Multiple chamber inflator

Details Multiple chamber inflator Multiple chamber inflator

2006-03-28

2006-03-28

Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3616)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C280S736000, C280S742000, C137S072000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07017944

ABSTRACT:
A multiple-chamber inflator (10) for a vehicle occupant protection system. The inflator (10) includes a housing (12) having a first end and a second end, and a divider disc (18) positioned in an interior of the housing (12) intermediate the housing ends to form a first (primary) propellant chamber (20) and a second (secondary) propellant chamber (22) within the interior of the housing (12). The divider (18) has a first surface (59) in communication with the first propellant chamber (20), a second surface (57) in communication with the second propellant chamber (22), and at least one aperture (60) extending between the first and second surfaces to provide fluid communication between the first propellant chamber (20) and the second propellant chamber (22). A pressure-resistant shim (62) fabricated from a low-melting point material is fixed on the divider first surface (59) over the at least one aperture (60) to block the aperture. The shim (62) is configured to melt upon exposure to a predetermined temperature generated by combustion of the propellant (48) in the first propellant chamber (20), thereby opening the at least one aperture (60). The shim (62) isolates the first chamber (20) from the second chamber (22). The shim (62) also facilitates an increase in pressure in the first chamber (20) during combustion of the first gas generating propellant (48), thereby increasing the efficiency of the combustion reaction in the first chamber (20).

REFERENCES:
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patent: 6764096 (2004-07-01), Quioc
patent: 6851373 (2005-02-01), Quioc
patent: 2002/0101068 (2002-08-01), Quioc
patent: 2003/0030259 (2003-02-01), Saso et al.
patent: 2003/0234526 (2003-12-01), Quioc

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