IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0968517
(2010-12-15)
|
등록번호 |
US-8517420
(2013-08-27)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
▼
A primary gas flow aperture communicates between upstream and the downstream sides of a bulkhead securable across an inflator discharge passageway, accommodating some inflation gas flow through the passageway. A deformable flow control panel peripherally secured on the downstream side of the bulkhea
A primary gas flow aperture communicates between upstream and the downstream sides of a bulkhead securable across an inflator discharge passageway, accommodating some inflation gas flow through the passageway. A deformable flow control panel peripherally secured on the downstream side of the bulkhead has a closure portion obscuring some inflation gas flow past the bulkhead. Pressure of the inflation gas on the closure portion deforms the control panel away from the bulkhead. A primary gas flow window through the flow control panel overlies all or some of the primary gas flow aperture. When the primary gas flow window is larger than or equal to the primary gas flow aperture, supplemental gas flow apertures are formed through the bulkhead separated from the primary gas flow aperture. Otherwise, supplemental gas flow windows are formed through the flow control panel separated from the primary gas flow window.
대표청구항
▼
1. A gas discharge orifice for a vehicle safety airbag inflator, the inflator producing pressurized inflation gas for the airbag in an internal gas generation chamber, and pressurized inflation gas from the gas generation chamber flowing through a discharge passageway to the exterior of the inflator
1. A gas discharge orifice for a vehicle safety airbag inflator, the inflator producing pressurized inflation gas for the airbag in an internal gas generation chamber, and pressurized inflation gas from the gas generation chamber flowing through a discharge passageway to the exterior of the inflator, the discharge orifice comprising: (a) a continuous open frame securable within the discharge passageway circumscribing the flow of inflation gas therethrough; and(b) an inflation gas flow control valve filling the frame, the flow control valve converting from an open first condition thereof into an open second condition thereof responsive to the development of pressure in the gas generation chamber greater than a predetermined threshold pressure, the first condition of the flow control valve presenting to the flow of inflation gas through the discharge passageway a first effective outflow cross section tuned to low volume inflation gas production being at pressure below the predetermined threshold pressure in the gas generation chamber, and the second condition of the flow control valve presenting to the flow of inflation gas in the discharge passageway a second effective outflow cross section greater than the first effective outflow cross section and tuned to high volume inflation gas production being at pressure greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold pressure in the gas generation chamber, the flow control valve thereby moderating the difference between the pressure below the predetermined threshold pressure arising in the gas generation chamber during low volume inflation gas production and the pressure greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold pressure arising in the gas generation chamber during high volume inflation gas production, wherein operation of the flow control valve from the first condition thereof into the second condition thereof is irreversible. 2. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 1, wherein the flow control valve comprises: (a) a rigid bulkhead peripherally secured to the frame, the bulkhead having an upstream side directed toward the gas generation chamber when the frame is secured in the discharge passageway and a downstream side opposite therefrom;(b) a primary gas flow aperture formed through the bulkhead communicating between the upstream side and the downstream side thereof, a portion of the primary gas flow aperture accommodating a flow of inflation gas through the flow control valve in both the first condition and the second condition thereof; and(c) a deformable flow control panel peripherally secured to the frame adjacent to and on the downstream side of the bulkhead, in the first condition of the flow control valve the control panel contacting the bulkhead with a closure portion of the control panel obscuring a portion of the primary gas flow aperture, the control panel being urged out of contact with the bulkhead into the second condition of the flow control valve by pressure exerted by inflation gas through the bulkhead against the closure portion of the control panel. 3. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 2, wherein the primary gas flow aperture in the bulkhead defines the second effective outflow cross section presented to the flow of inflation gas in the second condition of the flow control valve. 4. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 2, further comprising a primary gas flow window formed through the flow control panel, in the first condition of the flow control valve the primary gas flow window in the flow control panel overlying a portion of the primary gas flow aperture in the bulkhead. 5. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 4, further comprising a plurality of supplemental gas flow windows formed through the flow control panel at locations radially separated from the primary gas flow window, in the second condition of the flow control valve the supplemental gas flow windows in the flow control panel contributing to defining the second effective outflow cross section presented to the flow of inflation gas. 6. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 5, wherein the primary gas flow window in the flow control panel is smaller in cross section than the primary gas flow aperture in the bulkhead. 7. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 1, wherein the flow control valve comprises: (a) a rigid bulkhead peripherally secured to the frame, the bulkhead having an upstream side directed toward the gas generation chamber when the frame is secured in the discharge passageway and a downstream side opposite therefrom;(b) a primary gas flow aperture formed through the bulkhead communicating between the upstream side and the downstream side thereof, the primary gas flow aperture accommodating a flow of inflation gas through the flow control valve in both the first condition and the second condition thereof;(c) a relief aperture formed through the bulkhead at a location separated from the primary gas flow aperture; and(c) a deformable flow control panel peripherally secured to the frame adjacent to and on the downstream side of the bulkhead, in the first condition of the flow control valve the control panel contacting the bulkhead with a closure portion of the control panel obscuring the relief aperture, the control panel being urged out of contact with the bulkhead into the second condition of the flow control valve by pressure exerted by inflation gas through the bulkhead against the closure portion of the control panel. 8. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 7, wherein the primary gas flow aperture in the bulkhead defines the first effective outflow cross section presented to the flow of inflation gas in the first condition of the flow control valve. 9. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 7, wherein in the second condition of the flow control valve the relief aperture in the bulkhead contributes to defining the second effective outflow cross section presented to the flow of inflation gas. 10. