Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-01
2001-03-06
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S741000, C102S202500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196584
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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.
Description of the Prior Art
A known type of inflator for inflating an air bag includes a container in which inflation fluid is stored. The container includes a rupturable burst disk. The inflator also includes an electrically actuatable initiator for, when actuated, rupturing the burst disk to release inflation fluid to flow into the air bag. The initiator typically includes a pyrotechnic material capable of generating combustion products, including hot gases, for rupturing the burst disk. Known initiators use a mixture of a metal and a metallic compound (used as the oxidizer) such as boron potassium nitrate or titanium potassium perchlorate. Ignition of such a charge primarily produces heat, hot gases, and a shock wave for rupturing the burst disk.
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. The container has a portion which is rupturable to form an opening in the container. A quantity of inflation fluid is stored under pressure in the chamber. The apparatus also comprises an electrically actuatable initiator connected with the container for rupturing the rupturable portion of the container to enable flow of inflation fluid out of the inflator to inflate the protection device. The initiator comprises an ignitable primary charge and electrically energizable means for igniting the primary charge. The initiator further comprises a secondary charge ignitable by the primary charge. The secondary charge comprises an ignitable metal in solid form which liquefies when ignited by the primary charge. The primary charge when ignited generates combustion products under pressure which ignite the secondary charge and direct the liquefied metal into engagement with the rupturable portion of the container to help open the rupturable portion of the container.
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Al-Amin Ahmad K.
Cuevas Jess A.
Deming Thomas H.
Shirk Bryan W.
Swann Timothy A.
Ilan Ruth
Mai Lanna
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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