Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Other

Peter Staudhammer

Jack L Blumenthal

Harold R Blomquist

Douglas P Campbell

Gas generating material for a vehicle occupant protection apparatus

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

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 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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Mayfield Hts., OH, United States of America

Peter Staudhammer