Compact multi-level output gas generator
First Claim
1. A gas generator for an air bag or other safety device, comprising:
- an elongated pressure vessel having a primary gas generant portion with a first open end and a secondary portion with a second open end;
said primary gas generating portion having a primary ignition device and primary gas generating energetics disposed therein, said primary ignition device being mounted on said pressure vessel at said first open end;
a pressure vessel closure secured to said second end of said pressure vessel;
said primary gas generant portion having a gas therein under a predetermined pressure;
said pressure vessel having a midportion, a divider wall disposed within the midportion of said pressure vessel to separate said primary gas generant portion and said secondary portion; and
said divider wall being separate from said pressure vessel and being in non-hermetic engagement therewith;
said pressure vessel having a primary exit orifice in said midportion thereof that is in communication with said primary gas generant portion, a primary rupture disk disposed over said primary exit orifice;
the midportion of said pressure vessel being indented to retain said divider wall in position between said primary gas generant portion and said secondary portion.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-level gas inflator for an air bag or other safety device, comprising an elongated pressure vessel having a primary gas generant portion with a first open end and a secondary portion with a second open end. The primary gas generant portion has a primary ignition device and primary gas generating energetics disposed therein. The primary ignition device is mounted on and closes the pressure vessel at the first open end thereof. The secondary portion may have a secondary ignition device and secondary gas generating energetics disposed therein. The secondary ignition device may be mounted on the pressure vessel at the second open end thereof. A suitable gas under a predetermined pressure is present in the primary and secondary portions. One or more separate dividers or divider walls are disposed within the midportion of the pressure vessel to separate the primary and secondary portions. The pressure vessel may have a primary exit orifice in the midportion thereof that is in communication with the primary gas generant portion, and a secondary exit orifice in the midportion thereof that is in communication with the secondary portion. A primary rupture disk is disposed over the primary exit orifice, and a secondary rupture disk is disposed over the secondary exit orifice. A diffuser may be mounted on and surround the pressure vessel midportion and the primary and secondary exit orifices. Each divider or divider wall may have a communication port therethrough.
43 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A gas generator for an air bag or other safety device, comprising:
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an elongated pressure vessel having a primary gas generant portion with a first open end and a secondary portion with a second open end; said primary gas generating portion having a primary ignition device and primary gas generating energetics disposed therein, said primary ignition device being mounted on said pressure vessel at said first open end; a pressure vessel closure secured to said second end of said pressure vessel; said primary gas generant portion having a gas therein under a predetermined pressure; said pressure vessel having a midportion, a divider wall disposed within the midportion of said pressure vessel to separate said primary gas generant portion and said secondary portion; and said divider wall being separate from said pressure vessel and being in non-hermetic engagement therewith; said pressure vessel having a primary exit orifice in said midportion thereof that is in communication with said primary gas generant portion, a primary rupture disk disposed over said primary exit orifice; the midportion of said pressure vessel being indented to retain said divider wall in position between said primary gas generant portion and said secondary portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A multi-level gas generator for an air bag or other safety device, comprising:
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an elongated pressure vessel having a primary gas generant portion with a first open end and a secondary gas generant portion with a second open end; said primary gas generant portion having a primary ignition device and primary gas generating energetics disposed therein, said primary ignition device being mounted on said pressure vessel at said first open end; said secondary gas generant portion having a secondary ignition device and secondary gas generating energetics disposed therein, said secondary ignition device being mounted on said pressure vessel at said second open end; said primary gas generant portion and said secondary gas generant portion having a gas therein under a predetermined pressure; said pressure vessel having a midportion, a divider wall disposed within said midportion to separate said primary and secondary gas generant portions;
said divider wall being separate from said pressure vessel and being in non-hermetic engagement therewith; andsaid pressure vessel having a primary exit orifice in said midportion that is in communication with said primary gas generant portion, a primary rupture disk disposed over said primary exit orifice, a secondary exit orifice in said midportion that is in communication with said secondary gas generant portion, and a secondary rupture disk disposed over said secondary exit orifice; the midportion of said pressure vessel being indented. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A multi-level gas generator for an air bag comprising:
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an elongated pressure vessel having a primary gas generant portion and a secondary gas generant portion; said primary gas generant portion and said secondary gas generant portion having a gas therein under a predetermined pressure; said primary vessel having a midportion, a divider wall disposed within said midportion to separate said primary and secondary gas generant portions; and a tether operatively connected to the air bag to limit the amount of inflation thereof in response to gas generated by said primary gas generant portion, a release device operatively connected to said tether and to said secondary gas generant portion, and being operable to release said tether in response to gas generated by said secondary gas generant portion to allow further inflation of the air bag by said secondary gas generation. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A gas generator for an air bag or other safety device, comprising:
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an elongated pressure vessel having a primary gas generant portion with a first open end and a secondary portion with a second open end; said primary gas generating portion having a primary ignition device and primary gas generating energetics disposed therein, said primary ignition device being mounted on said pressure vessel at said first open end; a pressure vessel closure secured to said second end of said pressure vessel; said primary gas generant portion having a gas therein under a predetermined pressure; said pressure vessel having a midportion, a primary divider disposed within said midportion to separate said primary gas generant portion and said secondary portion, said primary divider being slidably mounted within said midportion; said pressure vessel having a primary exit orifice in said midportion that is in communication with said primary gas generant portion, and a primary rupture disk disposed over said primary exit orifice. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification