Expandable fluid inflator device with pyrotechnic coating
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsKarl K. Rink, David J. Green, Robert D. Taylor, Ivan V. Mendenhall, William B. Richardson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Inflator device assemblies containing an expandable fluid effective to provide a gaseous inflation medium also advantageously employ or incorporate a pyrotechnic material such as to augment or enhance at least one fill characteristic of the gaseous inflation medium. The pyrotechnic material is provided on a selected non-gas generant surface within the inflator device. Suitable pyrotechnic compositions may include a binder additive effective to adhere the pyrotechnic composition to a surface within the inflator device.
Claims31
An inflator device comprising:
- a closed storage chamber having contents including a quantity of an expandable fluid effective to provide a gaseous inflation medium,
- at least one exit opening wherethrough at least a portion of the gaseous inflation medium provided by the inflator device can exit the inflator device and
- an initiator device effective upon actuation to open the storage chamber and place at least a portion of the storage chamber contents in fluid communication with the at least one exit opening,
- wherein a quantity of a pyrotechnic composition is disposed on a non-gas generant surface within the inflator device, the pyrotechnic composition including a binder additive effective to adhere the pyrotechnic composition to a surface within the inflator device, the pyrotechnic composition reactable upon initiation from the initiator device to augment at least one fill characteristic of the gaseous inflation medium.
An inflator device comprising:
- a closed storage chamber containing a dissociative gas source material fluid under an elevated pressure, the dissociative gas source material fluid adapted to at least in part form a gaseous inflation medium,
- at least one exit opening wherethrough at least a portion of the gaseous inflation medium provided by the inflator device can exit the inflator device,
- an initiator device effective upon actuation to open the storage chamber, initiate dissociation of at least a portion of the dissociative gas source material to at least in part form a gaseous inflation medium, and place at least a portion of the gaseous inflation medium in fluid communication with the at least one exit opening, and a quantity of a pyrotechnic composition disposed on a non-gas generant surface within the inflator device, the pyrotechnic composition reactable upon initiation from the initiator device to at least heat the gaseous inflation medium,
- wherein both the at least one exit opening and the initiator device are disposed on a first end of the inflator device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.