Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-26
2001-05-29
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S741000, C102S531000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237950
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle safety apparatus and, in particular, to an inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to inflate a vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, to help protect a vehicle occupant. The air bag is inflated by inflation fluid from an inflator.
Some 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. One type of inflator includes a pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, generates combustion products for heating and pressurizing the inflation fluid stored in the chamber.
It is known to tailor the output pressure of an inflator, in order to inflate an air bag in a predetermined manner over a period of time. For example, it is known to begin inflating an air bag at first with inflation fluid at a relatively low pressure, then finish inflating the air bag with inflation fluid at a relatively high pressure. Some known inflators of this type have two independently actuatable pyrotechnic charges for heating and pressurizing inflation fluid stored in a container.
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 gas storage chamber, and inflation fluid under pressure in the gas storage chamber. An opening in the container enables fluid flow from the gas storage chamber to the inflatable device. A rupturable burst disk extends across the opening. An actuator assembly in the gas storage chamber is provided for producing combustion products for heating and pressurizing the inflation fluid. The actuator assembly includes a housing and a separator in the housing defining first and second chambers. A first pyrotechnic charge in the first chamber has a first burn rate. The housing has first fluid outlets for enabling flow of combustion products from the first chamber to the gas storage chamber. A second pyrotechnic charge in the second chamber has a second burn rate less than the first burn rate. The housing has second fluid outlets in the housing for enabling flow of combustion products from the second chamber to the gas storage chamber.
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Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/129,710, filed Aug. 5, 1998 entitled “Air Bag Inflator Including Plural Burst Disks”.
Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/946,152, filed Oct. 7, 1997 entitled “Staged Pyrotechnic Air Bag Inflator”.
Cook Fred J.
Johnson Darrin L.
Randell Edward F.
Shaffer Barry F.
Bottorff Christopher
Swann J. J.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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