Air bag inflator including plural burst disks

Details Air bag inflator including plural burst disks Air bag inflator including plural burst disks

1998-08-05

2001-03-27

Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C280S736000, C280S737000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06206414

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. In particular, the present invention relates to an air bag inflator including two separate fluid outlet openings, with two separate burst disks covering the two outlet openings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Known air bag inflators include inflation fluid stored under pressure in a chamber in a container. A burst disk blocks flow of inflation fluid from the chamber. An initiator is actuatable to rupture the burst disk and to initiate flow of inflation fluid from the chamber to inflate the air bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The apparatus comprises a container defining a chamber, and inflation fluid under pressure in the chamber. A first opening in the container enables fluid flow from the chamber to the inflatable device. A first burst disk extends across the first opening and is rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across the first burst disk to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential. The apparatus includes first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across the first burst disk to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture the first burst disk. A second opening in the container enables fluid flow from the chamber to the inflatable device. A second burst disk extends across the second opening and is rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across the second burst disk to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential. The apparatus includes second pressurizing means actuatable independently of the first initiator means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across the second burst disk to a level above the second predetermined pressure differential to rupture the second burst disk.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5630619 (1997-05-01), Buchanan et al.
patent: 5664802 (1997-09-01), Harris et al.
patent: 5709406 (1998-01-01), Buchanan
patent: 5803494 (1998-09-01), Headley
patent: 5907120 (1999-05-01), Mooney et al.
patent: 5941562 (1999-08-01), Rink et al.
patent: 5992881 (1999-11-01), Faigle

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