Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Limited

Jack L Blumenthal

Peter Staudhammer

Maksymilian Burk

Ernst M Faigle

Tracy S Sparks

Ivan L Stonich

Lee D Bergerson

Edward F Brooks

John R Ogren

Marvin Appel

William C Forbes

Quentin H McKenna

Timothy A Swann

Jess A Cuevas

Bryan W Shirk

Roy D Van Wynsberghe

John A Starkovich

Ahmad K Al-Amin

John P O'Loughlin

Richard J Thompson

John H Semchena

Alex G Meduvsky

Nahum Gat

Paul T Saccone

Eric N Streif

Eugene V Rutkowski

Neal A Richardson

An inflator ( ) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises a storage container ( ), a primary inflation fluid under pressure in a gaseous state in the container, and a secondary inflation fluid under pressure in the container. The container ( ) is openable to enable the primary inflation fluid to flow out of the container into the inflatable device to inflate the inflatable device ( ). At least a portion of the secondary inflation fluid is in a non-gaseous state in the container ( ) during flow of the primary inflation fluid into the inflatable device. The portion of the secondary inflation fluid in the non-gaseous state thereafter changing to the gaseous state and flowing into the inflatable device to maintain the inflatable device in the inflated condition.

Long duration air bag inflator

An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a container (12) having a chamber (14), and inflation fluid (16) under pressure in the chamber for inflating the inflatable device. The apparatus (10) includes an outlet opening (70) in the container (12) for directing inflation fluid (16) from the chamber (14) to the inflatable device. The apparatus (10) also includes an initiator (110) for, when ignited, producing combustion products (130). The apparatus (10) further includes a support member (30) for supporting the initiator means (110) adjacent to the chamber (14). An inlet opening (58) in the container (12) spaced apart from the outlet opening (70) directs combustion products (130) from the initiator (110) into the chamber (14). The apparatus (10) includes a single, one-piece burst disc (80) having a first portion (82) blocking the inlet opening (58) and a second portion (90) blocking the outlet opening (70). The first portion (82) of the burst disc (80) ruptures upon ignition of the initiator (110). The second portion (90) of the burst disc (80) ruptures after the rupturing of the first portion (82) to enable flow of inflation fluid (16) from the chamber (14) through the outlet opening (70) to the inflatable device.

Air bag inflator

An apparatus for deploying an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) includes a pressure vessel (16) containing inflation fluid, and a source of thermal energy which heats the inflation fluid. An initiator assembly (17), when actuated, initiates an outlet flow of the inflation fluid from the pressure vessel (16). The initiator assembly (17) includes a first actuatable device (18) which varies the degree to which the thermal energy can heat the inflation fluid, and further includes a second actuatable device (20) which causes the source to release the thermal energy to heat the inflation fluid. The initiator assembly (17) is actuated in a selected one of a plurality of differing stages. The differing stages correspond to a plurality of differing deployment conditions, and include a 'softest' stage in which only the first actuatable device (18) is actuated.

Vehicle occupant protection apparatus

An apparatus includes a pressure vessel with a closure structure (14) including a part (62) consisting of a single, continuous body of homogeneous metal material. The part (62) has a plurality of fluid outlet openings (22), a fluid outlet conduit (88) communicating with the outlet openings (22), and a pocket (100) separate from the outlet conduit (88). The pocket (100) has a closed inner end (116) defined by a thin wall portion (120) of the part (62). An initiator (40) is received in the pocket (100), and is actuatable to rupture the thin wall portion (120) of the part (62). In a preferred embodiment, a retainer structure (102) holds the initiator (40) in the pocket (100). The retainer structure (102) and the part (62) have adjoining, unthreaded surfaces (160, 108) engaging each other in an interference fit which is tight enough to hold the retainer structure (102) and the initiator (40) in the pocket (100) when the initiator (40) is actuated.

Inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

A pressure vessel (10) containing fluid (18) under pressure has a first part (38) which is formed of aluminum. An igniter housing (110) comprises a tubular part (112) with a reputable end wall (122) subjected to the pressure of the fluid (18). The tubular part (112) contains an igniter (40) which, when actuated, ruptures the end wall (122). The igniter housing (110) is formed of steel, and is fixed to the first part (38) of the pressure vessel (10) by a friction weld (150). The friction weld (150) blocks the fluid (18) from leaking outward from between the igniter housing (110) and the first part (38) of the pressure vessel (10).

An apparatus for deploying an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a container (302) defining a primary combustion chamber (333), a secondary combustion chamber (343), and a gas flow path (312) extending from the primary combustion chamber (333) to the exterior (345) of the container (302) through the secondary combustion chamber (343). The container (302) has first and second opposite end walls (308, 310), and further has inner and outer tubular wall structures (304, 306) extending longitudinally from one to the other of the end walls (308, 310). The secondary combustion chamber (343) has an annular shape defined between the tubular wall structures (304, 306). The primary combustion chamber (333) is one of a pair of primary combustion chambers (333, 335) having cylindrical shapes defined within the inner tubular wall structure (304). Each primary combustion chamber (333,335) contains a combustible mixture of gases under pressure and is separated from the secondary combustion chamber (343) by a corresponding rupturable closure part (316) of the container (302).

