Inflator
First Claim
1. An inflator comprising:
- a housing defining a housing interior cavity, the housing including at least one housing aperture formed therealong to enable fluid communication between the interior cavity and an exterior of the housing;
a first baffle positioned in the housing interior cavity, at least a portion of the first baffle being spaced apart from the housing to define a fluid channel therebetween in communication with the at least one housing aperture, the first baffle defining a first baffle interior cavity, the first baffle including a first opening to enable fluid communication between the first baffle interior cavity and the fluid channel;
a spacer positioned in the housing interior cavity, the spacer defining an enclosure, the spacer having at least one spacer aperture formed therein to enable fluid communication between the enclosure and the first baffle interior cavity;
a quantity of a gas generant composition contained within the spacer enclosure; and
an initiator in fluid communication with the gas generant composition and operatively coupled to the housing so as to enable fluid communication between the initiator and the spacer enclosure upon activation of the inflator, for initiating combustion of the gas generant composition upon activation of the inflator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The inflator (10) includes a housing (12) having apertures (13) formed therealong to enable fluid communication between an interior of the housing (12) and an exterior of the housing. A first baffle (14) is positioned in the housing interior. The baffle (14) is spaced apart from the housing (12) to define a fluid channel (33) therebetween in communication with the housing apertures (13). The baffle (14) includes a first opening (17) for fluid communication between an interior of the baffle (14) and the fluid channel (33), and an open end portion for fluid communication between the baffle interior and the baffle exterior. A spacer (18) positioned in the housing interior cavity defines an enclosure (18c) and includes an aperture (19) formed therein for fluid communication between the enclosure (18c) and the open end portion of the baffle. A gas generant (30) is positioned within the spacer enclosure (18c). The gas generant (30) may be a smokeless gas generant composition. An initiator (20) is coupled to the housing (12) for initiating combustion of the gas generant (30) upon activation of the inflator. The inflator (10) provides a continuous, tortuous fluid path through the fluid channel (33) for cooling inflation gases. In addition, the use of a smokeless gas generant composition allows the inflator (10) to operate without the need for a filter to remove particulate materials from the inflation gas.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflator comprising:
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a housing defining a housing interior cavity, the housing including at least one housing aperture formed therealong to enable fluid communication between the interior cavity and an exterior of the housing; a first baffle positioned in the housing interior cavity, at least a portion of the first baffle being spaced apart from the housing to define a fluid channel therebetween in communication with the at least one housing aperture, the first baffle defining a first baffle interior cavity, the first baffle including a first opening to enable fluid communication between the first baffle interior cavity and the fluid channel; a spacer positioned in the housing interior cavity, the spacer defining an enclosure, the spacer having at least one spacer aperture formed therein to enable fluid communication between the enclosure and the first baffle interior cavity; a quantity of a gas generant composition contained within the spacer enclosure; and an initiator in fluid communication with the gas generant composition and operatively coupled to the housing so as to enable fluid communication between the initiator and the spacer enclosure upon activation of the inflator, for initiating combustion of the gas generant composition upon activation of the inflator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An airbag system comprising at least one airbag and an inflator coupled to the airbag so as to enable fluid communication with an interior of the airbag upon activation of the inflator, the inflator including:
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a housing including at least one housing aperture formed therealong to enable fluid communication between an interior of the housing and an exterior of the housing; a baffle positioned in the housing interior, at least a portion of the baffle being spaced apart from the housing to define a fluid channel therebetween in communication with the at least one housing aperture, the baffle including a first opening to enable fluid communication with the fluid channel; a spacer positioned in the housing interior, the spacer defining an enclosure, the spacer having at least one spacer aperture formed therein to enable fluid communication between the enclosure and an interior of the baffle; a quantity of a gas generant composition contained within the spacer enclosure; and an initiator in fluid communication with the gas generant composition for initiating combustion of the gas generant composition upon activation of the inflator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:
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a safety belt assembly including a first housing and a safety belt extending from the first housing, and an air bag system including at least one airbag and an airbag inflator coupled to the airbag so as to enable fluid communication with an interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag in the event of a collision, the inflator comprising; a second housing including at least one housing aperture formed therealong to enable fluid communication between an interior of the second housing and an exterior of the second housing; a first baffle positioned in the second housing interior, at least a portion of the baffle being spaced apart from the second housing to define a fluid channel therebetween in communication with the at least one housing aperture, the baffle including a first opening to enable fluid communication with the fluid channel; a spacer positioned in the second housing interior, the spacer defining an enclosure, the spacer having at least one spacer aperture formed therein to enable fluid communication between the enclosure and an interior of the baffle; a quantity of a gas generant composition contained within the spacer enclosure; and an initiator in fluid communication with the gas generant composition for initiating combustion of the gas generant composition upon activation of the inflator. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification