The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 31, 2000
Filed:
May. 10, 1999
Kim V Dahl, Clinton, UT (US);
G Dean Mossi, Roy, UT (US);
Autoliv ASP, Inc., Ogden, UT (US);
Abstract
An adaptive multi-stage inflator for inflating an air bag in an air bag safety system. The adaptive multi-stage inflator comprises a housing, a primary igniter assembly and a secondary igniter assembly. The housing has a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, which together define an interior chamber therebetween. The primary igniter assembly is disposed in the interior chamber of the housing and is configured to initiate the generation of a primary inflation fluid to inflate an air bag. The secondary igniter assembly is also disposed in the interior chamber of said housing. The secondary igniter assembly is configured to augment the primary inflation fluid by producing a secondary inflation fluid to further inflate the air bag. The inflator also includes a bypass assembly that is configured to provide the secondary inflation fluid to the air bag at substantially the same temperature as it was produced by the secondary igniter assembly, thereby increasing the pressure of the primary inflation fluid. The bypass assembly comprises a bypass passage configured such that the secondary igniter assembly is in direct fluid communication with the air bag. The bypass assembly has a retainer disk which in combination with the interior surface of the housing defines the bypass passage. The inflator also includes a filter disposed in the housing proximate to the side wall thereof to prevent the passage of particulates. The bypass assembly is configured to direct the secondary inflation fluid to the air bag without the secondary inflation fluid passing through the filter. Both the primary igniter assembly and the secondary igniter assembly comprises a quantity of igniter material.