Distributed charge inflator system

• US 7,137,341 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• 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: Fitzgerald, Kevin, Shilliday, David, Scaven, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CLEMENT, MICHELLE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US10/458,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20030226468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 102/530, 102/537, 280/728.1, 280/729, 280/733, 280/736, 280/737, 280/743
• US Class Current: 102/530
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• 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 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• 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 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence
• 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 an inflatable component and an distributed charge inflator disposed in the inflatable component. The distributed charge inflator includes a first charge for generating inflating gas and a housing body connected to the first charge. The housing body includes an initiator and a second charge that has relatively long burn time. 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 of the inflatable component.

Claims

1. An inflatable system comprising:

a. an inflatable component;

b. a first charge for generating inflating gas and having a first burn time; and

c. a housing body (i) including an initiator and a second charge for generating inflating gas and (ii) connected to the first charge, wherein the first charge and the housing body are disposed in the inflatable component with at least a substantial portion of the first charge outside the housing, the inflatable component comprises expandable material surrounding at least the first charge, the initiator ignites the first charge and generates inflating gas which inflates the inflatable component, and the initiator ignites the second charge which has burn time longer than the first burn time.

2. The inflatable system of claim 1, wherein the initiator ignites the first charge and the second charge simultaneously.

3. The inflatable system of claim 1, wherein the first charge inflates the inflatable component and the second charge maintains the inflation of the inflatable component.

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

5. The inflatable system of claim 4, wherein the third charge is compressed in a container.

6. The inflatable system of claim 5, wherein the container is placed around the initiator in the housing body.

7. The inflatable system of claim 1, wherein the first charge is a solid monolithic block of pyrotechnic materials in linear configuration.

8. The inflatable system of claim 1, wherein the system includes a plurality of the first charges connected to the housing body and the inflatable component includes a plurality of sections.

9. The inflatable system of claim 8, wherein the initiator ignites the plurality of the first charges.

10. The inflatable system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of the first charges is disposed in each of the plurality of sections of the inflatable component.

11. The inflatable system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of the first charges has different deployment characteristics and the ignition of the plurality of the first charge causes inflation of the plurality of sections of the inflatable component with different deployment characteristics.

12. The inflatable system of claim 11, wherein the different deployment characteristics include different timing, different pressures or different burn rates.

13. The inflatable system of claim 11, wherein the deployment characteristics are determined by a shape, a length or a composition of the first charge.

14. The inflatable system of claim 1, wherein the second charge has a slower gas onset rate than the first charge.

15. The inflatable system of claim 1, wherein the initiator initiates the first charge and the second charge simultaneously.

16. The inflatable system of claim 4, wherein the second charge is compressed in a container.

17. The inflatable system of claim 6, wherein the container is placed adjacent the initiator in the housing body.