Pressurized fluid containing airbag inflator
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsKarl K. Rink, David J. Green, Bradley W. Smith, Marcus T. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses for inflating inflatable devices and associated methods of leak detection relying on the inclusion of a radioactive isotope leak trace material.
Claims41
An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising:
- a first chamber containing at least one gas source material under pressure, said gas source material, upon initiation, resulting in an inflation fluid used to inflate the device;
- said first chamber also containing a quantity of at least one radioactive isotope leak trace material whereby fluid leakage from said first chamber can be detected;
- and
- an initiator to initiate the at least one gas source material of said first chamber.
An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising:
- a first chamber containing at least one gas source material under pressure which undergoes decomposition to form decomposition products including at least one gaseous decomposition product used to inflate the device;
- said first chamber also containing a quantity of Kr.sup.85 leak trace material whereby fluid leakage from said first chamber can be detected;
- and
- an initiator to initiate the decomposition of the at least one gas source material.
A method for detecting the occurrence of a leak from an otherwise closed chamber containing a pressurized fluid wherein said chamber initially contains a selected quantity of at least one radioactive isotope leak trace material, said method comprising the step of measuring the change in the radioactive signals emanating from said chamber.
A method for detecting the occurrence of a leak from an otherwise closed pressurized fluid-containing chamber of an inflatable restraint system inflator, the pressurized fluid comprising a gas source material which, upon initiation, results in an inflation fluid used to inflate an inflatable device, the chamber additionally initially containing a selected quantity of at least one radioactive isotope leak trace material, said method comprising the step of:
- measuring the change in radioactive signals emanating from said chamber.
A method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cryogenically formed solid mass of a first material within an at least partially open chamber;
- providing a selected quantity of at least one radioactive isotope leak trace material within the at least partially open chamber;
- and
- thereafter, closing the chamber to initially contain both the first material and the leak trace material.
In a method of loading a material into an apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, the improvement comprising the step of:
- sealing a cryogenically formed solid mass of the material within a chamber of the apparatus.
An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising:
- a first chamber containing at least one gas source material fluid under pressure the gas source material fluid, upon initiation, resulting in an inflation fluid used to inflate the device and
- an initiator to initiate the at least one gas source material fluid of said first chamber
- wherein said first chamber is free of a fill port for passage of the gas source material fluid thereinto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.