초록 ▼

The present invention is a self-contained air bag module and to a method of protecting an occupant of a vehicle in a collision involving the vehicle using the self-contained air bag module of the invention. The self-contained air bag module of the invention has an air bag having an interior volume i

The present invention is a self-contained air bag module and to a method of protecting an occupant of a vehicle in a collision involving the vehicle using the self-contained air bag module of the invention. The self-contained air bag module of the invention has an air bag having an interior volume in fluid communication with a high thermal efficiency inflator, the high thermal efficiency inflator having an initiator, and adapted for producing a sufficient quantity of a gaseous product to substantially inflate the air bag; and an impact detector in electrical or mechanical communication with the initiator. The high thermal efficiency inflator contains a pyrotechnic material in an amount sufficient to produce at least about 10 mole percent of the inflation gas, and a pressurized gas is present in an amount sufficient to produce up to about 90 mole percent of the inflation gas. The storage pressure of the gas is sufficiently high to produce an aerodynamic drag on burning pyrotechnic material passing through the gas, thereby slowing the burning pyrotechnic material, where the drag produced on the burning pyrotechnic material and the distance between the stored pyrotechnic material and the inner surface of the housing of the inflator are sufficiently great that, upon combustion of the pyrotechnic material, contact between a sufficient amount of the burning pyrotechnic material and the inner surface of the housing is prevented to allow at least about 90 percent of the heat produced by the combustion of the pyrotechnic material to be transferred to the inflation gas, so that no more than about 10 percent of the heat is transferred to the housing, resulting in a thermal efficiency of the high thermal efficiency inflator of at least about 90 percent.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A self-contained air bag module, comprising:an air bag having an interior volume in fluid communication with a high thermal efficiency inflator, the high thermal efficiency inflator having an initiator, and adapted for producing a sufficient quantity of a gaseous product to substantially inflate

1. A self-contained air bag module, comprising:an air bag having an interior volume in fluid communication with a high thermal efficiency inflator, the high thermal efficiency inflator having an initiator, and adapted for producing a sufficient quantity of a gaseous product to substantially inflate the air bag; and an impact detector in electrical or mechanical communication with the initiator; wherein the high thermal efficiency inflator comprises: a housing having an inner surface, and defining an interior volume, the housing containing a pressurized gas at a first pressure in the interior volume; a pyrotechnic material for producing heat upon combustion, having a bum rate that is accelerated at the first pressure in comparison to the burn rate at a pressure of one atmosphere, the pyrotechnic material stored within the interior volume of the housing at a distance from the inner surface of the housing, wherein the stored pyrotechnic material is subjected to the first pressure of the pressurized gas, wherein the pyrotechnic material in and of itself is substantially free of thermal contact with the housing before the combustion thereof; an ignitor for initiating combustion of the pyrotechnic material upon receipt of an initiation signal; and means for maintaining the pressurized gas at the first pressure within the interior volume, and to open when the gas attains a predetermined second, higher pressure upon heating of the pressurized gas by combustion of the pyrotechnic material to allow an inflation gas to pass from the housing; wherein the pyrotechnic material is present in an amount sufficient to produce at least about 10 mole percent of the inflation gas, and the pressurized gas is present in an amount sufficient to produce up to about 90 mole percent of the inflation gas; and wherein the first pressure of the gas is sufficiently high to produce an aerodynamic drag on burning pyrotechnic material passing through the gas, thereby slowing the burning pyrotechnic material; wherein the drag produced on the burning pyrotechnic material and the distance between the stored pyrotechnic material and the inner surface of the housing are sufficiently great that, upon combustion of the pyrotechnic material, contact between a sufficient amount of the burning pyrotechnic material and the inner surface of the housing is prevented to allow at least about 90 percent of the heat produced by the combustion of the pyrotechnic material to be transferred to the inflation gas, so that no more than about 10 percent of the heat is transferred to the housing, resulting in a thermal efficiency of the high thermal efficiency inflator of at least about 90 percent.