Inflator second stage combustion control
First Claim
1. An inflator for inflating an airbag comprising:
- a housing;
a first chamber disposed within the housing;
a generant cup and a cap disposed within the housing, the generant cup and the cap defining a second chamber that houses gas generant, the cap engaging the generant cup in seated engagement; and
one or more perforations, wherein actuation of gas generant in the second chamber unseals the one or more perforations, wherein the movement of the cap does not separate the cap from the generant cup, wherein the first chamber is capable of being actuated independent of the second chamber.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A new type of airbag inflator that may be used in an airbag system is disclosed. The inflator will generally include a housing and two initiators. Accordingly, the inflator is a “dual-stage” inflator. The two stages are disposed within the housing. The second initiator is disposed within a second stage generant cup. A cap is also used to engage the second stage cup. The cap maintains seated engagement with the second stage cup, even during deployment of the second stage. The second stage will also include one or more perforations, which constitute openings through which gas may flow. When the second initiator is in the unactuated state, these perforations will be isolated from the generant by the cap. Actuation of the second initiator unseals the one or more perforations but does not unseat the cap from the cup, due to constraints put in place to prevent such unseating.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflator for inflating an airbag comprising:
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a housing; a first chamber disposed within the housing; a generant cup and a cap disposed within the housing, the generant cup and the cap defining a second chamber that houses gas generant, the cap engaging the generant cup in seated engagement; and one or more perforations, wherein actuation of gas generant in the second chamber unseals the one or more perforations, wherein the movement of the cap does not separate the cap from the generant cup, wherein the first chamber is capable of being actuated independent of the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An airbag system comprising:
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an airbag; an inflator comprising; a housing; a first chamber disposed within the housing; a generant cup and a cap disposed within the housing, the generant cup and the cap defining a second chamber that houses gas generant, the cap engaging the generant cup in seated engagement; one or more perforations, wherein actuation of gas generant in the second chamber unseals the one or more perforations, wherein the movement of the cap does not separate the cap from the generant cup; and a sensor that detects the severity of an impact such that if the sensor detects that the severity of the impact is above a first threshold, the inflator actuates gas generant in the first chamber, wherein the first chamber is capable of being actuated independent of the second chamber chamber. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for making an airbag system, the method comprising:
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obtaining an airbag; obtaining an inflator, the inflator comprising; a housing; a first chamber disposed within the housing; a generant cup and a cap disposed within the housing, the generant cup and the cap defining a second chamber that houses gas generant, the cap engaging the generant cup in seated engagement; and one or more perforations, wherein actuation of gas generant in the second chamber unseals the one or more perforations, wherein the movement of the cap does not separate the cap from the generant cup; and obtaining a sensor that detects the severity of an impact such that if the sensor detects that the severity of the impact is above a first threshold, the inflator actuates gas generant in the first chamber, wherein the first chamber is capable of being actuated independent of the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification