Trw Limited

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Barry F Shaffer

Darrin L Johnson

Ahmad K Al-Amin

Jerome W Emery

Fred J Cook

Scott R Peavy

Edward F Randell

Guy M Jackman

An apparatus (,) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,) 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 assembly (,) in the gas storage chamber (,) is provided for producing combustion products for heating and pressurizing the inflation fluid (,). The 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 (,) for enabling flow of combustion products from the second chamber (,) to the gas storage chamber (,).

Staged air bag inflator

An inflator (,) for providing inflation fluid to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a pressure vessel (,) defining a chamber (,) for inflation fluid. The pressure vessel (,) has a passage (,) through which inflation fluid flows from the chamber (,). A burst disk (,) blocks fluid flow through the passage (,). A member (,) is disposed adjacent to and on one side of the burst disk (,) prior to the inflation fluid entering the pressure vessel (,). The burst disk (,) deforms toward the one side due to the pressure of the inflation fluid when the inflation fluid is disposed in the chamber (,). The member (,) limits deformation of the burst disk (,) by contacting the burst disk. An actuatable igniter assembly (,), when actuated, moves the member toward the burst disk (,) to rupture the burst disk and enable the inflation fluid to flow from the chamber (,) through the passage (,).

Inflator

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Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Barry F Shaffer