Ammunition and explosives – Jacketed or cartridge gas generator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-27
2001-10-02
Tudor, Harold J. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Jacketed or cartridge gas generator
C102S202700, C102S202140, C222S005000, C280S737000, C280S741000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295935
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag. In particular, the present invention relates to an initiator for an air bag inflator having a burst disk which is opened by the initiator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,381 describes an inflator for inflating an air bag. The inflator includes a squib having an outer body portion enclosing a pyrotechnic material. A projectile in the form of a metal sleeve, closed at one end, is snapped onto the outer body portion of the squib. Upon actuation of the squib, the outer end portion of the squib ruptures. The projectile is propelled from the squib into engagement with a burst disk to rupture the burst disk.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an actuatable initiator for rupturing a burst disk in an air bag inflator to enable flow of inflation fluid out of the inflator to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The initiator comprises a body of ignitable material for, when ignited, generating combustion products; electrically energizable means for igniting the ignitable material; and a base for supporting the body of ignitable material and the means for igniting on the inflator. The initiator also comprises a cap sealed to the base. The cap encloses the ignitable material and maintains the ignitable material in position on the base. At least a first portion of the cap is releasable from the base under the force of the combustion products of the ignitable material to enable movement of at least the first portion of the cap away from the base and into engagement with the burst disk to rupture the burst disk.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3082691 (1963-03-01), Evans et al.
patent: 3191533 (1965-06-01), Hopson, III
patent: 4976203 (1990-12-01), Weisshaupt et al.
patent: 5131680 (1992-07-01), Coultas et al.
patent: 5226561 (1993-07-01), Hamilton et al.
patent: 5230531 (1993-07-01), Hamilton et al.
patent: 5263740 (1993-11-01), Frey et al.
patent: 5344186 (1994-09-01), Bergerson et al.
patent: 5350192 (1994-09-01), Blumenthal
patent: 5536040 (1996-07-01), Cuevas et al.
patent: 5558367 (1996-09-01), Cuevas
patent: 5576509 (1996-11-01), Refouvelet et al.
patent: 5601308 (1997-02-01), Cuevas et al.
patent: 5603525 (1997-02-01), Zakula
patent: 5622381 (1997-04-01), Mossi et al.
patent: 5678856 (1997-10-01), Headley
patent: 586133 (1994-03-01), None
Al-Amin Ahmad K.
Cuevas Jess A.
Shirk Bryan W.
Swann Timothy A.
Van Wynsberghe Roy D.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
Tudor Harold J.
LandOfFree
Initiator for air bag inflator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Initiator for air bag inflator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Initiator for air bag inflator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2595556