Trw Limited

Thomas H Deming

Jess A Cuevas

Timothy A Swann

Bryan W Shirk

Roy D Van Wynsberghe

Ahmad K Al-Amin

Lloyd G Green, Jr

Halley O Stevens

Bradley W Nelson

Robert E Scott

Eric R McFarland

Jon J Freesmeier

An inflator ( ) comprises a housing ( ) defining first and second combustion chambers ( ). A first inflation fluid source ( ) in the first combustion chamber ( ) is actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid. A first initiator ( ) in the housing ( ), when energized, effects actuation of the first inflation fluid source ( ). A second inflation fluid source ( ) in the second combustion chamber ( ) is actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid. A second initiator ( ) in the housing ( ), when energized, effects actuation of the second inflation fluid source ( ). The housing ( ) deforms due to the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing upon actuation of one or both of the inflation fluid sources ( ). The housing ( ), after deforming, has a fluid passage ( ) for directing flow of inflation fluid out of the housing. The flow area of the fluid passage ( ) varies in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing ( ). The housing comprises first and second housing parts ( ) having a first condition in abutting engagement with each other and a second condition, after deformation of the housing ( ), spaced apart from each other to define the fluid passage ( ). The first housing part ( ) comprises a one-piece metal member that supports the initiators ( ) and defines the combustion chambers ( ).

Dual stage air bag inflator

An apparatus (,) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,) comprises an inflator housing (,) including first and second end walls (,). An inflation fluid source (,) in the inflator housing (,) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid under pressure. An igniter assembly (,) in the inflator housing (,), for actuating the inflation fluid source (,), includes an igniter housing (,) located between the first and second end walls (,) of the inflator housing and an igniter (,) located in the igniter housing. The first and second end walls (,) of the inflator housing (,) move away from each other upon actuation of the inflation fluid source (,). The igniter housing (,) moves with the second end wall (,) away from the first end wall (,). The igniter assembly (,) further includes a cap (,) on the igniter housing (,) for closing an open end of the igniter housing. The cap (,) bodily moves with the first end wall (,) away from the second end wall (,) and relative to the igniter housing (,) upon actuation of the inflation fluid source (

Air bag inflator with pressure regulation

An apparatus (,) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,) comprises a container (,) defining a chamber (,). The container (,) has a portion (,) which is rupturable to form an opening in the container. A quantity of inflation fluid (,) is stored under pressure in the chamber (,). An electrically actuatable initiator (,) is connected with the container (,) for rupturing the rupturable portion (,) of the container to enable flow of inflation fluid (,) out of the inflator (,). The initiator (,) comprises an ignitable primary charge (,) and electrically energizable means (,) for igniting the primary charge. The initiator (,) further comprises a secondary charge (,) ignitable by the primary charge (,). The secondary charge (,) comprises an ignitable metal in solid form which liquefies when ignited by the primary charge (,). The primary charge (,) when ignited generates combustion products under pressure which ignite the secondary charge (,) and direct the liquefied metal into engagement with the rupturable portion (,) of the container (,) to help open the rupturable portion of the container. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary charge (,) is thermite.

Initiator for air bag inflator

An inflator (10) for providing inflation fluid to inflate an inflatable device includes a container (12) containing a stored pressurized gas. The container (12) has a primary chamber (24) and a secondary chamber (26). The container (12) has a wall (32) separating the primary and secondary chambers (24, 26). An orifice (34) communicates the primary chamber (24) with the secondary chamber (26). The container (12) has an outlet passage (42) communicating with the secondary chamber (26). The flow area of the outlet passage (42) is greater than the flow area of the orifice (34). A member (46) has a first condition blocking flow through the outlet passage (42) and a second condition permitting flow through the outlet passage. An initiator (52) causes the member (46) to assume the second condition so as to permit flow from the secondary chamber (26) through the outlet passage (42) and create a pressure differential between the primary and secondary chambers (24, 26) acting on the wall (32). The pressure differential ruptures the wall (32).

