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Air bag inflator

  • US 6,672,616 B2
  • Filed: 03/14/2002
  • Issued: 01/06/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An inflator for an air-bag, the inflator comprising a first gas chamber for containing a first gas, and a second gas chamber for containing a second gas, each gas chamber being mounted on a central block or housing, the central block or housing defining gas flow passages leading from each gas chamber to direct gas to an air-bag, each passage initially being closed by a closure, the block or housing containing an opening element associated with each closure, adapted to move from an initial position in which integrity of the associated closure is maintained to a final position in which the associated closure is opened, there being an igniter to generate hot gas, and an actuating element adapted to be moved in response to the generation of the hot gas, means being provided to constrain the actuating element to move in a predetermined direction over at least part of its movement, the actuating element acting upon the opening elements to move the opening elements substantially simultaneously to open the closures to permit (1) gas to flow from the gas chambers through the gas flow passages, (2) movement of the actuating element and the opening elements over a predetermined distance, and (3) opening a further gas flow path to permit gas from the igniter to flow through the further gas flow path into the air-bag.

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