Pressurized gas release mechanism

• US 7,527,290 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Blackburn, Jeffery S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US10/969,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/737, 280/741, 280/742, 137/68.22, 137/68.23, 137/68.12, 222/3
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence

Abstract

A mechanism (10) for releasably confining pressurized fluid in a container (18). The mechanism includes a rupturable membrane (22) configured to obstruct flow of the pressurized fluid from the container when externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid. The membrane (22) is rupturable by pressure exerted by the fluid when not externally supported against the pressure exerted by the fluid. A support member (28) supports the membrane (22) against fluid pressure. The support member (28) fracturable upon exposure to combustion products formed by activation of a gas generator (66). Upon activation of the gas generator (66), the combustion products contact the support member (28) to decompose and/or fracture the support member (28), thereby removing support for the membrane (22) and enabling rupture of the membrane (22) by the pressurized fluid, releasing the pressurized fluid from the container.

Claims

1. A mechanism for releasably confining pressurized fluid in a container comprising:

a rupturable membrane in fluid communication with an interior of the container, the rupturable membrane being configured to obstruct flow of the pressurized fluid when externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid, the rupturable membrane being rupturable by pressure exerted by the fluid when not externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid,

a support member for externally supporting the rupturable membrane against pressure exerted by the fluid, the support member being fracturable and/or decomposable upon exposure to combustion products formed by activation of a gas generator, said gas generator including a gas generant and an igniter in ignitable communication with gas generant,

wherein combustion products formed by activation of the gas generator contact the support member, thereby fracturing and/or decomposing the support member to remove support for the rupturable membrane and enabling rupture of the membrane to release the pressurized fluid therethrough,

wherein the rupturable membrane and the support member lie along a common axis and the gas generator is spaced apart from the axis.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing secured to the container and defining a passage for receiving the pressurized fluid therethrough, and wherein the rupturable membrane is configured to obstruct flow of the pressurized fluid through the housing passage when externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the support member is secured to the housing.

4. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the support member is positioned within the passage.

5. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the gas generator is secured to the housing.

6. The mechanism of claim 2 further comprising a diffuser coupled to the housing for distributing pressurized gas flowing through the passage.

7. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the support member is formed as separate part and coupled to the housing.

8. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the support member is formed within the housing.

9. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the membrane is secured to the housing outside the passage.

10. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the membrane is secured to the housing inside the passage.

11. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the a gas generator positioned so as to enable fluid communication with the support member upon activation of the gas generator and is configured for producing combustion products suitable for fracturing the support member.

12. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the rupturable membrane and the support member lie along a common axis and the gas generator is spaced apart from the axis.

13. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein combustion products are directed toward the axis upon activation of the gas generator, to impinge upon the support member, thereby producing fracturing and/or decomposition of the support member.

14. The mechanism of claim 13 wherein the combustion products are directed along a line substantially orthogonal to the axis.

15. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the support member abuts the rupturable member.

16. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the support member is formed from an epoxy.

17. The mechanism of claim 16 wherein the support member is formed from an epoxy comprising a bisphenol A diglycidyl ether resin at about 60 percent by weight.

18. The mechanism of claim 17 wherein the support member further comprises a mercaptan amine blend ranging from 90-100 percent by weight.

19. The mechanism of claim 16 wherein the support member is formed from an epoxy comprising aminoethylpiperazine at about 10-30 percent by weight, nonylphenol at about 10-20 percent by weight, polyamide of C18 fatty acid dimmers and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-N′

,N′

,N″

,N′

″

-tetraacetic acid (TETA) at about 1-5 percent by weight, and 2,4,6-Tris(Dimethylaminomethyl)phenol at about 5-10 percent by weight.

20. The mechanism of claim 19 wherein the support member further comprises bisphenol A diglycidyl ether resin at about 30-60 percent by weight, an acrylate at about 1-5 percent by weight, and butylated bisphenol A epoxy resin at about 30-60 percent by weight.

21. The mechanism of claim 16 wherein the epoxy comprises a two-part epoxy.

22. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the support member is formed from a polymer compound.

23. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the membrane is secured to the container.

24. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the gas generator is spaced apart from the support member.

25. An airbag system including a mechanism in accordance with claim 1.

26. A vehicle occupant restraint system including a mechanism in accordance with claim 1.

27. An inflator including a mechanism in accordance with claim 1.

28. An inflator comprising:

a pressurized gas bottle having an opening, said opening sealed prior to gas generator activation;

a housing coupled to said bottle covering said opening, said housing defining a gas passage, a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second ends;

a support member fixed within said passage and over said opening prior to gas generator activation whereby said support member prevents gas flow through said passage;

a gas generator coupled to said housing and removed from said axis whereby, upon gas generator activation, said gas generator fluidly communicates with said support member, said gas generator including a gas generant and an igniter in ignitable communication with the gas generant,

wherein, upon inflator activation, said gas generator provides gases that fracture and/or initiate decomposition of said support member, thereby releasing gas from said bottle for passage through said housing, and wherein a rupturable membrane covers the gas bottle opening to seal the opening, and wherein the support member prevents gas flow through said passage by supporting said membrane.

29. The inflator of claim 28 further comprising a diffuser fixed within the housing so as to enable fluid communication with the passage for dispersing inflation gases flowing thereto from the passage, the diffuser including a plurality of gas discharge orifices spaced about a circumference of the diffuser.

30. An airbag system comprising:

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 including;

a rupturable membrane in fluid communication with an interior of the container, the rupturable membrane being configured to obstruct flow of the pressurized fluid when externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid, the rupturable membrane being rupturable by pressure exerted by the fluid when not externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid,

a support member for externally supporting the rupturable membrane against pressure exerted by the fluid, the support member being fracturable and/or decomposable upon exposure to combustion products formed by activation of a gas generator, said gas generator including a gas generant and an igniter in ignitable communication with the gas generant,

wherein combustion products formed by activation of the gas generator contact the support member, thereby fracturing and/or decomposing the support member to remove support for the rupturable membrane and enabling rupture of the membrane to release the pressurized fluid therethrough, and

wherein the rupturable membrane and the support member lie along a common axis and the gas generator is spaced apart from the axis.

31. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:

a safety belt assembly including a housing and a safety belt extending from the housing, and an airbag system comprising at least one airbag and an airbag inflator having a mechanism for releasably confining pressurized gas in a container, the mechanism including;

a rupturable membrane in fluid communication with an interior of the container, the rupturable membrane being configured to obstruct flow of the pressurized fluid when externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid, the rupturable membrane being rupturable by pressure exerted by the fluid when not externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid,

a support member for externally supporting the rupturable membrane against pressure exerted by the fluid, the support member being fracturable and/or decomposable upon exposure to combustion products formed by activation of a gas generator, said gas generator including a gas generant and an igniter in ignitable communication with the gas generant,

wherein combustion products formed by activation of the gas generator contact the support member, thereby fracturing and/or decomposing the support member to remove support for the rupturable membrane and enabling rupture of the membrane to release the pressurized fluid therethrough, and

wherein the rupturable membrane and the support member lie along a common axis and the gas generator is spaced apart from the axis.

32. The vehicle occupant restraint system of claim 31 wherein the vehicle occupant restraint system is in communication with a crash event sensor including a crash sensor algorithm that signals actuation of the airbag system in the event of a collision.