초록 ▼

A regenerative monopropellant inflator providing adaptive performance. The inflator includes a housing defining an interior. A piston is received in the housing and divides the interior into a fuel supply chamber and a combustion chamber. The piston moves through the fuel supply chamber during the r

A regenerative monopropellant inflator providing adaptive performance. The inflator includes a housing defining an interior. A piston is received in the housing and divides the interior into a fuel supply chamber and a combustion chamber. The piston moves through the fuel supply chamber during the regenerative combustion cycle to produce an inflation gas from reaction of the fuel in the combustion chamber. The inflation gas exits the combustion chamber via exit ports. To provide adaptive performance a back pressure may be selectively applied to the piston against its travel. This slows the piston, and thus the gas production of the inflator. Alternatively, the total size of the exit ports could be selectively varied to thus vary the pressure within the combustion chamber, known as throttling. Increased pressure within the combustion chamber causes an increase in the rate of inflation gas production. By selectively varying either the piston back pressure or throttling prior to completion of the gas generation, the performance of the inflator may be adapted to the characteristics of a particular vehicle collision.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for providing adaptive performance in a regenerative monopropellant airbag inflator, said inflator including a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an interior, said interior including at least one port extending through said housing, a piston within s

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for providing adaptive performance in a regenerative monopropellant airbag inflator, said inflator including a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an interior, said interior including at least one port extending through said housing, a piston within said interior, said piston dividing said interior into a fuel supply chamber and a combustion chamber, said port communicating with said combustion chamber, and said piston being mounted for movement along said longitudinal axis, a quantity of fluid monopropellant housed within said fuel supply chamber, a plurality of injection ports for flow of said fluid monopropellant from said fuel supply chamber to said combustion chamber upon said movement of said piston, and an initiator to initially cause said movement of said piston, said method comprising the steps of:activating said initiator to begin said movement of said piston and begin combustion of said fluid monopropellant within said combustion chamber to produce an inflation gas which will exit said inflator via said ports; andprior to completion of said combustion of said fluid monopropellant, altering the performance of said inflator by selectively varying a force against said piston in a direction opposite to said movement, to thereby vary the speed of said movement of said piston, and thus vary the flow of said fluid monopropellant to said combustion chamber, to thereby vary the rate of production of said inflation gas.