초록 ▼

A projectile for releasing a gas or other suitable fluid to initiate operation of an inflator in a motor vehicle inflatable safety system. In one embodiment, the projectile has a plurality of intersecting, concave, and inclined faces which taper to a point at the tip of the projectile. This projecti

A projectile for releasing a gas or other suitable fluid to initiate operation of an inflator in a motor vehicle inflatable safety system. In one embodiment, the projectile has a plurality of intersecting, concave, and inclined faces which taper to a point at the tip of the projectile. This projectile is positioned on the convex side of a dome-shaped disk which isolates the inflator from an expandable confinement. When a condition is detected requiring operation of the inflator, the projectile is freely propelled toward the disk to controllably separate the disk along lines coinciding with the edges defined by the intersecting faces of the projectile to reduce the potential for portions thereof breaking or tearing off and entering the flow from the inflator to the confinement.

대표청구항 ▼

An inflator apparatus, comprising: first means for containing pressurized gas; second means for providing a barrier to the escaping of pressurized gas; and third means for causing said second means to rupture to permit flow of pressurized gas from said first means, said third means including a proje

An inflator apparatus, comprising: first means for containing pressurized gas; second means for providing a barrier to the escaping of pressurized gas; and third means for causing said second means to rupture to permit flow of pressurized gas from said first means, said third means including a projectile having a plurality of faces and means for moving said projectile, wherein when said projectile is caused to move by said means for moving, said projectile passes through said second means, wherein substantially all of said second means remains together, substantially no fragments of said second means are produced, and said second means has a number of petals, the number of said petals depending upon the number of said faces.