Trw Limited

James M Rose

John P O'Loughlin

Keven D Thomas

An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (40) includes a housing (12) and a container (50) mounted in the housing. A quantity of helium gas (52) is stored under pressure in the container (50). The apparatus (10) includes means (58) for opening the container (50) to enable flow of helium gas (52) out of the container into the housing (12). The housing (12) has wall portions (14, 16, 18, 20) for directing helium gas (52) flowing from the container (50) through an outlet (26) of the housing into the inflatable device (40) to inflate the inflatable device. The housing (12) has at least one aspiration opening (30, 32) for aspirating ambient air into the housing due to the flow of helium gas (52) to mix with the helium gas during flow of helium gas from the container (50) into the inflatable device (40). Preferably, the apparatus (10) includes a converging-diverging nozzle (70) which is connected with the container (50) and through which gas (52) flows from the container prior to mixing with ambient air in the housing (12).

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Sparks, NV, United States of America

James M Rose