Elongated inflator device, assembly and method of use

• US 6,890,001 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2000
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Bradley W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lum, L.
• Application Number:
  US09/586,484
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 230/736, 230/741, 230/730.2, 230/740
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26058 using a combination of inflators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

An inflator such as for supplying inflation fluid to an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint is provided. Such an inflator includes an elongated hollow tubular member containing an elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material reactable to produce a supply of gas. The tubular member has a length to diameter ratio greater than 20 and includes a plurality of longitudinally-spaced apart gas exit orifices wherethrough at least a portion of the supply of gas provided by reaction of the pyrotechnic gas generant material can be expelled from the tubular member. Also provided are associated or related inflation assemblies and methods for inflatable device inflation.

Claims

1. An inflation assembly comprising:

an inflator comprising an elongated hollow tubular member containing an elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material reactable to produce a supply of gas, the tubular member having a length to diameter ratio greater than 20 and including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced apart gas exit orifices wherethrough at least a portion of the supply of gas provided by reaction of the pyrotechnic gas generant material can be expelled from the tubular member and

an elongated discharge treatment element having a length and secured with the tubular member at selected positions along the length of the tubular member, the discharge treatment element effective to treat at least a portion of the gas expelled from the tubular member contacting thereagainst and to deform to create spaced apart gas flow paths between the tubular member and the treatment element, the gas flow paths spaced apart along the length of the tubular member and the length of the treatment element, the treatment element also directing at least a portion of gas expelled from the tubular member into an associated inflatable device.

2. The inflation assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material comprises a plurality of cylindrical annular-shaped grains axially aligned end to end along the length of the tubular member.

3. The inflation assembly of claim 2 wherein the cylindrical annular-shaped grains comprise an inner surface at least partially coated with an ignition enhancing material.

4. The inflation assembly of claim 2 wherein the cylindrical annular-shaped grains form an internal cavity longitudinally extending substantially through the supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material, the inflator additionally comprising an elongated ignition article extending within the internal cavity.

5. The inflation assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising a gas diffusible containment member within the elongated hollow tubular member and directly adjacently surrounding at least a portion of the supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material.

6. The inflation assembly of claim 5 wherein the gas diffusible containment member comprises an expanded metal.

7. The inflation assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising an associated inflatable device wherein the associated inflatable device comprises an inflatable curtain airbag cushion.

8. The inflation assembly of claim 7 wherein the elongated hollow tubular member is arcuate.

9. The inflation assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising a filter element interposed between the inflator and the discharge treatment element.

10. The inflation assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising an associated inflatable curtain airbag cushion inflatable device in inflation fluid communication with the inflator.

11. The inflation assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongated hollow tubular member is arcuate.

12. An inflator comprising:

an elongated hollow tubular member containing an elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material reactable to produce a supply of gas, the tubular member having a length to diameter ratio greater than 20 and including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced apart gas exit orifices wherethrough at least a portion of the supply of gas provided by reaction of the pyrotechnic gas generant material can be expelled from the tubular member,

wherein the elongated hollow tubular member is arcuate.

13. An inflation assembly comprising:

an inflator comprising an elongated hollow tubular member containing an elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material reactable to produce a supply of gas, the tubular member having a length to diameter ratio greater than 20 and including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced apart gas exit orifices wherethrough at least a portion of the supply of gas provided by reaction of the pyrotechnic gas generant material can be expelled from the tubular member and

an elongated diffuser device secured adjacent the inflator for directing at least a portion of gas expelled from the inflator into an associated inflatable device, the elongated diffuser device having first and second opposed lateral ends and also having first and second longitudinal ends.

14. The inflation assembly of claim 13 additionally comprising an associated inflatable device in inflation fluid communication with the inflator, wherein inflatable device comprises an inflatable curtain airbag cushion.

15. The inflation assembly of claim 13 wherein the elongated diffuser device and the inflator are secured together at at least one location between the first and second lateral ends of the elongated diffuser device.

