Apparatus and method for filling an airbag

An arrangement for inflating a flexible and expandable container with gas essentially instantaneously upon application of sufficient retardation force applied to said arrangement, wherein said container upon inflation forms an injury reducing, force absorbing container, said arrangement comprising:

• a first vessel comprising oxygen, helium, and up to 50% by volume of at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof;
• a second vessel comprising hydrogen, helium, and up to 50% by volume of at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof;
• first and second connecting conduits respectively providing communication to said first and second vessels;
• a main conduit for providing communication to said container;
• a branch providing communication between said first connecting conduit, said second connecting conduit, and said main conduit;
• a mixing chamber disposed between said container and said main conduit;
• a retardation sensor for sensing retardation forces applied to said arrangement and having provisions for generating an output signal upon sensing retardation forces that exceed a threshold value;
• rupture provisions in communication with said output signal of said retardation sensor, said rupture provisions for providing flow connections between said first and said second vessels and said container upon receiving said output signal;
• and
• an ignition device for igniting gas from said first and second vessels, said ignition device being disposed in said container.

A method of filling an empty flexible container with gas essentially instantaneously when subjected to powerful retardation forces, wherein the gas-filled container functions as a force absorbing cushion for protection against injury, wherein the method comprises:

• providing an apparatus which includes a first and a second pressure receptacle which are sealed with the aid of a closure means and which contain gas under high pressure, a first conduit which extends from said first receptacle to said container, a second conduit which extends from said second receptacle to said container, and an ignition device, wherein said first receptacle comprises hydrogen and one or more inert gases selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, and nitrogen, and said second receptacle comprises oxygen and one or more inert gases selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, and nitrogen;
• passing said gases from said first and said second receptacle into said container;
• and
• igniting said gases when at least 10% of the total gas volume in said first and said second receptacle has passed into said container.

An arrangement for inflating a flexible and expandable container with gas essentially instantaneously upon application of sufficient retardation force applied to said arrangement, wherein said container upon inflation forms an injury reducing, force absorbing container, said arrangement comprising:

• a first vessel comprising oxygen, helium, and up to 50% by volume of at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof;
• a second vessel comprising hydrogen, helium, and up to 50% by volume of at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and combinations thereof;
• at least one conduit for connecting said first and second vessels to said container;
• a retardation sensor for sensing retardation forces applied to said arrangement and having provisions for generating an output signal upon sensing retardation forces that exceed a threshold value;
• and
• rupture provisions in communication with said output signal of said retardation sensor, said rupture provisions for providing flow connections between said first and said second vessels and said container upon receiving said output signal, said rupture provisions comprising a sliding duct assembly having:
• a receiving chamber having a first end wall, a second end wall, and a housing extending between said first and second end walls, said housing defining a plurality of openings for transferring gas from said first vessel, and a plurality of openings for transferring gas from said second vessel;
• a first slidable member defining a first aperture, said first slidable member disposed within said receiving chamber and proximate said first end wall;
• a second slidable member defining a second aperture, said second slidable member disposed within said receiving chamber and proximate said second end wall;
• an explosive charge disposed within said receiving chamber and disposed between said first and second slidable members;
• and
• a priming wire in electrical association with said explosive charge and said provisions of said retardation sensor.

Apparatus for filling a vehicle-mounted flexible container with gas, said apparatus comprising:

• a first receptacle containing a first gas mixture comprising oxygen and an inert gas;
• a second receptacle containing a second gas mixture comprising hydrogen and an inert gas;
• a main conduit for connection to the flexible container;
• a first conduit connected between the first receptacle and the main conduit;
• a second conduit connected between the second receptacle and the main conduit;
• a closure assembly having a closed state, wherein the closure assembly prevents the first and second gas mixtures from flowing through the first and second conduits, and an open state, wherein the closure assembly permits the first and second gas mixtures to flow through the first and second conduits and into the main conduit;
• an explosive device that, when ignited, places the closure assembly in the open state and ignites the first and second gas mixtures;
• and
• a deceleration sensor in communication with the explosive device, wherein upon sensing sufficient deceleration, said deceleration sensor ignites the explosive device, thereby causing the first and second gas mixtures to flow into the main conduit and ignite.