IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0713291
(2003-11-14)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Blackburn,Jeffery S.
- Chikaraishi,Tsuneo
- Yano,Kanji
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
▼
An inflator 10 of a vehicle occupant protection system, for example, contains an elongated housing 12 having a first end 14 and a second 16. The gas generator 10 includes a sealed pressurized gas supply or gas tank 18 in fluid communication with the first end 14 upon inflator 10 operation. A first s
An inflator 10 of a vehicle occupant protection system, for example, contains an elongated housing 12 having a first end 14 and a second 16. The gas generator 10 includes a sealed pressurized gas supply or gas tank 18 in fluid communication with the first end 14 upon inflator 10 operation. A first seal 36 seals the first end 14 prior to gas generator 10 operation. A notched support member 56 is wedged within the housing 12 and fixes the first seal 36 against a sealed opening 24 of the gas tank 18, thereby preventing fluid flow during gas generator 10 inactivity. Upon gas generator 10 activation, the support member 56 is fractured by a force produced by an initiator 68 thereby releasing pressurized gas into the first end 14 and through the housing 12.
대표청구항
▼
We claim: 1. A gas generator comprising: a housing having a first end, a second end, an opening in said first end for fluid flow into said housing, and an inner peripheral wall defining a plenum, said first end fluidly communicating with a pressurized gas supply upon gas generator activation thereb
We claim: 1. A gas generator comprising: a housing having a first end, a second end, an opening in said first end for fluid flow into said housing, and an inner peripheral wall defining a plenum, said first end fluidly communicating with a pressurized gas supply upon gas generator activation thereby supplying pressurized fluid flow through the housing; a gas supply seal for sealing the pressurized gas supply prior to gas generator activation; a retainer seal positioned within said opening to support said gas supply seal against a force exerted thereon by a pressurized gas; a notched support member fixed within said plenum and against said first seal thereby preventing pressurized fluid flow prior to gas generator activation; and an initiator fixed within said housing and fluidly communicating with said plenum upon gas generator activation, wherein upon gas generator activation, said initiator creates a force sufficient to fracture said notched support member thereby releasing pressurized gas into said first end. 2. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said pressurized gas supply includes a pressurized tank in fluid communication with said housing upon gas generator activation. 3. The gas generator of claim 2 wherein said pressurized tank has an aperture sealed by said gas supply seal to prevent fluid flow prior to gas generator activation, whereby upon gas generator activation, the sealed aperture is opened by a force of the pressurized gas to provide fluid communication between the pressurized tank and the fixes end of said housing. 4. The gas generator of claim 3 wherein said retainer seal has a first face adjacent to said gas supply seal, and said gas supply seal has a weakened portion approximately equal in area to said adjacent face of said retainer seal. 5. The gas generator of claim 1 further comprising a filter proximate to said second end and a plurality of gas exit apertures about said second end, whereby upon gas generator activation gas entering said first end passes through said filter and then exits said second end through said plurality of gas exit apertures. 6. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said support member has a top surface and a bottom surface, said support member being notched on at least the bottom or the top surface. 7. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said support member comprises an annular insert contoured to fit within said inner peripheral wall, and a notched portion integral to said annular insert and spanning across said plenum. 8. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said support member is integral to said housing and extends from said inner peripheral wall and across said plenum. 9. A gas generator comprising: a housing having a first end sealed by a first seal and a second perforated end, and an inner peripheral wall defining a plenum for gas flow therethrough; a pressurized gas bottle containing an opening sealed by a second seal, said sealed opening juxtaposed with said sealed first end thereby providing fluid communication from said bottle through said first end upon gas generator activation; a notched support member extending across said plenum and wedged against said inner peripheral wall, said support member biasing said sealed first end against said sealed opening thereby preventing fluid flow from said bottle through said first end, prior to gas generator activation; and an initiator extending through said housing wherein upon gas generator activation, the initiator produces a force that fractures said notched support member to facilitate fluid flow through said housing. 10. A pressurized gas generator comprising: a housing containing a first end and a second end, a first opening in said first end for fluid flow into said housing, a retainer seal fixed within said opening for prevention of fluid flow prior to gas generator activation, and an inner peripheral wall defining a plenum; a pressurized gas bottle sealably connected to the first end, said gas bottle having a second opening defined by an annular periphery; a burst disc fixed over said annular periphery for sealing of said second opening, wherein said burst disc is welded or otherwise fixed to said retainer seal, said seal frangible upon gas generator activation; a notched support member wedged against said inner wall and against said retainer seal thereby providing a bias against the retainer seal and preventing gas fluid flow prior to gas generator activation; and a pyrotechnic initiator fixed within said housing, wherein upon activation said initiator fluidly communicates with said plenum and produces a gas stream that fractures said notched support member thereby releasing gas pressure from said gas bottle. 11. The gas generator of claim 10 wherein said burst disc comprises a peripheral edge that congruently corresponds with said annular periphery, and a weakened portion that interfaces with said retainer seal, whereby upon gas generator activation said weakened portion is fractured from said burst disc as the pressurized gas is released into said housing. 12. The gas generator of claim 10 further comprising a pair of opposing detents formed within said inner wall whereby said notched support member is wedged within said pair of opposing detents thereby fixing said support member across said plenum and against said retainer seal. 13. A gas generator comprising: a housing having a first end, a second end, and an inner peripheral wail defining a plenum, said first end fluidly communicating with a pressurized gas supply upon gas generator activation thereby supplying pressurized fluid flow trough the housing, said pressurized gas supply including a pressurized tank in fluid communication with said housing upon gas generator activation, said pressurized tank having a sealed aperture to prevent fluid flow prior to gas generator activation; a first seal covering said first end thereby preventing pressurized fluid flow prior to gas generator activation; a notched support member fixed within said plenum and against said first seal thereby preventing pressurized fluid flow prior to gas generator activation; and an initiator fixed within said housing and fluidly communicating with said plenum upon gas generator activation, said sealed aperture containing a second seal attached to said first seal, and said first seal having a first face adjacent to said second seal, said second seal having a weakened portion approximately equal in area to said adjacent face of said first seal, wherein upon gas generator activation, said initiator creates a force sufficient to fracture said notched support member, and the sealed aperture is opened by a force of the pressurized gas to provide fluid communication between the pressurized tank and the first end of said housing, thereby releasing pressurized gas into said first end. 14. A gas generator comprising: a housing having a first end, and a second end, and an inner peripheral wall defining a plenum, said first end fluidly communicating with a pressurized gas supply upon gas generator activation thereby supplying pressurized fluid flow trough the housing; a first seal covering said first end thereby preventing pressurized fluid flow prior to gas generator activation; a notched support member fixed within said plenum and against said first seal thereby preventing pressurized fluid flow prior to gas generator activation, said support member including an annular insert contoured to fit within said inner peripheral wall, and a notched portion integral to said annular insert and spanning across said plenum; and an initiator fixed within said housing and fluidly communicating with said plenum upon gas generator activation, wherein upon gas generator activation, said initiator creates a force sufficient to fracture said notched support member thereby releasing pressurized gas into said first end.
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