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US 2016/0084438 A1Published application
Compressed gas inflator with composite overwrap
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsBradley W. SMITH, Michael P. JORDAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inflator device includes a steel member to at least in part form a pressure vessel and an external composite wrap overlying at least a portion of the metal member. The metal member can be tubular and have an elongated length such as to form a steel inner liner that is incapable of withstanding the pressure generated within the pressure vessel upon actuation of the inflator device without support provided by the composite overwrap.
Claims18
An inflator device comprising:
- a steel member at least in part forming a pressure vessel including a gas storage chamber filled to contain a supply of pressurized gas,
- an external composite wrap overlying at least a portion of the steel member, the composite wrap comprising a composite of fibers and a resin matrix system, and
- an initiator disposed at an end portion of the steel member, the initiator upon actuation resulting in an increase in pressure within the pressure vessel and an outflow of gas from the inflator device,
- wherein the steel member forms an inner liner and wherein the steel member inner liner is:
- a. able to contain the supply of pressurized gas during gas fill without support provided by the composite wrap;
- and
- b. incapable of withstanding the pressure generated within the pressure vessel upon actuation of the inflator device without support provided by the composite wrap, and
- wherein the steel member and composite wrap form a single use structure capable of withstanding the pressure within the gas storage chamber upon actuation of the initiator.
5 more elements
A method of making an inflator device, the method comprising:
- providing a steel inner liner to at least in part form a pressure vessel;
- overwrapping the steel inner liner with a composite of fibers and a resin matrix system;
- and
- treating the composite overwrapped steel inner liner to form an inflator device that withstands the pressure generated within the pressure vessel upon actuation of the inflator device and wherein the steel inner liner is incapable of withstanding the pressure generated within the pressure vessel upon actuation of the inflator device without support provided by the composite overwrap.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.