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:
Mar. 23, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 21, 2001
Martin R. Neunzert, Ogden, UT (US);
Kerry C. Walker, Perry, UT (US);
Autoliv ASP, Inc., Ogden, UT (US);
Abstract
An inflator is provided that can reduce the occurrence of virtual and masked leaks in inflator testing. The inflator may have an outer wall surrounding a main internal compartment containing compressed inflation gases. Additionally, the inflator may have a pyrotechnic assembly containing a generant, or pyrotechnic material, and an initiator configured to ignite the pyrotechnic material upon receipt of an electric signal from a vehicle's electrical system. The initiator may be separated from the pyrotechnic material, and from the compressed gases, by a pressure dome that effectively creates a cavity around the initiator. The initiator may be accessible to outside contact through an opening in the outer wall. An insert may be positioned around the initiator to control flows of gas leaving the cavity through the opening. Thus, during testing, residual gases within the cavity are able to escape the inflator within a predictable time period, so that the inflator can reliably be checked for gases exiting the main internal compartment. The insert may have a porous design so that gases escape from the cavity at a controlled rate during testing, but are unable to escape in any destructive manner during ignition of the pyrotechnic material.