Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Other

Fred J Cook

Darrin L Johnson

Tracy Lee Nelson

Halley O Stevens

Chad Lewis Greenlee

Kenneth K Gudewich

Barry F Shaffer

Edward F Randell

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

Growing community of inventors

Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Fred J Cook