Dual stage air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, the apparatus comprising:
- a primary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping;
a primary inflation fluid source in the primary housing actuatable to effect a primary flow of inflation fluid out of the primary housing to inflate the inflatable device;
a secondary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping, the secondary housing being disposed within the primary housing; and
a secondary inflation fluid source in the secondary housing actuatable to effect a secondary flow of inflation fluid to supplement the primary flow of inflation fluid,the secondary housing having a first portion that moves at least partially out of engagement with a second portion of the secondary housing when the secondary inflation fluid source is actuated, wherein the primary housing is centered on a first axis and the secondary housing is centered on a second axis radially offset from and parallel to the first axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a primary housing, a primary inflation fluid source, a secondary housing, and a secondary inflation fluid source. The primary and secondary housings are constructed from sheet metal by stamping. The primary inflation fluid source is located in the primary housing. The primary inflation fluid source is actuatable to effect a primary flow of inflation fluid out of the primary housing to inflate the inflatable device. The secondary housing is disposed within the primary housing. The secondary inflation fluid source is located in the secondary housing. The secondary inflation fluid source is actuatable to affect a secondary flow of inflation fluid to supplement the primary flow of inflation fluid. The secondary housing has a first portion that moves at least partially out of engagement with a second portion of the secondary housing when the secondary inflation fluid source is actuated.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, the apparatus comprising:
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a primary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping; a primary inflation fluid source in the primary housing actuatable to effect a primary flow of inflation fluid out of the primary housing to inflate the inflatable device; a secondary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping, the secondary housing being disposed within the primary housing; and a secondary inflation fluid source in the secondary housing actuatable to effect a secondary flow of inflation fluid to supplement the primary flow of inflation fluid, the secondary housing having a first portion that moves at least partially out of engagement with a second portion of the secondary housing when the secondary inflation fluid source is actuated, wherein the primary housing is centered on a first axis and the secondary housing is centered on a second axis radially offset from and parallel to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, the inflator comprising:
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a primary housing having an upper wall and a lower wall opposite the upper wall, the primary housing being constructed from sheet metal by stamping; a primary inflation fluid source disposed within the primary housing actuatable to deform the primary housing to move the upper wall and the lower wall away from each other; a secondary housing constructed from sheet metal by stamping and including an upper portion and a lower portion, the secondary housing being disposed within the primary housing; and a secondary inflation fluid source disposed within the secondary housing actuatable to move the upper portion of the secondary housing relative to the lower portion of the secondary housing to release inflation fluid from the secondary housing, wherein the upper portion of the secondary housing abuts the upper wall of the primary housing and the lower portion of the secondary housing abuts the lower wall of the primary housing prior to actuation of the primary inflation fluid source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification