Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Limited

Craig M Fischer

John P O'Loughlin

James R Hocking

Jess A Cuevas

Homer William Fogle, Jr

Eric R McFarland

Halley O Stevens

Robert R Debbs

John D Skouson

William F McLeod, Ii

Keven D Thomas

Kurt F Fischer

Pongdet Paul Wipasuramonton

Ahmad K Al-Amin

John P Wallner

John Francis Rhein

Tracy S Sparks

Scott A Kelley

Andrew J Smydra

Joseph J Mihm

Jeffrey C Synor

Terrance J Coultas

Pondget P Wipasuramonton

Douglas J Rizzi

Douglas L Rizzi

Timothy P Edwards

John P O'loughlin

An actuatable fastener () includes a body () including a head () and a shank (). The body () includes an interior chamber () partially defined by a side wall () extending from the head () into the shank () and an end wall () positioned in the shank. A member () is disposed in the chamber (). An initiator () is actuatable to produce combustion products in the chamber () that act on the member () to move the member in a first direction in the chamber to strike the end wall (). The member () strikes the end wall () creating a fracture () in the shank () separating at least a portion of the shank from a remainder () of the shank. The combustion products moving the member () beyond the fracture () at least a predetermined distance () to move the portion of the shank () at least the predetermined distance from the remainder () of the shank.

Actuatable fastener

Airbag assembly

An air bag inflator (10) includes a container (14) and an isolation membrane (100). The container (14) contains inflation fluid under pressure, and has a discharge opening (40) for discharging a flow of the inflation fluid. The isolation membrane (100) is located between the discharge opening (40) and the ambient atmosphere, and provides a hermetic seal which isolates the discharge opening (40) from the ambient atmosphere. The inflator further includes a baffle ring (140) between the discharge opening (40) and the isolation membrane (100). The baffle ring (140) shields the isolation membrane (100) from direct impingement by the flow of inflation fluid emerging from the discharge opening (40) to protect the isolation membrane (100) from being fragmented by the flow of inflation fluid. The baffle ring (140) also applies a fluid pressure force to the isolation membrane (100) to open the hermetic seal.

Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

An apparatus (10) for inflating an air bag includes a container (12) for holding a stored supply of gas under pressure. A body (20) of gas generating material is disposed in a housing (22). A cup shaped closure member (24) blocks a flow of gas through an annular array of passages (28) formed in an end wall (58) of the container (12). The cup shaped closure member (24) has a frangible section (176). Upon ignition of the body (20) of gas generating material, the gas applies pressure against an end wall (166) of the closure member (24) to break the frangible section (176) of the closure member. The pressure applied by the gas against the end wall (166) of the cup shaped closure member (24) moves the closure member toward an opposite end of the container (12). Gas flows from the container (12) through the openings (28) in the end wall of the container into a diffuser (36). The diffuser (36), closure member (24) and housing (22) which holds the body (20) of gas generating material are all connected to the end wall (58) of the container (12).

Inflator assembly

A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) includes an inflator (20), a reaction canister (22), and first and second brackets (150,152) for mounting the inflator (20) in the reaction canister (22). The inflator has an axis (82) and first and second axially opposite end portions (96,92). The reaction canister (22) has first and second canister walls (68,70) spaced from each other along the axis (82). The first and second brackets (150,152) are contained in the reaction canister (22) between the canister walls (68,70). The first bracket (150) is fixed to the first end portion (96) of the inflator (20) and to the first canister wall (68). The second bracket (152) is fixed to the second end portion (92) of the inflator (20) and to the second canister wall (70).

Inflator mounting structure

An apparatus (10) for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint comprises a container (12) for holding a stored supply of gas. The container (12) includes a side wall (40) and an end wall (58) connected with one end of the side wall. The end wall (58) has a discharge opening (28) for directing gas from the container (12). A tubular housing (22) is located in the container (12). A quantity of ignitable material (20) is disposed in the tubular housing (22). The quantity of ignitable material (20), when ignited, produces combustion products. A closure member (24) is located in a first position to block a flow of gas from the container (12) through the discharge opening (28). The closure member (24) is movable from the first position in the container (12) to a second position permitting gas to flow from the container through the discharge opening (28). The closure member (24) has surface portions (164) which slide on surface portions (94) of the tubular housing (22) as the closure member moves in the container (12) to the second position. An actuatable igniter (32) ignites the ignitable material (20) and causes the closure member (24) to move in the container (12) to the second position. Combustion products from ignition of the ignitable material (20) are directed into the supply of gas to heat the gas.

Gas augmented inflator assembly with movable closure

An air bag inflator (10) is actuatable to supply inflation fluid under pressure, through discharge openings (40), into a diffuser chamber (90) and thence through gas outlets (92) into an air bag. An isolation membrane (100) extends across the diffuser chamber (90) between the discharge openings (40) and the gas outlets (92). The isolation membrane (100) is welded to the housing at axially and radially spaced locations (106, 128). When the inflator (10) is not actuated, the isolation membrane (100) blocks fluid flow including the conduction of moisture from the environment around the inflator through the discharge openings (40) and into the interior of the inflator. The isolation membrane (100) has a weakened portion defined by a stress riser (130). When the inflator (10) is actuated, the pressure of the fluid flowing through the discharge openings (40) breaks the isolation membrane (100) at the stress riser (130). The isolation membrane (100) moves to a second location in the diffuser chamber (90) clear of the gas outlets (92) to enable fluid flow out of the diffuser chamber and into the air bag.

Isolation member for air bag inflator

An apparatus for inflating an air bag includes a container (12) which holds a supply of gas under pressure. The container (12) is filled with gas through an internally threaded opening (48). Once the container (12) has been filled with gas, an externally threaded plug (50) is threaded into the internally threaded opening (48) in the container. A seal ring (60) extends around the plug (50) and provides a first seal between the container and the plug. A weld (64), which extends around a peripheral portion of the plug (50) and extends between the plug and the container, provides a second seal between the container and plug.

Apparatus for use in inflating an air bag and method of assembly

An inflator assembly inflates a vehicle occupant restraint. The inflator assembly includes a container in which gas is stored under pressure. An ignitable material is disposed within the container. An actuator assembly is provided to release the stored gas from the container and to ignite the ignitable material. The actuator assembly includes a pyrotechnic charge of ignitable material which burns to move a piston to rupture a portion of the container. A passage through the piston conducts a flow of combustion products resulting from ignition of the pyrotechnic charge of ignitable material to ignite the ignitable material within the container. During burning of the ignitable material, the gas in the container is heated to increase the fluid pressure in the container.

Hybrid inflator having movable piston for releasing pressurized gas and

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Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Craig M Fischer