Tuning the performance of compressed gas-containing inflators
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, the apparatus comprising:
- a chamber containing a gas mixture under an elevated pressure, the gas mixture having an average molecular weight of at least 10 and no more than 15, the gas mixture effective to provide a gaseous inflation medium to inflate the inflatable device;
a chamber opener actuatable to open the chamber; and
a diffuser assembly including at least one exit port for directing gaseous inflation medium from the apparatus to the inflatable device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator apparatus wherein the molecular weight of the gas mixture therein contained is manipulated by varying the relative amounts of the various constituents thereof. Through such manipulation and tight control of gas mixture molecular weight, the performance of the inflator can be properly tuned such as to desirably control or influence the speed of deployment of an associated airbag cushion and minimize or reduce damage to an associated airbag cushion caused by excessive deployment speeds, as well as satisfy the relatively onerous inflation demands required for proper or desired operation of various close proximity airbag cushions or inflatable restraint devices.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, the apparatus comprising:
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a chamber containing a gas mixture under an elevated pressure, the gas mixture having an average molecular weight of at least 10 and no more than 15, the gas mixture effective to provide a gaseous inflation medium to inflate the inflatable device;
a chamber opener actuatable to open the chamber; and
a diffuser assembly including at least one exit port for directing gaseous inflation medium from the apparatus to the inflatable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
the apparatus of claim 1 and at least one close proximity inflatable restraint device in inflation medium transfer communication with the apparatus of claim 1 upon actuation thereof.
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13. A method for inflating at least one close proximity inflatable restraint device, the method comprising:
actuating the apparatus of claim 1 to effect direction of an inflation quantity of the gaseous inflation medium from the apparatus to the at least one close proximity inflatable restraint device.
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14. An inflatable restraint system comprising:
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at least one close proximity inflatable restraint device and an inflator effective, upon actuation, to provide a gaseous inflation medium to the at least one close proximity inflatable restraint device, the inflator containing a gas mixture under an elevated pressure, the gas mixture having an average molecular weight of at least 10 and no more than 15 and consisting essentially of at least two members of the group consisting of helium, argon, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen and oxygen. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for inflating a close proximity inflatable airbag cushion, the method comprising:
actuating an inflator device having a chamber containing a gas mixture under an elevated pressure, the gas mixture having an average molecular weight of at least 10 and no more than 15 and consisting essentially of at least two members of the group consisting of helium, argon, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen and oxygen, the gas mixture effective to provide a gaseous inflation medium to inflate the close proximity inflatable airbag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
Specification