Inflator with directional flow separation disc
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60R-021/263
B01D-046/00
B60R-021/26
B60R-021/264
B60R-021/268
B60R-021/217
출원번호
US-0523965
(2014-10-27)
등록번호
US-9295935
(2016-03-29)
발명자
/ 주소
Adamczyk, Patrick R.
Parshotam, Manesh
출원인 / 주소
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
15
초록▼
An inflator (40) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a primary stage (50) actuatable to produce a primary flow of inflation fluid, a secondary stage (100) actuatable to produce a secondary flow of inflation fluid, and a filter chamber (150) into which the primary
An inflator (40) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a primary stage (50) actuatable to produce a primary flow of inflation fluid, a secondary stage (100) actuatable to produce a secondary flow of inflation fluid, and a filter chamber (150) into which the primary and secondary flows of inflation fluid are directed. The inflator (40) also includes a secondary filter assembly (120) that permits the secondary flow of inflation fluid to flow into the filter chamber (150) and blocks particulates from flowing from the filter chamber into the secondary stage (100).
대표청구항▼
1. An inflator for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, the inflator comprising: a primary stage actuatable to produce a primary flow of inflation fluid;secondary stage actuatable to produce a secondary flow of inflation fluid;a filter chamber into which the primary and second
1. An inflator for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, the inflator comprising: a primary stage actuatable to produce a primary flow of inflation fluid;secondary stage actuatable to produce a secondary flow of inflation fluid;a filter chamber into which the primary and secondary flows of inflation fluid are directed;a secondary filter assembly that permits the secondary flow of inflation fluid to flow into the filter chamber and blocks particulates from flowing from the filter chamber into the secondary stage; anda flow control disc positioned on a side of the secondary filter assembly that is presented toward the filter chamber, the flow control disc blocking combustion products produced by the primary stage from entering the secondary stage and allowing combustion products produced by the secondary stage to enter the filter chamber. 2. The inflator recited in claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary stages occupy portions of an inflator housing, the filter chamber being positioned between the primary and secondary stages, the secondary filter assembly defining the boundary between the secondary stage and the filter chamber. 3. The inflator recited in claim 1, wherein the inflator comprises a housing having a cylindrical outer wall extending along a central inflator axis, the primary stage occupying a first axial end portion of the housing, the secondary stage occupying an opposite second axial end portion of the housing, the filter chamber occupying the space that extends axially between the primary and secondary stages. 4. The inflator recited in claim 3, wherein the primary stage comprises a primary propellant chamber and the secondary stage comprises a secondary propellant chamber, the filter chamber being positioned between the primary and secondary propellant chambers, the secondary filter assembly separating the secondary propellant chamber from the filter chamber. 5. The inflator recited in claim 1, wherein the filter chamber comprises outlets through which the inflation fluid exits the inflator. 6. The inflator recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary filter assembly comprises a secondary filter disc and the flow control disc, the secondary filter disc defining the boundary between the secondary stage and the filter chamber and comprising one or more openings that provide fluid communication between the secondary stage and the filter chamber, the flow control disc blocking fluid communication between the filter chamber and the secondary stage through the openings in response to actuation of the primary stage, the flow control disc becoming at least one of deformed, displaced, and deflected in response to actuation of the secondary stage to establish fluid communication between the secondary stage and the filter chamber via the openings. 7. The inflator recited in claim 6, wherein the flow control disc has a generally circular configuration with a central portion and an outer portion that encircles the central portion, the outer portion being configured to coincide with the locations of the openings in the secondary filter disc. 8. The inflator recited in claim 7, wherein the outer portion has a domed torroidal configuration that forms a torroidal domed space that covers openings. 9. The inflator recited in claim 7, wherein the flow control disc is secured to the secondary filter disc on a surface of the flow control disc that is presented toward the filter chamber; wherein fluid pressure in the filter chamber resulting from actuation of the primary stage acts on the outer portion and urges the flow control disc against the secondary filter disc to block fluid communication between the secondary stage and the filter chamber; andwherein fluid pressure in the secondary stage resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acts on the outer portion through the openings in the secondary filter disc to at least one of deform, displace, and deflect the flow control disc to establish fluid communication between the secondary stage and the filter chamber. 10. The inflator recited in claim 9, wherein the central portion of the flow control disc is connected to the secondary filter disc, pressure resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acting on the outer portion through the openings in the secondary filter disc causing the flow control disc to become at least one of deformed, displaced, and deflected at the interface between the outer portion and the central portion of the flow control disc to establish an opening about the periphery of the flow control disc through which secondary inflation fluid can flow into the filter chamber. 11. The inflator recited in claim 9, wherein the central portion of the flow control disc includes an opening, and wherein the flow control disc further comprises a peripheral portion radially outside the outer portion that is connected to the secondary filter disc, pressure resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acting on the outer portion through the openings in the secondary filter disc causing the flow control disc to become at least one of deformed, displaced, and deflected at the interface between the outer portion and the peripheral portion of the flow control disc to move the central portion away from the secondary filter disc to thereby establish flow path through the openings in the secondary filter disc and the opening in the central portion of the flow control disc through which secondary inflation fluid can flow into the filter chamber. 