Opening device for a cold gas inflator
AssigneeKey Safety Systems, Inc.
InventorsMichael Eugene Kelley, William Francis McLeod II, Anthony J. Curtis, Michael Felix Mulville
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cold gas inflator having an opening device for rupturing a burst disk. The cold gas inflator is filled with stored gas. The cold gas inflator has a burst disk, which prevents the stored gas from exiting the pressure vessel. In the event of an automobile accident, the opening device is actuated, which causes the ignition of pyrotechnic material. This ignition generates a shockwave of sufficient energy to rupture the burst disk. The stored gas flows from the cold gas inflator in the radial direction. In another embodiment, the stored gas exits the cold gas inflator in the axial direction.
Claims20
An inflator comprising:
- a first cylindrical member having a pressure vessel portion and a conduit portion for directing inflation gas, the pressure vessel portion has an annular end plate extending radially inward defining a discharge opening,
- a second cylindrical member having a first end that is closed and a second end that is fused to the pressure vessel portion of the first cylindrical member by friction welding whereby curls are formed therefrom;
- a burst disk having a substantially dome shape with a peak of the dome facing away from the second cylindrical member, the burst disk is attached to the end plate, wherein the burst disk, the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member define a pressure vessel;
- and
- an orifice plate having an orifice therethrough wherein the orifice is smaller than the discharge opening, the second cylindrical member has a annular ledge disposed within the pressure vessel portion thereof for precluding the orifice plate from contacting the end plate, the curls preclude the orifice plate from sliding into the second cylindrical vessel.
An inflator for inflating an airbag comprising:
- a pressure vessel containing gas comprising
- (a) a first cylindrical member having a pressure vessel portion and a conduit portion for directing inflation gas, the pressure vessel portion has an annular end plate extending radially inward defining a discharge opening for the pressure vessel,
- (b) a second cylindrical member having a first end that is closed and a second end that is fused to the pressure vessel portion of the first cylindrical portion, and
- (c) a burst disk having substantially dome shape with a peak of the dome facing away from the second cylindrical member, the burst disk is attached to the end plate;
- and
- an opening device attached to the conduit portion of the first cylindrical portion, wherein the center of the burst disk is less than 8.0 mm away from the opening device, the opening device comprises an igniter and a nozzle for focusing the output energy of the igniter, whereby actuation of the igniter produces combustion products that rupture the burst disk allowing inflation gas to flow through the discharge opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.