초록 ▼

An apparatus 10 for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag includes a gas source 14 having an axis 50 and a quantity of gas 12 therein. An outlet 30 in the gas source establishes axial flow of gas from the gas source. A flow control member 40 disposed in the path of gas flow estab

An apparatus 10 for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag includes a gas source 14 having an axis 50 and a quantity of gas 12 therein. An outlet 30 in the gas source establishes axial flow of gas from the gas source. A flow control member 40 disposed in the path of gas flow establishes radial and circumferential flow of gas to remove particles from the flowing gas by centrifugal force. The a flow control member includes at least one circumferentially extending passage 72 for producing centrifugal force to remove particulate matter from gas flowing in the passage.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag, comprising: a cylindrical gas source having an outer diameter and having first and second ends and having an axis extending between said ends of said gas source, said gas source being free of filter material; outlet means in sa

Apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint such as an air bag, comprising: a cylindrical gas source having an outer diameter and having first and second ends and having an axis extending between said ends of said gas source, said gas source being free of filter material; outlet means in said gas source for establishing axial flow of the gas out of said gas source in a direction axially outwardly from said first axial end of said gas source; and filter means for filtering the gas flow from said outlet means and for directing the gas flow into a diffuser chamber for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint; said filter means consisting essentially of a maze disposed outside of said gas source and projecting axially outward from said gas source, said maze being coaxial with said gas source, said maze having substantially the same outer diameter as said gas source; said maze including surfaces disposed in the path of gas flowing from said gas source for splitting the gas flowing from said gas source and for directing a major portion of the split flow of gas into a first flow path and a minor portion of the split flow of gas into a second flow path; said first flow path being disposed axially outward from said gas source and having substantial circumferential flow path components intermediate said outlet means and said diffuser chamber, said surfaces defining said first flow path including: (i) a radially extending axial end wall of said maze, (ii) a first annular wall coaxial with said axis and extending axially between said axial end wall and said outlet means and defining therewith a chamber, said first annular wall having a single radial outlet therethrough, (iii) a second annular wall coaxial with said axis and extending axially between said axial end wall and said outlet means, said second annular wall being spaced radially outward from said first annular wall and defining an inner circumferential passage therebetween, said second annular wall having first and second radial outlets therethrough, said first radial outlet being radially aligned with said single radial outlet of said first annular wall, said second radial outlet being offset about 180°from said first radial outlet, and (iv) a third annular wall coaxial with said axis and extending axially between said axial end wall and said outlet means, said third annular wall being spaced radially outward from said second annular wall and defining an outer circumferential passage therebetween, said third annular wall having a single radial outlet therethrough, said single radial outlet of said third annular wall being radially aligned with said single radial outlet of said first annular wall and with said first radial outlet of said second annular wall; said first flow path including (i) said chamber defined by said end wall and said outlet means and said first annular wall, (ii) said single radial outlet of said first annular wall, (iii) said inner circumferential passage, (iv) said second radial outlet of said second annular wall, (v) said outer circumferential passage, and (vi) and single radial outlet of said third annular wall; said second flow path being disposed axially outward from said gas source and including (i) said chamber defined by said end wall and said outlet means and said first annular wall, (ii) said single radial outlet of said first annular wall, (iii) said second radial outlet of said second annular wall, and (iv) said single radial outlet of said third annular wall, said second flow path not including said inner and outer circumferential passages and thereby being substantially free of circumferential flow path components intermediate said outlet means and said diffuser chamber and thereby being substantially shorter than said first flow path thereby to establish a rapid initial flow of gas into the vehicle occupant restraint to help establish a desired pressure-time curve for vehicle occupant restraint inflation; said maze including said inner and outer circumferential passages being free of filter material other than said walls.