Multi-chamber inflator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
- a housing comprising an inner wall and a first plurality of gas exit apertures spaced therein, said housing forming a primary propellant chamber;
an initiator assembly comprising a first component and a second component coupled together in nested relationship, said assembly fixed within said housing and over said primary propellant chamber;
a first chamber and a second chamber wherein each chamber is formed through said first and second components, said first chamber and/or said second chamber in fluid communication with said primary propellant chamber upon inflator operation;
a first initiator and a second initiator contained within the first chamber and the second chamber respectively;
a first ignition compound and a second ignition compound within said first and second chambers respectively, wherein upon inflator operation said first and/or said second initiators ignite said first and/or said second ignition compounds, respectively; and
a solid primary gas generant composition contained within said primary propellant chamber, said primary gas generant combustible upon ignition of said first and/or said second ignition compounds wherein gases produced from said primary gas generant exit said first plurality of gas exit apertures.
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Abstract
A simplified multi-chamber inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two initiator chambers 42 and 44 respectively formed within an initiator assembly 18. The initiator assembly 18 may be formed from a one-piece component or alternatively, may be formed by coupling a first component 26 and a second component 28 in nested relationship within the housing 12. A primary propellant chamber 52 fluidly communicates with initiator chambers 42 and 44 upon actuation of inflator 10.
74 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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a housing comprising an inner wall and a first plurality of gas exit apertures spaced therein, said housing forming a primary propellant chamber;
an initiator assembly comprising a first component and a second component coupled together in nested relationship, said assembly fixed within said housing and over said primary propellant chamber;
a first chamber and a second chamber wherein each chamber is formed through said first and second components, said first chamber and/or said second chamber in fluid communication with said primary propellant chamber upon inflator operation;
a first initiator and a second initiator contained within the first chamber and the second chamber respectively;
a first ignition compound and a second ignition compound within said first and second chambers respectively, wherein upon inflator operation said first and/or said second initiators ignite said first and/or said second ignition compounds, respectively; and
a solid primary gas generant composition contained within said primary propellant chamber, said primary gas generant combustible upon ignition of said first and/or said second ignition compounds wherein gases produced from said primary gas generant exit said first plurality of gas exit apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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a housing containing a primary propellant chamber formed therein;
an ignition assembly fixed within said housing, the ignition assembly comprising a first component and a second component coupled together in nested relationship;
a first annular wall and a second annular wall formed within said first component;
a third annular wall and a fourth annular wall formed within said second component, said first and third walls circumferentially equivalent and in axial alignment, and said second and fourth walls circumferentially equivalent and in axial alignment, wherein said first and third walls form a first ignition chamber and said second and fourth walls form a second ignition chamber;
a first igniter contained within the first ignition chamber;
a second igniter contained within the second ignition chamber;
a first ignition compound contained within said first ignition chamber and ignitable by said first igniter wherein said first chamber fluidly communicates with said primary chamber upon ignition of said first ignition compound; and
a second ignition compound contained within said second ignition chamber and ignitable by said second igniter wherein said second chamber fluidly communicates with said primary chamber upon ignition of said second ignition compound; and
a primary gas generant composition contained within said primary propellant chamber, said primary gas generant combustible upon ignition of said first and/or said second ignition compounds.
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4. A gas generating inflator useful in a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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a housing containing a primary propellant chamber formed therein;
an ignition assembly comprising a first ignition chamber and a second ignition chamber formed therein, said first ignition chamber and said second ignition chamber positively isolated during inflator operation;
a first igniter contained within the first ignition chamber;
a second igniter contained within the second ignition chamber;
a first ignition compound contained within said first ignition chamber and ignitable by said first igniter wherein said first chamber fluidly communicates with said primary chamber upon ignition of said first ignition compound; and
a second ignition compound contained within said second ignition chamber and ignitable by said second igniter wherein said second chamber fluidly communicates with said primary chamber upon ignition of said second ignition compound; and
a solid primary gas generant composition contained within said primary propellant chamber, said primary gas generant combustible upon ignition of said first or said second ignition compounds, and, said inflator operable upon ignition of either the first or second ignition compound. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A gas generating inflator useful in a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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a housing containing a primary propellant chamber formed therein;
an ignition assembly formed from a first component in nested relationship with a second component, said ignition assembly comprising a first ignition chamber and a second ignition chamber formed therein;
a first igniter contained within the first ignition chamber;
a second igniter contained within the second ignition chamber;
a first ignition compound contained within said first ignition chamber and ignitable by said first igniter wherein said first chamber fluidly communicates with said primary chamber upon ignition of said first ignition compound; and
a second ignition compound contained within said second ignition chamber and ignitable by said second igniter wherein said second chamber fluidly communicates with said primary chamber upon ignition of said second ignition compound; and
a solid primary gas generant composition contained within said primary propellant chamber, said primary gas generant combustible upon ignition of said first and/or said second ignition compounds.
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7. A gas generating inflator useful in a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:
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a housing containing a primary propellant chamber formed therein;
a single ignition assembly comprising a first annular wall and a second annular wall, said first annular wall and said second annular wall respectively defining a first ignition chamber and a second ignition chamber;
a first igniter contained within the first ignition chamber;
aa second igniter contained within the second ignition chamber;
a first ignition compound contained within said first ignition chamber and ignitable by said first igniter wherein said first chamber fluidly communicates with said primary chamber upon ignition of said first ignition compound; and
a second ignition compound contained within said second ignition chamber and ignitable by said second igniter wherein said second chamber fluidly communicates with said primary chamber upon ignition of said second ignition compound; and
a solid primary gas generant composition contained within said primary propellant chamber, said primary gas generant combustible upon ignition of said first and/or said second ignition compounds. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification