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US 7,093,852 B2Granted
Inflator
AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
InventorsReed A. Inman, John S. Dunlop, Christopher J. Ruf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflator (22) includes a structure (30, 32) that defines a first chamber (50) and a second chamber (80). The first chamber (50) contains a volume of fluid under pressure and the second chamber (80) is in fluid communication with an outlet passage (76). The inflator (22) also includes a closure member (90) openable to release the fluid to flow out of the first chamber (50). An initiator (100) is actuatable to open the closure member (90). The inflator (22) further includes a filter (130) disposed in the second chamber (80). The fluid is directed from the first chamber (50) into the second chamber (80) and through the filter (130) into the outlet passage (76) upon opening of the closure member (90).
Claims11
An inflator comprising:
- a structure defining first and second chambers, said first chamber being for containing a volume of fluid under pressure wherein said fluid comprises a non-pyrotechnic material, said second chamber being in fluid communication with an outlet passage for directing fluid from the inflator;
- a closure member openable to release said fluid to flow out of said first chamber;
- an initiator actuatable to open said closure member;
- and
- a filter disposed in said second chamber, wherein said filter comprises a ring-shaped top wall, a ring shaped bottom wall, and a cylindrical side wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, said side wall including a plurality of apertures through which said fluid flows to said outlet passage, wherein said ring shaped top wall and said ring shaped bottom wall project radially beyond said cylindrical side wall, said top wall of said filter engaging an annular portion of said initiator and said bottom wall engaging an annular surface in said second chamber, said initiator urging said bottom wall against said annular surface to clamp said filter in said second chamber between said initiator and said annular surface said fluid being directed from said first chamber into said second chamber and through said filter into said outlet passage upon opening of said closure member.
2 more elements
An inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
- a container portion comprising a first chamber for containing a volume of inflation fluid under pressure wherein said inflation fluid comprises a non-pyrotechnic material;
- a closure member openable to release said inflation fluid to flow out of said first chamber;
- an output portion for directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said output portion comprising a second chamber into which said inflation fluid is directed from said first chamber and an outlet passage through which said inflation fluid is directed from said second chamber into the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
- a filter disposed in said second chamber, said inflation fluid being directed from said first chamber into said second and through said filter into said outlet passage upon opening of said closure member;
- and
- an initiator actuatable to open said closure member, said initiator being disposed in said second chamber and engaging a first portion of said filter, a second portion of said filter engaging a surface in said second chamber, said initiator being urged against said first portion which urges said second portion against said surface to clamp said filter in said chamber between said initiator and said surface, wherein said first portion of said filter comprises a ring shaped top wall of said filter and said second portion of said filter comprises a ring shaped bottom wall of said filter, said filter further comprising a cylindrical side wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, said side wall comprising a plurality of apertures through which said inflation fluid flows from said second chamber to said outlet passage, wherein said ring shaped top wall and said ring shaped bottom wall project radially beyond said cylindrical side wall.
3 more elements
An inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:
- container means comprising a first chamber for containing a volume of inflation fluid under pressure, wherein said inflation fluid comprises a non-pyrotechnic material said container means having a closure member openable to release said inflation fluid to flow out of said first chamber;
- initiator means actuatable to open said closure member;
- output means for directing said inflation fluid into said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said output means comprising a second chamber into which said inflation fluid is directed from said first chamber and an outlet passage through which said inflation fluid is directed from said second chamber into the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
- and
- filter means disposed in said second chamber between said initiator means and a surface of said output means, a portion of said output means being deformed onto said initiator means to urge said initiator means into said second chamber to clamp said filter means between said initiator means and said surface of said output means, said inflation fluid being directed from said first chamber into said second chamber and through said filter means into said outlet passage upon opening of said closure member, wherein said filter means comprises a ring-shaped top wall, a ring shaped bottom wall, and a cylindrical side wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, said side wall including a plurality of apertures through which said fluid flows to said outlet passage, wherein said ring shaped top wall and said ring shaped bottom wall project radially beyond said cylindrical side wall, said top wall of said filter engaging an annular portion of said initiator and said bottom wall engaging an annular surface in said second chamber.
2 more elements
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device that is inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
- a container for storing under pressure inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, wherein said inflation fluid comprises a non-pyrotechnic material;
- a closure member openable to release said inflation fluid to flow from said container;
- output means including a chamber into which said inflation fluid flows from said container when said closure member is ruptured, said output means further including an outlet passage through which said inflation flows from said chamber toward said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
- an initiator actuatable to rupture said closure member;
- and
- a filter disposed in said chamber, said inflation fluid being directed from said container into said chamber and through said filter into said outlet passage upon opening of said closure member, wherein said filter comprises a ring-shaped top wall, a ring shaped bottom wall, and a cylindrical side wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, said side wall including a plurality of apertures through which said fluid flows to said outlet passage, wherein said ring shaped top wall and said ring shaped bottom wall project radially beyond said cylindrical side wall, said top wall of said filter engaging an annular portion of said initiator and said bottom wall engaging an annular surface in said second chamber, said initiator urging said bottom wall against said annular surface to clamp said filter in said second chamber between said initiator and said annular surface.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.