Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Other

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Limited

Darrin L Johnson

Bradley D Harris

Donald R Lauritzen

David W Lindsey

Fred J Cook

Linda M Rink

Barry F Shaffer

David J Green

Tracy Lee Nelson

Robert D Taylor

Karl K Rink

Ahmad K Al-Amin

Michael W Barnes

Brett Hussey

Brent K Olson

J Kirk Storey

Scott A Jackson

Jerome W Emery

L John Pierotti

Halley O Stevens

Virginia E Chandler

William B Richardson

Kerry C Walker

Chad Lewis Greenlee

Kenneth K Gudewich

Guy M Jackman

Edward F Randell

Eugene R Dearden

Scott R Peavy

An inflator () includes a container () having a chamber (). An exit opening () is provided in the container () and is connected to the chamber (). A substance () is stored in the chamber () and is responsive to heat for providing inflation fluid. An igniter () is associated with the container () and is actuatable to provide combustion products for heating the substance (). A nozzle () is interposed between the igniter () and the chamber (). A passage () extends from the igniter () and through the nozzle (). The passage () includes a divergent portion () for focusing a flow of combustion products from the igniter () into the chamber ().

Inflator having an ignition nozzle

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 air bag inflator (,) includes a container (,) defining a chamber (,), and inflation fluid (,) under pressure in the chamber. A first opening (,) in the container (,) enables fluid flow from the chamber (,) to an inflatable device (,). A first burst disk (,) extends across the first opening (,) and is rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across the first burst disk to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential. The inflator (,) includes a first igniter (,) for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across the first burst disk (,) to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture the first burst disk. A second opening (,) in the container (,) enables fluid flow from the chamber (,) to the inflatable device (,). A second burst disk (,) extends across the second opening (,) and is rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across the second burst disk to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential. The inflator (,) includes a second igniter (,) actuatable independently of the first igniter (,) for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across the second burst disk (,) to a level above the second predetermined pressure differential to rupture the second burst disk.

Air bag inflator including plural burst disks

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

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, which apparatus includes a pressure vessel having a preformed opening feature and a method of fabricating a corresponding single chamber apparatus for inflating an inflatable device.

Pressure vessel inflator having a preformed opening feature

An airbag module providing adaptive performance. The module includes a housing defining an interior. At least an inflator is received within the housing, and preferably the folded, uninflated cushion, also. Various arrangements are provided to selectively block, or create, a vent extending through the housing. This vent, when open, permits the inflation gas provided by the inflator to exit the housing without entering the cushion. The vent may be initially open, and blocked by a sliding cover block, may be initially closed and opened by movement of a slide plug, or may be initially closed and opened by deformation of a portion of the housing. The venting of the inflation gas will at least slow the rate of inflation of the cushion, and may reduce the final pressure within the cushion. As such, the housing will be vented for less severe collisions, and will not be vented for more severe collisions.

Airbag module with pressure relief adaptive performance

A regenerative monopropellant inflator having improved initiation of the regenerative cycle and improve operating efficiency. The inflator may direct the flow of the monopropellant into a localized volume to create a 'hot spot' to increase combustion. This serves to ensure that the regenerative cycle is initiated. Various arrangements are provided to increase the residence time of the combusting monopropellant within the inflator, to ensure complete combustion of the monopropellant, and thus increased efficiency. These arrangements include inducing a helical gas flow to increase the length of the path traveled by the gas. Various barriers may also be placed within the gas flow to force direction changes, which reduce the velocity of the gas.

Regenerative monopropellant airbag inflator

An airbag inflator with venturi effect cooling and gas supplement. The inflator includes a housing having a quantity of gas-producing fuel therein, and possibly a stored gas also, along with appropriate igniters. These materials are stored within a gas production chamber of the housing. The gas leaving this chamber travels through the housing to an exit port on the housing. Intermediate the gas production chamber and the housing exit port is a venturi section of the housing. This section reduces the pressure of the gas, and thus the pressure at the interior end of draw vents opening onto the venturi section. The vents therefore draw outside air into the housing to mix with the gas. This cools the gas to the desired temperature, and also supplements the gas exiting the housing. As such, the need for a heat sink to cool the gas is reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, since the cushion is inflated with a mixture of gas and air, the amount of gas typically needed is reduced by the amount of added air. This permits the amount of fuel to be reduced, thus reducing cost and weight.

