Air bag inflator

Details Air bag inflator Air bag inflator

1998-04-22

2000-07-11

Culbreth, Eric

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

280737, B60R 2128

Patent

active

060860944

ABSTRACT:
An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) comprises an inflator structure (14) defining a primary chamber (18), a secondary chamber (48), a primary outlet (50) for enabling fluid flow from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber, and a secondary outlet (70) for directing fluid flow from the secondary chamber to the inflatable device. A primary burst disk (60) extends across the primary outlet (50). The primary burst disk (60) is rupturable in response to the pressure differential across the primary burst disk exceeding a first predetermined pressure differential. A secondary burst disk (80) extends across the secondary outlet (70) and is rupturable in response to the pressure differential across the secondary burst disk exceeding a second predetermined pressure differential. Inflation fluid (20) is stored at a first pressure in the primary chamber (18). Inflation fluid (90) is stored in the secondary chamber (48) at a second pressure less than the first pressure, so that the pressure differential across the primary burst disk (60) is less than the first predetermined pressure differential. The apparatus includes actuatable means (16) for rupturing the secondary burst disk (80) to initiate flow of inflation fluid (90) out of the secondary chamber (48) into the inflatable device (12). The flow of fluid (90) from the secondary chamber (48) decreases the pressure in the secondary chamber sufficiently to raise the pressure differential across the primary burst disk (60) to a level exceeding the first predetermined pressure differential. In a preferred embodiment, the actuatable means (16) is an energizable device for, when energized, increasing the pressure in the secondary chamber (48) to a level exceeding the second predetermined pressure differential, thereby effecting rupturing of the secondary burst disk (80).

REFERENCES:
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patent: 5351988 (1994-10-01), Bishop et al.
patent: 5470104 (1995-11-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5487561 (1996-01-01), Mandzy et al.
patent: 5607181 (1997-03-01), Richardson et al.
patent: 5779266 (1998-07-01), Moore et al.
patent: 5857699 (1999-01-01), Rink et al.
patent: 5863066 (1999-01-01), Blumenthal
patent: 5879025 (1999-03-01), Blumenthal
patent: 5884938 (1999-03-01), Rink et al.
patent: 5897136 (1999-04-01), Okada

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