Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

James R Hocking

John P O'Loughlin

Craig M Fischer

William F McLeod, Ii

Pongdet Paul Wipasuramonton

Ahmad K Al-Amin

John P Wallner

Patrick G Jarboe

Scott A Kelley

Andrew J Smydra

Joseph J Mihm

Douglas J Rizzi

Terrance J Coultas

Pondget P Wipasuramonton

Paul Wipasuramonton

Terry Coultas

Timothy P Edwards

Steven R Hoskins

Xiaogang Leng

William McLeod

Douglas L Rizzi

An air bag inflator (20) comprises a container (40) defining a chamber (48) for storing inflation fluid at a first pressure. A rupturable closure or rupture disk (102) extends across an opening (60) in the container (40). Each one of a pair of inflation fluid heating assemblies (122, 124) is located in the chamber (48) and includes an actuatable igniter (222) and an ignitable material (168). The igniter (222) in one inflation fluid heating assembly (122) upon actuation, ignites the ignitable material (168) in the one inflation fluid heating assembly to produce combustion products. The combustion products heat the inflation fluid and increase the pressure of the inflation fluid in the chamber (48) to a second pressure to rupture the rupture disk (102). The igniter (222) in the other inflation fluid heating assembly (124), upon actuation, ignites the ignitable material in the other inflation fluid heating assembly to produce combustion products which further heat and further increase the pressure of the inflation fluid in the chamber (48).

Dual stage air bag inflator

An apparatus (20, 320, 420) for inflating an air bag comprises a cylindrical container (40, 340, 440) that includes a tubular housing (42, 342, 442), a pair of axially opposite end walls (44, 46, 444, 446), and a longitudinal central axis (A, B, C). The container (40, 340, 440) defines a fluid storage chamber (48, 348, 448) for storing inflation fluid at a first pressure. One of the end walls (44 or 46, 444 or 446) of the container (40, 340, 440) has an opening (62, 462) through which inflation fluid may flow from the fluid storage chamber (48, 348, 448). A rupturable closure (102, 502) extends across the opening (62, 462) to block the flow of inflation fluid through the opening. The closure (102, 502) ruptures in response to pressure in the fluid storage chamber (48, 348, 448) increasing to a predetermined second pressure to permit the flow of inflation fluid from the fluid storage chamber through the opening (62, 462). An ignitable material (148, 600) is located in the fluid storage chamber (48, 348, 448) adjacent another end wall (46 or 44, 446 or 444) of the container (40, 340, 440). An actuatable igniter (222, 622) has an end (228, 628) located in the fluid storage chamber (40, 340, 440) and is surrounded by the ignitable material (148, 600). The igniter (222, 622), when actuated, ignites the ignitable material (148, 600) to produce combustion products, including heat, which increase the pressure of the inflation fluid in the fluid storage chamber (48, 348, 448) to the predetermined second pressure for rupturing the closure (102, 502).

Inflator for air bag

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 (20, 320) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises a container (22, 340) which defines a chamber (44, 348) for storing inflation fluid under pressure. The container (22, 340) has an opening (60, 360) through which the inflation fluid flows to inflate the protection device. A rupturable closure (102, 402) extends across the opening (60, 360) to block the flow of inflation fluid. A flow initiator (120, 322) is located in the chamber (44, 348) and is spaced from the closure (102, 402). The flow initiator (120, 322) comprises an ignition cup (122, 440) having a base section (142, 442) fixed to the container (22, 340). A movable section (146, 446) of the ignition cup (122, 440) is attached to the base section (142, 442) and is separable from the base section. The movable section (146, 446) has a vent (162, 464) which permits communication of the inflation fluid in the chamber (44, 348) with the interior of the ignition cup (122, 440). An ignitable propellant (168, 482) is located in the ignition cup (122, 440). An actuatable igniter (222, 520), upon actuation, ignites the propellant (168, 482) to produce combustion products (CP), including heat and pressure. The pressure acts on interior surfaces of the movable section (146, 446) to separate the movable section from the base section (142, 442) and propel the movable section to rupture the closure (102, 402).

Vented ignition cup in stored fluid 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

An inflator assembly inflates a vehicle occupant restraint. The inflator assembly includes a container which stores gas under pressure. A body of an ignitable pyrotechnic material is disposed within the container. An igniter assembly is actuatable in response to being struck to ignite the body of pyrotechnic material. An actuator assembly is provided to release the stored gas from the container and to actuate the igniter assembly. The actuator assembly includes a pyrotechnic which moves an actuator member to rupture a portion of the container and to strike the igniter assembly. Upon actuation of the igniter assembly, the pyrotechnic material is ignited and begins to burn. During initial burning of the pyrotechnic material, an orifice plate restricts a flow of combustion products to promote burning of the pyrotechic material. During continued burning of the pyrotechnic material, the flow of combustion products enlarges the size of the orifice in the orifice plate to reduce the restriction to the flow of combustion products. The combustion products heat the gas in the container to increase the fluid pressure in the container.

Inflator assembly

A new and useful vehicle air bag module design and new assembly techniques are designed specifically for automating the process of assembling an air bag module. The air bag module includes a reaction can which has a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening, an external flange extending away from the air bag opening, and an inflator-receiving slot formed in part of the main body. A folded air bag having a gas inlet opening is at least partially disposed in the cavity. A retention device is integral with the air bag around the periphery of the gas inlet opening and is disposed adjacent the external flange on the reaction can. The inflator has a cylindrical housing and an integral coupling structure. The cylindrical housing extends partially through the inflator-receiving slot and includes a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity. A first set of fasteners connects the coupling structure of the inflator with a portion of said main body of said reaction can. A second set of fasteners connects the retention device with the external flange on the reaction can. The reaction can, which may be either aluminum or steel, is formed as a monolithic structure by deep drawing techniques.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

James R Hocking