Inflator module

• US 5,100,172 A
• Filed: 04/12/1991
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mecsey, Donald J., VanVoorhies, Kurt L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan N.
• Application Number:
  US07/684,239
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/738, 280/739, 280/742, 280/743
• US Class Current: 280/738
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid

Abstract

An airbag inflator comprises a housing having a frontal opening for the deployment of an airbag and a plurality of air aspirating and exhaust ports in the sidewalls thereof. An airbag is folded into the housing so as to overlie and close the ports in the sidewalls thereof. The airbag covers the ports in the housing during initial deployment of the airbag but subsequent deployment of the airbag opening the ports to first permit aspiration of the air into the housing and subsequently permit exhaust of air outwardly of the housing.

Claims

1. An airbag inflator comprising

A housing having a frontal opening for the deployment of an airbag and a plurality of dual purpose air aspirating and exhaust ports in the sidewalls thereof,

an airbag secured to said housing about the frontal opening therein, said airbag being normally folded into said housing so as to overlie and close the ports in the sidewalls thereof, and

means for generating a gas to deploy said airbag through the frontal opening in said housing, said airbag covering the ports in said housing during initial deployment of the airbag but subsequent deployment of said airbag opening said ports to first permit aspiration of air into said housing and subsequently permit exhaust of air outwardly of said housing.

2. An airbag inflator in accordance with claim 1 including a flapper valve in said housing initially controlled by said airbag for first precluding aspiration of air into said housing, thence subsequently precluding exhaust of gas out of said housing through some of said ports whereby a differential is achieved between the aspiration and venting of air.

3. An airbag inflator in accordance with claim 2 wherein said flapper valve automatically closes some of said ports upon flow of gas therethrough out of said housing.