Air bag inflator including plural burst disks

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:

• a container defining a gas storage chamber;
• inflation fluid under pressure in said gas storage chamber;
• a first opening in said container for enabling fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a first burst disk area extending across said first opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said first burst disk area to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential;
• first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said first burst disk area to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture said first burst disk area;
• a second opening in said container for directing fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a second burst disk area extending across said second opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said second burst disk area to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential;
• and
• second pressurizing means actuatable independently of said first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said second burst disk area to a level above the second predetermined pressure differential to rupture said second burst disk area,
• said apparatus having an actuated condition in which only said first burst disk area ruptures and said second burst disk area does not rupture.

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:

• a container defining a gas storage chamber;
• inflation fluid under pressure in said gas storage chamber;
• a first opening in said container for enabling fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a first burst disk extending across said first opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential;
• first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture said first burst disk;
• a second opening in said container for directing fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a second burst disk extending across said second opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential;
• and
• second pressurizing means actuatable independently of said first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a level above the second predetermined pressure differential to rupture said second burst disk,
• said second pressurizing means including a larger amount of ignitable material than said first pressurizing means and said second pressurizing means producing a larger amount of combustion products than said first pressurizing means.

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:

• a container defining a gas storage chamber;
• inflation fluid under pressure in said gas storage chamber;
• a first opening in said container for enabling fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a first burst disk extending across said first opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential;
• first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture said first burst disk;
• a second opening in said container for directing fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a second burst disk extending across said second opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential;
• and
• second pressurizing means actuatable independently of said first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a level above the second predetermined pressure differential to rupture said second burst disk,
• said first burst disk, when unruptured, blocking flow of said inflation fluid through both said first opening and said second opening.

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:

• a container defining a gas storage chamber;
• inflation fluid under pressure in said gas storage chamber;
• a first opening in said container for enabling fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a first burst disk extending across said first opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential;
• first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture said first burst disk;
• a second opening in said container for directing fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a second burst disk extending across said second opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential;
• and
• second pressurizing means actuatable independently of said first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a level above the second predetermined pressure differential to rupture said second burst disk,
• said second burst disk, when unruptured, including a first surface exposed to said inflation fluid and an opposite second surface exposed to said inflation fluid, said first surface and said second surface being in fluid communication when said second burst disk is in an unruptured condition.

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:

• a container defining a gas storage chamber;
• inflation fluid under pressure in said gas storage chamber;
• a first opening in said container for enabling fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a first burst disk extending across said first opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential;
• first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture said first burst disk;
• a second opening in said container for directing fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device, said second opening being in coaxial alignment with said first opening;
• a second burst disk extending across said second opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential;
• and
• second pressurizing means actuatable independently of said first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a level above the second predetermined pressure differential to rupture said second burst disk.

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:

• a container having an end wall defining a gas storage chamber;
• inflation fluid under pressure in said gas storage chamber;
• a first opening in said end wall of said container for enabling fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;
• a first burst disk extending across said first opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential;
• first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture said first burst disk;
• a second opening in said end wall of said container for directing fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device, said first opening and said second opening forming parallel paths of flow for said inflation fluid out of said container;
• a second burst disk extending across said second opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential;
• and
• second pressurizing means actuatable independently of said first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a level above the second predetermined pressure differential to rupture said second burst disk.