Inflator

An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) comprises an inflator structure (14) defining a primary chamber (18), a secondary chamber (48), a primary outlet (50) for enabling fluid flow from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber, and a secondary outlet (70) for directing fluid flow from the secondary chamber to the inflatable device. A primary burst disk (60) extends across the primary outlet (50). The primary burst disk (60) is rupturable in response to the pressure differential across the primary burst disk exceeding a first predetermined pressure differential. A secondary burst disk (80) extends across the secondary outlet (70) and is rupturable in response to the pressure differential across the secondary burst disk exceeding a second predetermined pressure differential. Inflation fluid (20) is stored at a first pressure in the primary chamber (18). Inflation fluid (90) is stored in the secondary chamber (48) at a second pressure less than the first pressure, so that the pressure differential across the primary burst disk (60) is less than the first predetermined pressure differential. The apparatus includes actuatable means (16) for rupturing the secondary burst disk (80) to initiate flow of inflation fluid (90) out of the secondary chamber (48) into the inflatable device (12). The flow of fluid (90) from the secondary chamber (48) decreases the pressure in the secondary chamber sufficiently to raise the pressure differential across the primary burst disk (60) to a level exceeding the first predetermined pressure differential. In a preferred embodiment, the actuatable means (16) is an energizable device for, when energized, increasing the pressure in the secondary chamber (48) to a level exceeding the second predetermined pressure differential, thereby effecting rupturing of the secondary burst disk (80).

Air bag inflator

An apparatus (10) includes an inflator structure (12) and a pyrotechnic initiator (80). The inflator structure (12) defines an inflation fluid pressure chamber (15), and includes a closure structure (44) which closes the chamber (15). The closure structure (44) has a rupturable portion (48). A first body of pyrotechnic material (54) is mounted on the rupturable portion (48) of the closure structure (44). The initiator (80) is mounted on the inflator structure (12) separately from the first body of pyrotechnic material (54), and contains a second body of pyrotechnic material (88). When the second body of pyrotechnic material (88) is ignited, it produces combustion products that ignite the first body of pyrotechnic material (54).

Vehicle occupant protection apparatus

An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) includes a housing (16, 40) defining a chamber (30). An actuatable inflation fluid source (80) in the chamber (30) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device (12). A body of plastic material (50) is supported on the housing (40). An electrically energizable initiator (90), when energized, causes inflation fluid to flow from the chamber (30). A retainer (120) mounts the initiator (90) to the housing (40). The retainer (120) has a first portion (130) engaging the initiator (90) and securing the initiator to the retainer. The retainer (120) has a second portion (132) engaging the body of plastic material (50) and securing the retainer to the body of plastic material.

Initiator retainer for air bag inflator

An inflator (10) comprises a housing (20) defining a combustion chamber (144). An inflation fluid source (152) in the combustion chamber (144) in the housing (20) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid under pressure. An initiator (94) is provided in the housing (20) for actuating the inflation fluid source (152). The housing (20) has a fluid passage (150) for directing flow of inflation fluid out of the housing. The housing (20) deforms due to the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing upon actuation of the inflation fluid source (152) by the initiator (94). The flow area of the fluid passage (150) increases due to deformation of the housing (20) and varies in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in the housing upon actuation of the inflation fluid source (152). The housing (20) comprises first and second housing parts (40, 30) having respective engageable portions (84, 46) that move, upon actuation of the fluid source (152), from a first condition in abutting engagement with each other to a second condition spaced apart from each other to vary the flow area of the fluid passage (150). The first housing part (40) comprises a one-piece metal member that supports the initiator (94) and at least partially defines the combustion chamber (144). The combustion chamber (144) extends around the initiator (94). The one-piece metal member (40) includes a first portion (70) supporting the initiator (94) and defining a radially inner wall of the combustion chamber (144) and a second portion (64) defining a radially outer wall of the combustion chamber.

An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) and an inflator (20) for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The inflator (20) has a wall (32) defining a chamber (40) in the inflator. Inflation fluid is stored at a predetermined pressure in the chamber (40). The apparatus (10) further comprises a first device (102) for generating electrical energy. The first device (102) is located in the chamber (40). A second device (106, 108) senses a change in the predetermined pressure and transmits a signal indicative of the change in the predetermined pressure through the wall (32). The second device (106, 108) is located inside the chamber (40) and is electrically connected to the first device (102). A third device (122, 124) senses the signal. The third device (122, 124) is located outside of the chamber (40).

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Thomas H Deming