US 6,629,703 B2 · Opening device for a cold gas inflator

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 a 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 into the diffuser and then exits the cold gas inflator in the radial direction. In another embodiment, the stored gas exits the cold gas inflator in the axial direction.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A cold gas inflator comprising:

a pressure vessel having a second end with a discharge opening, the discharge opening closed by a burst disk, the burst disk being remote from a first end of the pressure vessel;
an orifice plate mounted flush against a diffuser wherein the diffuser defines the discharge opening, the orifice plate has an orifice therethrough whereby the orifice has a smaller diameter than the discharge opening, the orifice of the orifice plate has a diameter less than half the diameter for the pressure vessel;
and
an opening device for rupturing the burst disk.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/017,022Filed 14 Dec 2001

Published

US 2003/0111831 A119 Jun 2003

Granted

7 Oct 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B60R 21/268
Characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow: using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas
B60R 21/261
Characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow: with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide…
B60R 2021/26029
Characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow: ignitors
B60R 2021/2612
With means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid: gas guiding means, e.g. ducts

Opening device for a cold gas inflator

Life of this patent

Opening device for a cold gas inflator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9