Oea, Inc.

Ronald J Butt

Brian K Hamilton

Brent A Parks

An ignition assembly in a motor vehicle inflatable safety system is provided, preferably to be used with a projectile. In one embodiment, the ignition assembly includes an actuation piston and an activator, such as a percussion primer(s) and an ignition material, which are separated by a retention pin. When a sufficient force is exerted on the actuation piston, the retention pin fails such that the actuation piston moves and impacts the percussion primer(s) to ignite the propellant within the gas generator. The resulting propellant gases are thereafter provided in a predetermined direction(s). Advantageously, a check valve-like device is employed to substantially reduce the flow of propellant gases in a direction other than the predetermined direction(s). The preferred projectile also includes a body that has a smaller dimension than the projectile piercing head when the projectile is used to separate a closure disk to release stored, pressurized gases in addition to activating the gas generator. In this case, the preferred projectile facilitates the controlled separation of any closure disk used to retain pressurized, stored gases used by the . inflator in addition to the propellant gases.

Gas generator ignition assembly using a projectile

A gas inflator apparatus for deploying inflatable devices, particularly automobile air bags, which provides an initial flow rate of gas into the air bag, followed by a delayed maximum flow rate to fully deploy the air bag, the apparatus particularly having the capability to program the delay by monitoring certain environmental conditions, namely pressure, and additionally providing temperature compensation for variations in ambient conditions, all of which optimize performance of the gas inflator apparatus over a wider range of operating conditions. A single electrical signal is sent to the gas inflator apparatus upon the sensing of an impact. The signal actuates an electro-explosive device which allows stored gas in the gas inflator apparatus to begin flowing into the air bag. Mechanical elements monitor the differential pressure between a pressure related to the pressure in the housing which stores the gas and a reference pressure. Upon achievement of a programmed differential pressure, the mechanical elements ignite a gas generator propellant, the combustion of which augments the flow rate into the air bag to ensure full inflation thereof.

Gas inflator apparatus

A gas inflator apparatus for deploying inflatable devices, particularly automobile air bags, which provides an initial flow rate of gas onto the air bag, followed by a delayed maximum flow rate to fully depoly the air bag, the apparatus particularly having the capability to program the delay by monitoring cartain environmental conditions, namely pressure, and additionally providing temperature compensation for variations in ambient conditions, all of which optimize performance of the gas inflator apparatus over a wider range of operating conditions. A single electrical signal is sent to the gas inflator apparatus upon the sensing of an impact. The signal actuates an electro-explosive device which allows stored gas in the gas inflator apparatus to begin flowing into the air bag. Mechanical elements monitor the differential pressure between a pressure related to the pressure in the housing which stores the gas and a reference pressure. Upon achievement of a programmed differential pressure, the mechanical elements ignite a gas generator propellant, the combustion of which augments the flow rate into the air bag to ensure full inflation thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, CO, United States of America

Ronald J Butt