant and remaining not fully reacted gas generant.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the contents of the first chamber include the gas generant reactant in contact with at least a portion of the supply of oxygen.

17. In an apparatus for inflating an inflatable device wherein a gas generant reactant reacts with oxygen to produce a gaseous inflation medium, the improvement comprising:

a closed first chamber having contents free of nitrous oxide and which contents include a supply of oxygen and a quantity of at least one unreactive reaction modifier selected from a group consisting of CO₂, Xe, SF₆ and mixtures thereof,

an initiator to initiate reaction of at least a fraction of the supply of oxygen with the gas generant reactant to produce a quantity of the gaseous inflation medium, and

a second chamber wherein the gas generant reactant is stored external to the first chamber and in discharge communication with the initiator wherein discharge of the initiator onto the gas generant reactant produces discharge products effective to open the first chamber and place at least a portion of the first chamber contents in contact with one or more of the discharge products, remaining unreacted gas generant and remaining not fully reacted gas generant.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of the quantity of at least one unreactive reaction modifier is stored within the closed first chamber at least partially in liquefied form in fluid contact with at least a portion of the supply of oxygen.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the gas generant reactant comprises a pyrotechnic.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the pyrotechnic is oxygen-deficient.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the gas generant reactant is oxygen-deficient.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the reaction modifier is CO₂.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the contents of the first chamber include the gas generant reactant in contact with at least a portion of the supply of oxygen.