An inflator (10) for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system. In one aspect of the invention, the inflator (10) includes a longitudinal enclosure (22) having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the enclosure, and a gas generant composition (24) po
An inflator (10) for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system. In one aspect of the invention, the inflator (10) includes a longitudinal enclosure (22) having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the enclosure, and a gas generant composition (24) positioned along the portion of the enclosure (22). The gas generant composition (24) is distributed substantially uniformly along the portion of the enclosure (22). A plurality of gas exit apertures (40) is formed along the portion of the enclosure (22) to enable fluid communication between the enclosure (22) and an exterior of the enclosure. The apertures (40) are spaced apart a distance proportional to a desired rate of propagation of a combustion reaction of gas generant positioned between the apertures (40). In another aspect of the invention, the inflator (10) includes a longitudinal enclosure (22) having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the enclosure, and a gas generant composition (24) positioned along the portion of the enclosure (22). The gas generant composition (24) is distributed substantially uniformly along the portion of the enclosure (22). A plurality of gas exit apertures (40) is formed along the portion of the enclosure (22) to enable fluid communication between the enclosure (22) and an exterior of the enclosure. The total number of apertures (40) along the enclosure (22) is inversely proportional to a desired rate of propagation of a combustion reaction of gas generant positioned between the apertures (40).
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. An inflator for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system comprising: a longitudinal tubular enclosure having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the enclosure, said longitudinal tubular enclosure having a first tubular
The invention claimed is: 1. An inflator for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system comprising: a longitudinal tubular enclosure having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the enclosure, said longitudinal tubular enclosure having a first tubular perforated section with a first length and a plurality of first gas exit apertures formed therealong, each first gas exit aperture of the plurality of first gas exit apertures having a substantially equal cross-sectional area, said longitudinal tubular enclosure also having a second tubular perforated section formed in collinear relation with said first tubular perforated section, said second tubular perforated section having a second length and a plurality of second gas exit apertures formed therealong, each second gas exit aperture of the plurality of second gas exit apertures having a substantially equal cross-sectional area, said first perforated tubular section containing a first gas exit aperture area per unit length thereof and said second perforated tubular section containing a second gas exit aperture area per unit length thereof, said second gas exit aperture area per unit length being greater than said first gas exit aperture area per unit length; a gas generant composition positioned within the at least a portion of the enclosure, the gas generant composition being distributed substantially uniformly along the at least a portion of the enclosure; and an igniter operably fixed to said first perforated section for ignition of said gas generant composition upon inflator activation. 2. The inflator of claim 1 wherein the first aperture area per unit length is formed by the plurality of first gas exit apertures being formed along the first tubular perforated section to enable fluid communication between the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure, adjacent apertures of the first plurality of gas exit apertures being spaced apart a distance proportional to a predetermined rate of combustion propagation of an amount of the gas generant positioned within the enclosure between the adjacent apertures. 3. The inflator of claim 2 wherein the enclosure has an outer diameter, each aperture of the plurality of first gas exit apertures is spaced on center about six millimeters to 26 millimeters from an adjacent gas exit aperture, and wherein each aperture of the plurality of first gas exit apertures is sized from one millimeter to one half the outer diameter of the enclosure. 4. The inflator of claim 2 wherein the gas exit apertures formed along the at least a portion of the enclosure are substantially collinear. 5. The inflator of claim 1 wherein the gas generant composition is in the form of a plurality of adjacent gas generant tablets positioned along the at least a portion of the enclosure and wherein at least a portion of the gas generant tablets each include a pair of opposed dome-shaped faces so as to provide a cavity between adjacent ones of the at least a portion of the gas generant tablets. 6. The inflator of claim 1 wherein each of the first apertures of the plurality of first apertures and each of the second apertures of the plurality of second apertures has a substantially equal cross-sectional area. 7. The inflator of claim 6 wherein a number of apertures in the plurality of second apertures is greater than a number of apertures in the plurality of first apertures. 