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 7, further comprising a primary gas flow window formed through the flow control panel, in the first condition of the flow control valve a portion of the primary gas flow window being overlapped by the primary gas flow aperture in the bulkhead. 11. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 10, wherein the gas flow window in the flow control panel is larger in cross section than the primary gas flow aperture in the bulkhead. 12. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 1, wherein the flow control valve comprises: (a) a deformable flow control panel peripherally secured to the frame, the flow control panel having an upstream side directed toward the gas generation chamber when the frame is secured in the discharge passageway and a downstream side opposite therefrom, in the first condition of the flow control valve the upstream side of the flow control panel being crimped into engagement with itself in a folded region of the flow control panel;(b) a primary gas flow window formed through the flow control panel at a central location, the primary gas flow window in the flow control panel defining the first effective outflow cross section presented to the flow of inflation gas in the first condition of the flow control valve; and(c) a plurality of supplemental gas flow windows formed through the flow control panel in the folded region thereof, in the first condition of the flow control valve the supplemental gas flow windows being obscured by the crimping of the flow control panel upon itself, in the second condition of the flow control valve the control panel being urged by the pressure of inflation gas against the upstream side of the flow control panel to uncrimp the folded region of the flow control panel and open the supplemental gas flow windows. 13. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 12, wherein the folded region of the flow control panel is concentric with the primary gas flow window. 14. A gas discharge orifice for a vehicle safety airbag inflator, the inflator producing pressurized inflation gas for the airbag in an internal gas generation chamber, and pressurized inflation gas from the gas generation chamber flowing through a discharge passageway to the exterior of the inflator, the discharge orifice comprising: (a) a rigid bulkhead peripherally securable across the discharge passageway, the bulkhead having an upstream side directed toward the gas generation chamber when the bulkhead is secured in the discharge passageway and a downstream side opposite therefrom;(b) a primary gas flow aperture formed through the bulkhead communicating between the upstream side and the downstream side thereof, at least a portion of the primary gas flow aperture accommodating a flow of inflation gas through the gas discharge orifice on all occasions;(c) a deformable flow control panel peripherally secured to the bulkhead on the downstream side thereof, the control panel contacting the bulkhead with a closure portion of the control panel obscuring inflation gas flow past the bulkhead, and the control panel being urged out of contact with the bulkhead by pressure exerted by inflation gas through the bulkhead against the closure portion of the control panel; and(d) a primary gas flow window formed through the flow control panel overlying at least a portion of the primary gas flow aperture in the bulkhead. 15. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 14, wherein: (a) the primary gas flow window in the flow control panel is smaller in cross section than the primary gas flow aperture in the bulkhead; and(b) the discharge orifice further comprises a plurality of supplemental gas flow windows formed through the flow control panel at locations radially separated from the primary gas flow window. 16. A gas discharge orifice as recited in claim 14, wherein: (a) the primary gas flow window in the flow control panel is larger in cross section than the primary gas flow aperture in the bulkhead; and(b) the discharge orifice further comprises a plurality of relief aperture formed through the bulkhead at locations radially separated from the primary gas flow aperture. 17. A method for moderating pressurized inflation gas from an gas generation chamber flowing through a discharge passageway to the exterior of an inflator, wherein the difference between the pressure in the gas generation chamber of a vehicle safety airbag inflator during low volume inflation gas production is below a predetermined threshold pressure and the pressure in the gas generation chamber during high volume inflation gas production is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold pressure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining the predetermined threshold pressure above which the pressure arising in the gas generation chamber ceases to correspond to low volume inflation gas production;(b) sensing the existing pressure in the gas generation chamber from a location in the discharge passageway; and(c) sizing the effective gas outflow cross section of the discharge passageway as follows: (i) when the existing pressure is less than the predetermined threshold pressure, presenting to the flow of inflation gas through the discharge passageway a first effective gas outflow cross section tuned to the low volume inflation gas production; and(ii) when the existing pressure is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold pressure, presenting to the flow of inflation gas in the discharge passageway a second effective gas outflow cross section greater than the first effective gas outflow cross section, the second effective gas outflow cross section being tuned to the high volume inflation gas production and being irreversible once the second effective gas flow cross section is presented to the flow of inflation gas. 18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the step of sensing comprises the steps of: (a) forming centrally through a deformable substantially planar flow control panel a primary gas flow window; and(b) securing the flow control panel across the discharge passageway, the flow control panel being deformable downstream within the flow of inflation gas in the discharge passageway during high volume inflation gas production. 19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step of sizing comprises the steps of: (a) producing centrally through a rigid bulkhead a primary gas flow aperture;(b) disposing the bulkhead in the discharge passageway upstream of and in parallel face-to-face abutment with the flow control panel and with the primary gas flow aperture of the bulkhead in fluid-flow alignment with the primary gas flow window of the flow control panel;(c) rendering the primary gas flow aperture unequal in size to the primary gas flow window, the cross-sectional area of the smaller of the primary gas flow aperture and the primary gas flow window corresponding to the first effective gas outflow cross section; and(d) creating a plurality of relief openings through the one of the bulkhead and the flow control panel associated with the smaller of the primary gas flow aperture and the primary gas flow window, the total of the cross-sectional areas of the relief openings combining with the cross-sectional area of the smaller of the primary gas flow aperture and the primary gas flow window to correspond to the second effective gas outflow cross section.
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