Thrust-neutral inflator manifold

Details Thrust-neutral inflator manifold Thrust-neutral inflator manifold

1998-12-15

2001-02-06

Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C280S740000, C280S742000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06183007

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, and particularly relates to a manifold for directing inflation fluid from the inflator into the protection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A particular type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is commonly referred to as an air bag. The air bag is stored in a vehicle in a folded, uninflated condition at a location adjacent to the vehicle occupant compartment. When the vehicle experiences a crash, inflation fluid is directed to flow from an inflator into the air bag. The inflation fluid unfolds and inflates the air bag from the stored condition to a deployed condition in which the air bag
When the air bag extends into the vehicle occupant compartment, it can engage an occupant of the vehicle to help protect the occupant from a forceful impact with parts of the vehicle. The manner in which the air bag engages the occupant is determined in part by the configuration imparted to the air bag by the inflation fluid as the inflation fluid unfolds and deploys the air bag into the vehicle occupant compartment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus includes an elongated pressure vessel containing a source of inflation fluid for a vehicle occupant protection device. The apparatus further includes an inflation fluid outlet manifold at one end of the pressure vessel.
The manifold has outlet openings defining first and second outlet flow areas. The manifold is configured to direct inflation fluid flowing through the first outlet flow area to flow at least partially in a first direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel. The manifold is further configured to direct inflation fluid flowing through the second outlet flow area to flow at least partially in a second, opposite direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel.
An apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention can direct an outlet flow of inflation fluid along the length of the elongated pressure vessel. This enables the inflation fluid to be directed into an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device more uniformly than if the outlet flow were concentrated at one end of the pressure vessel. Additionally, the present invention enables the apparatus to be thrust-neutral because the manifold is configured to direct inflation fluid in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel.


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