12. The inflator recited in claim 6, wherein the flow control disc has a generally flat configuration and is secured to the secondary filter disc on a surface of the flow control disc that is presented toward the filter chamber; wherein fluid pressure in the filter chamber resulting from actuation of the primary stage acts on the flow control disc to maintain its connection to the secondary filter disc to block fluid communication between the secondary stage and the filter chamber; andwherein fluid pressure in the secondary stage resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acts on the flow control disc to break the connection of the flow control disc to the secondary filter disc to at least one of deform, displace, and deflect the flow control disc to establish fluid communication between the secondary stage and the filter chamber. 13. The inflator recited in claim 12, wherein the flow control disc is connected to the filter disc by tape, pressure resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acting on the flow control disc causing the tape to at least one of rupture and disconnect, thereby allowing the flow control disc to become displaced to unblock the openings in the secondary filter disc and permit secondary inflation fluid to flow through the openings in the secondary filter disc into the filter chamber. 14. A filter disc assembly for preventing products resulting from the ignition of a gas generating material of a primary stage of an inflator from entering a secondary stage of the inflator, the filter disc assembly comprising: a filter disc for being positioned between the primary stage and the secondary stage, the filter disc comprising one or more openings in fluid communication with the secondary stage and through which secondary inflation fluid products can flow upon actuation of the secondary stage; anda flow control disc positioned on a surface of the filter disc presented toward the primary stage and blocking fluid communication with the secondary stage through the openings in the filter disc,wherein primary inflation fluid resulting from actuation of the primary stage urges the flow control disc against the filter disc to maintain the blocking of fluid communication with the secondary stage through the openings in the filter disc, andwherein secondary inflation fluid resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acts on the flow control disc through the openings to at least one of deform, displace, and deflect the flow control disc to unblock the openings and permit the secondary inflation fluid to flow through the openings in the filter disc. 15. The filter disc assembly recited in claim 14, wherein the flow control disc has a generally circular configuration with a central portion and an outer portion that encircles the central portion, the outer portion being configured to coincide with the locations of the openings in the filter disc. 16. The filter disc assembly recited in claim 15, wherein the outer portion has a domed torroidal configuration that forms a torroidal domed space that covers openings. 17. The filter disc assembly recited in claim 15, wherein the flow control disc is secured to the filter disc; wherein fluid pressure resulting from actuation of the primary stage acts on the outer portion and urges the flow control disc against the filter disc to block fluid communication with the secondary stage via the openings in the filter disc; andwherein fluid pressure in the secondary stage resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acts on the outer portion through the openings in the filter disc to at least one of deform, displace, and deflect the flow control disc to unblock fluid communication with the secondary stage via the openings in the filter disc. 18. The filter disc assembly recited claim 17, wherein the central portion of the flow control disc is connected to the filter disc, pressure resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acting on the outer portion through the openings in the filter disc causing the flow control disc to become at least one of deformed, displaced, and deflected at the interface between the outer portion and the central portion of the flow control disc to establish an opening about the periphery of the flow control disc through which secondary inflation fluid can flow. 19. The filter disc assembly recited claim 17, wherein the central portion of the flow control disc includes an opening, and wherein the flow control disc further comprises a peripheral portion radially outside the outer portion that is connected to the filter disc, pressure resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acting on the outer portion through the openings in the filter disc causing the flow control disc to become at least one of deformed, displaced, and deflected at the interface between the outer portion and the peripheral portion of the flow control disc to move the central portion away from the filter disc to thereby establish flow path through the openings in the filter disc and the opening in the central portion of the flow control disc through which secondary inflation fluid can flow. 20. The filter disc assembly recited claim 14, wherein the flow control disc has a generally flat configuration, fluid pressure in the filter chamber resulting from actuation of the primary stage acting on the flow control disc to maintain its connection to the filter disc to block fluid communication with the secondary stage through the openings in the filter disc, fluid pressure in the secondary stage resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acting on the flow control disc to break the connection of the flow control disc to the filter disc to at least one of deform, displace, and deflect the flow control disc to establish fluid communication with the secondary stage through the openings in the filter disc. 21. The filter disc assembly recited in claim 20, wherein the flow control disc is connected to the filter disc by tape, pressure resulting from actuation of the secondary stage acting on the flow control disc causing the tape to at least one of rupture and disconnect, thereby allowing the flow control disc to become displaced to unblock the openings in the filter disc and permit secondary inflation fluid to flow through the openings in the filter disc.
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