Inflator device having modular construction and radial inflation gas flow
First Claim
1. In an inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device having an elongated cylindrical configuration and including a supply of gas generant material to produce inflation gas upon reaction initiation, the improvement comprising:
- a reaction housing including a reaction housing side wall, a reaction housing first end wall adjacent the side wall, and a reaction housing second end wall adjacent the side wall and opposite the reaction housing first end wall, the reaction housing defining a reaction chamber containing the supply of gas generant material;
an initiator device connected to reaction housing first end wall, the initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the supply of gas generant material;
the reaction housing side wall including a plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings, wherein upon reaction initiation of the supply of gas generant material, the inflation gas discharges from the reaction chamber through the discharge openings;
an initiator diffuser disposed between the initiator device and the supply of gas generant material, the initiator diffuser including a plurality of radially oriented diffuser discharge openings disposed in discharge orientation toward the reaction housing side wall;
a filter housing at least in part defining a filter chamber, at least a portion of the reaction housing and the chamber discharge openings disposed within the filter chamber; and
a filter element disposed in the filter chamber and external of the reaction housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system. The inflator device has an elongated cylindrical configuration and includes a supply of gas generant material to produce inflation gas upon reaction initiation. The inflator device includes a reaction housing defining a reaction chamber containing the supply of gas generant material. An initiator device is connected to the reaction housing and in reaction initiating communication with the supply of gas generant material. The reaction housing includes a plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings. Upon reaction initiation of the supply of gas generant material, the inflation gas discharges from the reaction chamber through the discharge openings. An initiator diffuser is disposed between the initiator device and the supply of gas generant material. The initiator diffuser includes a plurality of radially oriented diffuser discharge openings disposed in discharge orientation toward the reaction housing side wall. The reaction housing is connected to a filter housing, and a filter element is disposed within the filter housing and external of the reaction chamber.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In an inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device having an elongated cylindrical configuration and including a supply of gas generant material to produce inflation gas upon reaction initiation, the improvement comprising:
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a reaction housing including a reaction housing side wall, a reaction housing first end wall adjacent the side wall, and a reaction housing second end wall adjacent the side wall and opposite the reaction housing first end wall, the reaction housing defining a reaction chamber containing the supply of gas generant material; an initiator device connected to reaction housing first end wall, the initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the supply of gas generant material; the reaction housing side wall including a plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings, wherein upon reaction initiation of the supply of gas generant material, the inflation gas discharges from the reaction chamber through the discharge openings; an initiator diffuser disposed between the initiator device and the supply of gas generant material, the initiator diffuser including a plurality of radially oriented diffuser discharge openings disposed in discharge orientation toward the reaction housing side wall; a filter housing at least in part defining a filter chamber, at least a portion of the reaction housing and the chamber discharge openings disposed within the filter chamber; and a filter element disposed in the filter chamber and external of the reaction housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device having an elongated cylindrical configuration and including a supply of gas generant material to produce inflation gas upon reaction initiation, the improvement comprising:
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a reaction housing including a reaction housing side wall, a reaction housing first end wall adjacent the side wall, and a reaction housing second end wall adjacent the side wall and opposite the reaction housing first end wall, the reaction housing defining a reaction chamber containing the supply of gas generant material; an initiator device connected to reaction housing first end wall, the initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the supply of gas generant material; the reaction housing side wall including a plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings, wherein upon reaction initiation of the supply of gas generant material, the inflation gas discharges from the reaction chamber through the discharge openings; an initiator diffuser disposed between the initiator device and the supply of gas generant material, the initiator diffuser including a plurality of radially oriented diffuser discharge openings disposed in discharge orientation toward the reaction housing side wall; and a strainer element disposed within the reaction housing and between the supply of gas generant material and the plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings, the strainer element comprising a strainer side wall aligned with the reaction housing side wall and including a plurality of strainer discharge openings. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An inflator device for an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device comprising:
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a filter housing including a filter housing side wall, a filter housing first end, and a filter housing second end opposite the filter housing first end, the filter housing at least in part defining a filter chamber; a first reaction housing defining a first reaction chamber containing a first supply of gas generant material, the first reaction housing disposed at the filter housing first end and at least a portion of the first reaction housing disposed in the filter chamber at the filter housing first end; a first initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the first supply of gas generant material; a second reaction housing defining a second reaction chamber containing a second supply of gas generant material, the second reaction housing disposed at the filter housing second end and at least a portion of the second reaction housing disposed in the filter chamber at the filter housing second end; a second initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the second supply of gas generant material; a filter element disposed in the filter chamber and external and between the first and second reaction housings; the first reaction housing including a portion of a first reaction housing side wall aligned with and spaced apart from a portion of the filter housing side wall to form an inflation gas passage therebetween, the portion of the first reaction housing side wall including a plurality of radially oriented discharge openings connecting the first reaction chamber and the inflation gas passage, wherein upon reaction initiation of the first supply of gas generant material to produce inflation gas, the inflation gas exits the first reaction chamber through the discharge openings, enters the inflation gas passage, and passes through the filter element; the inflator device additionally comprising a strainer element within the first reaction chamber and between the first supply of gas generant material and the plurality of radially oriented discharge openings, the strainer element comprising a strainer side wall aligned with the first reaction housing side wall and including a plurality of strainer discharge openings. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification