Airbag inflator with adaptive valve
First Claim
1. An airbag inflator comprising:
- a pressure vessel having a control orifice through which inflation gas may flow when it reaches a predetermined pressure within said pressure vessel;
a manifold connected to said pressure vessel in fluid communication with said control orifice, said manifold comprising an exhaust opening through which inflation gas from said pressure vessel may pass for inflation of an airbag; and
an adaptive valve connected to said manifold, said adaptive valve being in fluid communication with said manifold and comprising an exhaust orifice for diverting inflation gas to an area outside of an airbag in communication with said manifold exhaust opening to lower the inflation rate thereof, and a valve member movably mounted in said adaptive valve for selective movement between a first position wherein it closes said exhaust orifice and a second position wherein it opens said exhaust orifice, wherein said adaptive valve further comprises an initiator that can be actuated to generate sufficient gas pressure to move said valve member to said first or second position, and said valve member is normally in said second position, and said initiator can be actuated to move said valve member to said first position.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptive valve for an airbag inflator having a manifold with an exhaust opening for fluid communication with an airbag. The adaptive valve is constructed for connection to a manifold so that it is in fluid communication therewith. The adaptive valve has an exhaust orifice and is constructed to selectively open the exhaust orifice to divert inflation gas away from an inflator manifold when it is connected thereto to lower the rate of inflation of an airbag in fluid communication with the exhaust opening of the manifold. The adaptive valve may have a valve member movably mounted therein for movement between a first position wherein it closes the exhaust orifice and a second position wherein it opens the exhaust orifice. An initiator is provided in the adaptive valve to generate sufficient gas pressure to move the valve member to the first or second position.
66 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An airbag inflator comprising:
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a pressure vessel having a control orifice through which inflation gas may flow when it reaches a predetermined pressure within said pressure vessel; a manifold connected to said pressure vessel in fluid communication with said control orifice, said manifold comprising an exhaust opening through which inflation gas from said pressure vessel may pass for inflation of an airbag; and an adaptive valve connected to said manifold, said adaptive valve being in fluid communication with said manifold and comprising an exhaust orifice for diverting inflation gas to an area outside of an airbag in communication with said manifold exhaust opening to lower the inflation rate thereof, and a valve member movably mounted in said adaptive valve for selective movement between a first position wherein it closes said exhaust orifice and a second position wherein it opens said exhaust orifice, wherein said adaptive valve further comprises an initiator that can be actuated to generate sufficient gas pressure to move said valve member to said first or second position, and said valve member is normally in said second position, and said initiator can be actuated to move said valve member to said first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. An adaptive valve for an airbag inflator having a manifold with an exhaust opening for fluid communication with an airbag, said adaptive valve being constructed for connection to a manifold so that it is in fluid communication therewith, said adaptive valve having an exhaust orifice and being constructed to selectively open said exhaust orifice to divert inflation gas away from an inflator manifold when it is connected thereto to lower the rate of inflation of an airbag in fluid communication with the exhaust opening of the manifold, further comprising a valve member movably mounted therein for movement between a first position wherein it closes said exhaust orifice and a second position wherein it opens said exhaust orifice, further comprising an initiator that can be actuated to generate sufficient gas pressure to move said valve member to said first or second position, wherein said valve member is normally in said second position, and said initiator can be actuated to move said valve member to said first position.
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11. An airbag inflator comprising:
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a pressure vessel having a control orifice through which inflation gas may flow when it reaches a predetermined pressure within said pressure vessel; a manifold connected to said pressure vessel in fluid communication with said control orifice, said manifold comprising an exhaust opening through which inflation gas from said pressure vessel may pass for inflation of an airbag; and an adaptive valve connected to said manifold, said adaptive valve being in fluid communication with said manifold and comprising an exhaust orifice for diverting inflation gas to an area outside of an airbag in communication with said manifold exhaust opening to lower the inflation rate thereof, and a valve member movably mounted in said adaptive valve for selective movement between a first position wherein it closes said exhaust orifice and a second position wherein it opens said exhaust orifice; wherein said adaptive valve further comprises an initiator that can be actuated to generate sufficient gas pressure to move said valve member to said first or second position; wherein said valve member is normally in said first position, and said initiator can be actuated to move said valve member to said second position; wherein said adaptive valve comprises a generally cylindrical valve body, and said valve member is of generally cylindrical cup-shaped configuration and is slidably mounted in said valve body, said valve member having a weakened central portion that is supported in said first position by a plug that is positioned in a support tube that surrounds an inner portion of said initiator so that said plug is in fluid communication with said initiator, whereby upon actuation of said initiator the pressurized gas generated thereby moves said plug through the weakened central portion of said valve member to enable it to be moved by inflation gas under pressure from said manifold to said second position by slidable movement along said valve body and said support tube. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An airbag inflator comprising:
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a pressure vessel having a control orifice through which inflation gas may flow when it reaches a predetermined pressure within said pressure vessel; a manifold connected to said pressure vessel in fluid communication with said control orifice, said manifold comprising an exhaust opening through which inflation gas from said pressure vessel may pass for inflation of an airbag; and an adaptive valve connected to said manifold, said adaptive valve being in fluid communication with said manifold and comprising an exhaust orifice for diverting inflation gas to an area outside of an airbag in communication with said manifold exhaust opening to lower the inflation rate thereof, and a valve member movably mounted in said adaptive valve for selective movement between a first position wherein it closes said exhaust orifice and a second position wherein it opens said exhaust orifice; wherein said adaptive valve further comprises an initiator that can be actuated to generate sufficient gas pressure to move said valve member to said first or second position; wherein said valve member is normally in said first position, and said initiator can be actuated to move said valve member to said second position; wherein said adaptive valve comprises a generally cylindrical valve body, and said valve member is of generally cylindrical cup-shaped configuration and is slidably mounted in said valve body, said valve member having a weakened central portion that is supported in said first position by a support tube that surrounds an inner portion of said initiator and is in fluid communication therewith, whereby upon actuation of said initiator the pressurized gas generated thereby causes said central weakened portion to open to enable said valve member to be moved by inflation gas under pressure from said manifold to said second position by slidable movement along said valve body and said support tube. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification