Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-04-17
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S741000, C137S068230, C220S089200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217065
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflator which provides inflation fluid to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as a side curtain or an air bag, is inflated upon the occurrence of a vehicle condition requiring inflation of the side curtain or air bag. When inflation is required, an inflator is actuated to provide inflation fluid which inflates the side curtain or air bag into the vehicle occupant compartment.
The inflator includes a pressure vessel defining a chamber with a passage for inflation fluid flow from the chamber. A rupturable burst disk is fixed to the container to block flow of inflation fluid through the passage. The inflator further includes an electrically actuatable igniter assembly which, when actuated, bursts the burst disk to enable fluid to flow from the chamber through the passage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an inflator for providing inflation fluid to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The inflator includes a pressure vessel defining a chamber for the inflation fluid. The pressure vessel has a passage for inflation fluid flow from the chamber. A burst disk blocks fluid flow through the passage.
A support has a first tubular portion with a first end spaced apart from the burst disk prior to the inflation fluid entering the pressure vessel and a second end opposite the first end. The burst disk deforms into contact with the first end of the first tubular portion due to the pressure of the inflation fluid when the inflation fluid is disposed in the chamber. An actuatable igniter assembly bursts the burst disk to enable fluid to flow from the chamber through the passage. The second end of the first tubular portion engages the igniter assembly. An igniter retainer has a second tubular portion aligned with the first tubular portion. The igniter assembly is located in the first and second tubular portions and is retained in position between the support and the igniter retainer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5659295 (1997-08-01), Renfroe et al.
patent: 5669631 (1997-09-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5938235 (1999-08-01), Butt
patent: 6029995 (2000-02-01), Fink
patent: 6042146 (2000-03-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 6062599 (2000-05-01), Forbes et al.
Al-Amin Ahmad K.
Erike Eric C.
Mramor Vincent J.
Shirk Bryan W.
Swann Timothy A.
Swann J. J.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
Zeender F.
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