Multiple stage air bag inflator

An apparatus for deploying an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) includes a container (26) with a closed storage chamber (28) containing a combustible mixture of gases. The apparatus (10) further includes first and second initiators (18, 20). The first initiator (18), when actuated, first opens the storage chamber and then ignites the combustible mixture of gases. The second initiator (20), when actuated, also ignites the combustible mixture of gases. The first and second initiators (18, 20) are actuated in a selected one of a plurality of differing stages which correspond to a plurality of differing deployment conditions.

A vehicle safety apparatus (10) for use in inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) comprises a pressure vessel (14) for containing a combustible mixture of gases. A combustible mixture (18) of gases is contained within the pressure vessel. The combustible mixture (18) of gases comprises a combustible fuel gas mixture, an oxidizer gas for supporting combustion of the fuel gas mixture, and an inert gas. The fuel gas mixture comprises hydrogen gas and a hydrocarbon gas. The hydrogen gas comprises about 84 to about 96 molar percent of the fuel gas mixture. The hydrocarbon gas comprises about 4 to about 16 molar percent of the fuel gas mixture. An actuatable igniter (12) is provided for igniting the combustible mixture (18) of gases in the pressure vessel (14). Gas is enabled to flow from the pressure vessel (14) into the vehicle occupant protection device (12).

Apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device

A vehicle safety apparatus (10) for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a container (14) for receiving gases. The gases in the container (14) are a combustible gas, an oxidizer gas, an inert gas and a combustion rate modifier gas selected from the group consisting of an inert carbonaceous gas, water vapor, and mixtures thereof. An igniter is activated to effect ignition of the combustible gas in response to sudden vehicle deceleration indicative of a collision condition. The ignition of the combustible gas in the presence of oxygen results in combustion products including heat. The heat from the combustion products heats at least the inert gas. A directing means directs a flow of gases from the container into the inflatable occupant restraint. The combustion rate modifier gas is present in the container (14) in an amount sufficient to reduce the rate of combustion of the combustible gas.

Apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint

A tank closure (14) has first and second parts (60,62) which are friction welded to each other. The first part (60) of the tank closure (14) is formed of steel, and includes a rupturable closure wall (20). The second part (62) of the tank closure (14) is formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and has a fluid flow conduit (64) communicating the closure wall (20) with an outlet opening (22).

Pressure vessel with two-part closure structure

An inflator (12) includes a vessel (30) having a chamber (34) containing inflation fluid under pressure for inflating an air bag (16). A plug (50) is located in an opening (52) into the chamber (34). The plug (50) has a fluid passage (72) for directing inflation fluid from the chamber (34) to the air bag (16). The plug (50) has a tapered surface (90) which partially defines an electrical conductor passage (82) extending through the plug at a location spaced apart from the fluid passage (72). A tapered seal member (100) is press fit into a tapered end portion (88) of the electrical conductor passage (82) in fluid tight sealing engagement with the tapered surface (90). An electrical conductor (126) extends through the electrical conductor passage (82) and through the seal member (100). The electrical conductor (126) is connectable with an electrical device (24), such as an igniter, in the chamber (34).

An inflator assembly (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a pressure vessel (14) with a storage chamber (18) containing a combustible mixture of gases. An ignitable material (122), when burning, increases the pressure of the mixture of gases by igniting the mixture of gases. The mixture of gases is released to exit the storage chamber (18) at a first flow rate and subsequently at a second, greater flow rate. A first gas outlet opening (172) is provided in the pressure vessel (14) when the inflator assembly (10) is actuated, and a second gas outlet opening (186) is subsequently provided in the pressure vessel (14) at a predetermined time. A diffuser (176) directs gas from the gas outlet openings (172) and (186) into the inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12).

Apparatus and method for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant

An inflator assembly (10) comprises a break away wall portion (58 ) that partially defines a storage chamber (18) for storing gas which is releasable to inflate a vehicle occupant restraint (12). A first ignitable material, when ignited, produces first combustion products to pressurize and supplement the stored gas. A second ignitable material (122), when ignited, produces second combustion products to ignite the first ignitable material. A movable container (104) contains the second ignitable material (122). The movable container (104) is propelled toward the break away wall portion (58) to penetrate and break away the break away wall portion and then to carry away the break away wall portion across the storage chamber (18) when the second ignitable material (122) is burning.

Inflator assembly

An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint includes containing means for receiving gases to provide a combustible mixture of the gases. An igniter is activated to effect ignition of the mixture of gases in response to sudden vehicle deceleration. A directing means directs a flow of gas from the containing means into the inflatable occupant restraint. In the preferred embodiment the gases are an inert gas, a fuel gas, and an oxidizer gas. Also, a lean mixture of a fuel gas and oxidizer gas could be used. An improved igniter transmits energy through an imperforate portion of a wall of the containing means to ignite a charge in the containing means. The igniter may include an elongate core disposed in a frangible sheath which is shattered as the core is burned.

Apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint using a mixture of

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device includes a container for containing gas in a chamber. The apparatus also includes a combustible metallic wire in the chamber and an igniter for igniting the combustible metallic wire. The gas in the chamber is warmed and increased in pressure by combustion of the combustible metallic wire. The warmed and pressurized gas is directed to the inflatable device to inflate the inflatable device.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Jack L Blumenthal