16. An inflation assembly comprising:

an elongated inflator having a length, the elongated inflator adapted to provide a gas-containing discharge through selected locations spaced along the length of the inflator;

an elongated discharge treatment element secured with the inflator at selected positions along the length of the inflator and the length of the discharge treatment element, respectively, the discharge treatment element effective to treat at least a portion of the gas discharged from the inflator contacting thereagainst and to deform to create spaced apart gas flow paths between the inflator and the treatment element, the gas flow paths spaced apart along the length of the inflator and the length of the treatment element, respectively; and

an inflatable curtain airbag cushion in inflation fluid communication with the inflator.

17. The inflation assembly of claim 16 wherein the inflator comprises an elongated hollow tubular member containing an elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material reactable to produce a supply of gas.

18. The inflation assembly of claim 17 wherein the elongated hollow tubular member is arcuate.

19. The inflation assembly of claim 16 wherein the inflator is contained within the inflatable curtain airbag cushion.

20. A method of inflating an inflatable device, the method comprising:

reacting an elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material within an elongated hollow tubular member of an inflator having a length to diameter ratio greater than 20 to produce a supply of gas along the length of the tubular member, and

expelling at least a portion of the supply of gas through selected locations spaced along the length of the inflator,

wherein, subsequent to expulsion from the tubular member, the method additionally comprises;

treating at least a portion of supply of expelled gas to form a treated gas, the treating step including,

contacting expelled gas onto an elongated treatment element adjacent the inflator and

deforming the treatment element to create spaced apart gas flow paths between the inflator and the treatment element, the gas flow paths spaced apart along the respective lengths of the inflator and the treatment element; and

directing the treated gas through the spaced apart gas flow paths into the inflatable device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material reacts substantially simultaneously.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the treated gas is directed through the spaced apart gas flow paths into an inflatable curtain airbag cushion inflatable device.

23. A method of inflating an inflatable device, the method comprising:

reacting an elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material within an elongated hollow tubular member of an inflator having a length to diameter ratio greater than 20 to produce a supply of gas along the length of the tubular member, and

expelling at least a portion of the supply of gas through selected locations spaced along the length of the inflator,

wherein, prior to reaction of the pyrotechnic gas generant material, the hollow tubular member is bent to conform to an associated inflator-accepting site in an automotive vehicle in which the inflator is placed.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material reacts substantially simultaneously.

25. An inflation assembly of comprising:

an inflator comprising an elongated hollow tubular member containing an elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material reactable to produce a supply of gas, the tubular member having a length to diameter ratio greater than 20 and including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced apart gas exit orifices wherethrough at least a portion of the supply of gas provided by reaction of the pyrotechnic gas generant material can be expelled from the tubular member and

an elongated discharge treatment element having a length and secured with the tubular member at selected positions along the length of the tubular member, the discharge treatment element effective to treat at least a portion of the gas expelled from the tubular member contacting thereagainst and to deform to create spaced apart gas flow paths between the tubular member and the treatment element, the gas flow paths spaced apart along the length of the tubular member and the length of the treatment element, the treatment element also directing at least a portion of gas expelled from the tubular member into an associated inflatable device,

wherein the discharge treatment element has first and second opposed lateral ends and also has first and second longitudinal ends.

26. A method of inflating an inflatable device, the method comprising:

reacting an elongated supply of pyrotechnic gas generant material within an elongated hollow tubular member of an inflator having a length to diameter ratio greater than 20 to produce a supply of gas along the length of the tubular member, and

expelling at least a portion of the supply of gas through selected locations spaced along the length of the inflator,

wherein, subsequent to expulsion from the tubular member, the method additionally comprises;

treating at least a portion of supply of expelled gas to form a treated gas, the treating step including,

contacting expelled gas onto an elongated discharge treatment element adjacent the inflator and

deforming the discharge treatment element to create spaced apart gas flow paths between the inflator and the treatment element, the gas flow paths spaced apart along the respective lengths of the inflator and the treatment element, and

directing the treated gas through the spaced apart gas flow paths into the inflatable device,

wherein the discharge treatment element has first and second opposed lateral ends and also has first and second longitudinal ends and wherein;

in a static state, the first and second longitudinal ends of the discharge treatment element contact the tubular member, and

upon activation, the first and second longitudinal ends of the discharge treatment element deform away from the tubular member to form spaced apart gas flow paths extending;

     1) between the tubular member and each of the first and second longitudinal ends of the discharge treatment element, and

     2) into the inflatable device.