Distributed charge inflator system

• US 6,886,469 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Automotive US, Inc. (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Automotive US, Inc. (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Scaven, Greg, Fitzgerald, Kevin, Shilliday, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack
• Application Number:
  US10/146,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 102/530, 102/537, 280/728.1, 280/736, 280/743.1, 280/729, 280/733, 280/737
• US Class Current: 102/530
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2646 the reacting substances being supported by the inflatable member walls, or by a flexible support within it
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

An inflatable system includes a first charge distributed within an inflatable component and a housing body connected to the first charge including a second charge and an initiator. Upon receiving a signal from a sensor, the initiator ignites the first charge and the second charge simultaneously. The first charge inflates the inflatable component and the second charge sustains the inflation.

Claims

1. An inflatable system comprising:

an inflatable component;

a first charge distributed within the inflatable component;

a housing body connected to the first charge, and

wherein (i) the housing body includes a second charge and an initiator for igniting the first charge and the second charge and (ii) the inflatable component comprises expandable material surrounding the first charge.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a burn time of the second charge is slower than a burn time of the first charge.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the initiator ignites the first charge and the second charge simultaneously.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing body further includes a spring to support a different load of the second charge.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing body further includes a joining member joining the housing body to the first charge.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first charge inflates the inflatable component and the second charge sustains the inflation of the inflatable component.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further includes a third charge to boost the ignition of the first charge.

8. The system according to claim 1 in which the expandable material is formed of fabric.

9. An inflatable system comprising:

an inflatable component;

a first charge distributed within the inflatable component; and

a housing body including a second charge, said housing body being connected to the first charge,

wherein (i) a burn time of the second charge is slower than a burn time of the first charge and (ii) the inflatable component comprises expandable material surrounding the first charge.

10. The system according to claim 9 in which the expandable material is formed of fabric.

11. An inflatable system comprising:

an inflatable component;

a first charge distributed within the inflatable component;

a housing body including a second charge, said housing body being connected to the first charge, and

an initiator; and

wherein (i) a burn time of the second charge is slower than a burn time of the first charge and (ii) the initiator is in gaseous communication with both the first charge and the second charge so as to ignite both charges simultaneously.

12. An inflatable system comprising:

an inflatable component;

a first charge distributed within the inflatable component;

a housing body connected to the first charge, and

wherein (i) the housing body includes a second charge and an initiator for igniting the first charge and the second charge and (ii) the initiator is in gaseous communication with both the first charge and the second charge so as to ignite both charges simultaneously.