Inflator having an ignition nozzle
First Claim
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1. An inflator comprising:
- a container having a chamber, an exit opening provided in the container and connecting to the chamber;
a substance stored in the chamber, the substance being responsive to heat for providing inflation fluid;
an igniter associated with the container and actuatable to provide combustion products for heating the substance; and
a nozzle for directing a flow of combustion products from the igniter into the chamber to ignite the substance in the chamber, the nozzle comprising a passage including a convergent portion and a divergent portion for focusing the flow of combustion products parallel to a longitudinal axis and helping to prevent radial expansion of the flow relative to the axis.
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Abstract
An inflator (10) includes a container (12) having a chamber (120). An exit opening (48) is provided in the container (12) and is connected to the chamber (120). A substance (122, 180) is stored in the chamber (120) and is responsive to heat for providing inflation fluid. An igniter (130) is associated with the container (12) and is actuatable to provide combustion products for heating the substance (122, 180). A nozzle (80) is interposed between the igniter (130) and the chamber (120). A passage (90) extends from the igniter (130) and through the nozzle (80). The passage (90) includes a divergent portion (110) for focusing a flow of combustion products from the igniter (130) into the chamber (120).
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An inflator comprising:
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a container having a chamber, an exit opening provided in the container and connecting to the chamber; a substance stored in the chamber, the substance being responsive to heat for providing inflation fluid; an igniter associated with the container and actuatable to provide combustion products for heating the substance; and a nozzle for directing a flow of combustion products from the igniter into the chamber to ignite the substance in the chamber, the nozzle comprising a passage including a convergent portion and a divergent portion for focusing the flow of combustion products parallel to a longitudinal axis and helping to prevent radial expansion of the flow relative to the axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An inflator comprising:
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a container having a chamber; a combustible material stored in the chamber, the combustible material being responsive to heat to generate inflation fluid; an igniter positioned at a first end of the chamber, the igniter being actuatable to provide combustion products that heat the combustible material; an exit opening positioned at a second end of the chamber, opposite the first end of the chamber; and a convergent-divergent nozzle for directing a flow of combustion products from the igniter into the chamber to ignite the combustible material, the nozzle focusing the flow of combustion products parallel to a longitudinal axis of the inflator and helping to prevent radial expansion of the flow relative to the longitudinal axis to help move a burn zone of the inflator toward the exit opening, thereby helping to prevent non-ignited combustible materials from being discharged through the exit opening.
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Specification