Airbag inflator with venturi effect cooling and gas supplement

A regenerative monopropellant inflator providing adaptive performance. The inflator includes a housing defining an interior. A piston is received in the housing and divides the interior into a fuel supply chamber and a combustion chamber. The piston moves through the fuel supply chamber during the regenerative combustion cycle to produce an inflation gas from reaction of the fuel in the combustion chamber. The inflation gas exits the combustion chamber via exit ports. To provide adaptive performance a back pressure may be selectively applied to the piston against its travel. This slows the piston, and thus the gas production of the inflator. Alternatively, the total size of the exit ports could be selectively varied to thus vary the pressure within the combustion chamber, known as throttling. Increased pressure within the combustion chamber causes an increase in the rate of inflation gas production. By selectively varying either the piston back pressure or throttling prior to completion of the gas generation, the performance of the inflator may be adapted to the characteristics of a particular vehicle collision.

Adaptive regenerative inflator

A regenerative liquid propellant rocket motor including a body having an integrally formed central tube. A primary combustion chamber is disposed in the body. A secondary combustion chamber is formed by the central tube of the body. A reservoir of liquid propellant is disposed in the body. A regenerative piston is slidably disposed in the body for delivering the liquid propellant to the primary and secondary combustion chambers. The piston includes a plurality of injection ports for injecting the liquid propellant. An ignitor is disposed in the body for initiating combustion of the liquid propellant. A nozzle is formed at a free end of the central tube for producing thrust, wherein upon ignition of the ignitor combustion occurs in the primary combustion chamber driving the piston into the liquid propellant reservoir and the liquid propellant is injected into the primary combustion chamber to produce combustion products which are channeled into the secondary combustion chamber and expanded through the nozzle.

Regenerative piston liquid propellant rocket motor

An auto ignition system for use as part of an airbag inflator having an ignitor tube. The auto ignition system includes an elongated auto ignition chamber having an open end and a length to width ratio of at least three. The auto ignition chamber is adapted to be positioned within the airbag inflator with the open end facing the ignitor tube. Auto ignition material is contained within the auto ignition chamber, and a metal foil retention disk closes the open end of the auto ignition chamber. According to one embodiment, the auto ignition chamber is a recess defined by an endwall of the airbag inflator with the open end of the recess facing the ignitor tube. According to another embodiment of the invention, a solid press-fit closure plug closes the open end of the auto ignition chamber, and according to an additional embodiment, the press-fit closure plug is a porous metal fiber or powder press-fit closure plug. According to a further embodiment, the auto ignition chamber is defined by a retention cup adapted to be press-fit within the recess defined by the endwall of the inflator.

Auto ignition system

A regenerative liquid propellant engine system includes a body having opposed ends. A combustion chamber is disposed in the body. A reservoir of liquid propellant is also disposed in the body. A regenerative piston is slidably disposed in the body for delivering the liquid propellant to the combustion chamber. When combustion occurs in the combustion chamber the piston is driven into the liquid propellant reservoir and the liquid propellant is injected into the combustion chamber to produce combustion products. A storage tank stores a quantity of liquid propellant and a pump delivers the liquid propellant from the storage tank to the liquid propellant reservoir. The regenerative piston produces the necessary pumping pressure to operate the pump, thus, the mechanical complexity and inefficiencies of other pumping techniques is avoided.

Regenerative piston engine for combustion of liquid monopropellant

In an inflator of a vehicle safety restraint system utilizing liquid propellant as the inflation gas generator, decomposition of residual liquid propellant within the inflator produces undesirable gases which can result in unacceptable inflator effluent. The injection termination features of the present invention are formed onto an encapsulation or plug of a regenerative piston inflator. Upon completion of the piston stroke, the injection termination feature makes contact with the injection ports and plugs the injection ports to prevent combustion and decomposition reactions from propagating through the piston.

Injection termination feature

An inflator of a vehicle safety restraint system having a flow inhibitor system which forces ignition gases through a gas generant of the inflator. A housing includes a gas generant chamber and an igniter for generating an ignition gas. A gas generant is disposed within the gas generant chamber for generating an inflation gas. A shock absorbing devive supports the gas generant in the housing. The shock absorber is disposed within a region of the gas generant chamber. A flow inhibitor blocks the flow of the ignition gas into the region of the shock absorber. The flow inhibitor is disposed adjacent the shock absorber, such that the ignition gas does not enter the region of the shock absorber but passes solely through the gas generant.

Inflator flow inhibitor

A passenger air bag inflator using pressurized inert gas upon initial deployment to provide cool gas to the folded air bag. After the bag has started to unfold, the remaining gas is provided by pyrotechnic gas generant. Pyrotechnic gas expands against a piston. The piston compresses the inert gas and forces it to exhaust from the inflator. Upon expulsion of the inert gas, the piston then becomes a filter for the pyrotechnic. The system provides a reduction in air bag stresses from fast hot gas deployments.

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Fountain Hills, AZ, United States of America

Darrin L Johnson