Stored-gas inflator

• US 6,676,157 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nanbu, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/078,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20020130501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/737, 280/738, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742, 137/68.19, 137/68.23
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence

Abstract

A stored-gas inflator includes a pressure-resistant container having a high-pressure-gas chamber and a gas outlet for ejecting gas from the high-pressure-gas chamber; a burst shim attached to the gas outlet for sealing thereof; a duct disposed inside the high-pressure-gas chamber having an end facing the burst shim; and an initiator attached to the duct for generating gas pressure so that the gas pressure is guided through the duct to push the burst shim. The stored-gas inflator can easily eject gas with significantly lower bursting pressure to burst the burst shim, and a lower-output initiator can be used.

Claims

1. A stored-gas inflator comprising:

a container including a pressure chamber and a gas outlet for ejecting a gas from the pressure chamber;

a burst shim attached to the gas outlet for sealing the same;

a duct disposed inside the pressure chamber and having one end facing the burst shim and a sealing plate formed at the one end for sealing the same, said sealing plate and said burst shim being connected to each other; and

an initiator attached to the duct for generating gas pressure so that when the initiator is actuated, the gas pressure thereof is guided through the duct to the sealing plate and burst shim to break the sealing plate and burst shim.

2. A stored-gas inflator according to claim 1, wherein said initiator is located in the pressure chamber at a side opposite to the burst shim to directly guide the gas from the initiator to the burst shim.

3. A stored-gas inflator according to claim 1, further comprising an initiator-mounting part retaining the initiator and formed at a lateral side of the container close to the burst shim, said duct being bent in the pressure chamber.