8. The inflator of claim 6 wherein adjacent first apertures of the plurality of first apertures are spaced apart a first center-to-center distance, adjacent second apertures of the plurality of second apertures are spaced apart a second center-to-center distance, and wherein the first center-to-center distance is greater than the second center-to-center distance. 9. The inflator of claim 1 wherein the second length is greater than the first length. 10. A method for controlling a rate of propagation of a combustion reaction of a gas generant composition along at least a portion of a longitudinal enclosure, comprising the steps of: providing a longitudinal enclosure having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along the at least a portion of the enclosure; providing a gas generant composition distributed substantially uniformly along the at least a portion of the enclosure; providing a first tubular performed section along the at least a portion of the enclosure, the first tubular perforated section including a plurality of first gas exit apertures longitudinally spaced apart therealong to enable fluid communication between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure, a distance between each first gas exit aperture and an adjacent first gas exit aperture being controlled such that the distance is proportional to a predetermined rate of propagation of a combustion reaction of an amount of the gas generant composition positioned within the enclosure between the first gas exit aperture and the adjacent first gas exit aperture, thereby varying the rate of propagation of the combustion reaction along the first tubular perforated section in correspondence with the distances between adjacent ones of the plurality of first gas exit apertures. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of providing a first tubular perforated section including a plurality of first gas exit apertures comprises the step of spacing apart the apertures of the plurality of first gas exit apertures substantially evenly along the first tubular perforated section. 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: providing a second tubular perforated section along the at least a portion of the enclosure, the second tubular perforated section being formed in collinear relation with the first tubular perforated section, the second tubular perforated section including a plurality of second gas exit apertures longitudinally spaced apart therealong to enable fluid communication between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure, a distance between each gas exit aperture and an adjacent gas exit aperture being controlled such that the distance is proportional to a predetermined rate of propagation of a combustion reaction of an amount of the gas generant composition positioned within the enclosure between the gas exit aperture and the adjacent gas exit aperture, thereby varying the rate of propagation of the combustion reaction along the second tubular perforated section in correspondence with the distances between adjacent ones of the plurality of second gas exit apertures. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of providing a second tubular perforated section including a plurality of second gas exit apertures comprises the step of spacing apart the apertures of the plurality of second gas exit apertures substantially evenly along the second tubular perforated section. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of providing a second tubular perforated section including a plurality of second gas exit apertures comprises the step of collinearly positioning the second gas exit apertures of the plurality of second gas exit apertures. 15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of providing a first tubular perforated section including a plurality of first gas exit apertures comprises the step of collinearly positioning the first gas exit apertures of the plurality of first gas exit apertures. 16. An inflator manufactured according to the method of claim 10. 17. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising: an airbag system having at least one airbag and an inflator coupled to the airbag so as to enable fluid communication with an interior of the airbag upon activation of the inflator, the inflator including: a longitudinal tubular enclosure having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the enclosure, said longitudinal tubular enclosure having a first tubular perforated section with a first length and a plurality of first apertures formed therealong, each first gas exit aperture of the plurality of first gas exit apertures having a substantially equal cross-sectional area, said longitudinal tubular enclosure also having a second tubular perforated section formed in collinear relation with said first tubular perforated section, said second tubular perforated section having a second length and a plurality of second apertures formed therealong, each second gas aperture of the plurality of second apertures having a substantially equal cross-sectional area, said first perforated tubular section containing a first gas exit aperture area per unit length thereof and said second perforated tubular section containing a second gas exit aperture area per unit length thereof, said second gas exit aperture area per unit length being greater than said first gas exit aperture area per unit length; a gas generant composition positioned within the at least a portion of the enclosure, the gas generant composition being distributed substantially uniformly along the at least a portion of the enclosure; and an igniter operably fixed to said first perforated section for ignition of said gas generant composition upon inflator activation.
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