Abstract:
A "hybrid" inflator having an extended filling capacity is disclosed. This inflator is designed to deploy an inflatable curtain airbag. The inflator will have an inner chamber that is connected to an outer chamber by a bleed hole. The inner chamber has a first supply of gas and a pyrotechnic material. This first supply of gas is sufficient to inflate an inflatable curtain after ignition of the pyrotechnic material. The outer chamber has a second supply of gas. The second supply of gas bleeds out of the outer chamber through the inner chamber and into the inflatable curtain. The inflatable curtain may be initially filled by the first supply of gas in the inner chamber while the second supply of gas slowly bleeds out of the inflator into the curtain to maintain the curtain at a desired pressure sufficient to provide impact protection to the vehicle occupant.
Abstract:
Systems for use in leak detection and methods for leak detection are provided wherein a radioactive trace material is externally applied to a wall of a chamber which contains a fluid at a relatively high internal pressure.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for inflating a vehicular inflatable device (10) are provided wherein inflation gas is produced via a dissociative material wherein an initiator (40) includes an enhanced fuel pyrotechnic formulation which, in addition to initiating dissociation of at least a portion of a quantity of gas source material (14) contained within the inflator, forming dissociation products used to inflate the device (10), also forms particles to interact with one or more of at least a portion of the remaining quantity of gas source material (14) contained within the inflator and the dissociation products to form additional inflation products for inflating the inflatable device.
Abstract:
A dual stage inflator (20) for providing an extended flow of inflation gas to an airbag or inflatable curtain (10) is disclosed. The inflator (20) includes a first gas chamber (66) having an exit orifice (70), the exit orifice (70) having an open configuration and a closed configuration. Additionally, the inflator has a second gas chamber (68) in gaseous communication with the first gas chamber (66). The first and second gas chambers (66, 68) are separated by a flow restrictor (80) positioned between them. This restrictor controls the flow of gas out of the second gas chamber (68). The inflator (20) includes an initiator in communication with the interior of one of the gas chambers that is configured to selectively initiate a flow of gas through the exit orifice (70) of the first gas chamber (66). The exit orifice (70) of the inflator may be disposed within an inlet port (60) of an inflatable curtain (10) to cause inflation gases exiting the inflator (20) through the exit orifices (70) to enter directly into the airbag or inflatable curtain (10).
Abstract:
An inflator assembly for an airbag safety system that comprises a container (22) having a chamber configured to hold pressurized gases, an igniting assembly (36) for producing exit gases and a diffusing assembly (42) to vent the exit gases. The container (22) is provided with an end closure (32) that is composed of a material having a substantial silicon content. The igniting assembly (36) is configured such that it may be coupled to the end closure and capable of withstanding a heat treatment process that bonds the igniting assembly (36), end closure (32) and container (22).
Abstract:
Gas generating compositions containing or including a sufficient quantity of a non-nitrate containing ammonia source whereby, upon reaction of the gas generating composition, NOx products are present in the product gas in a reduced amount as compared to reaction product gas resulting from reaction of the same composition without said quantity of non-nitrate containing ammonia source. Also disclosed are associated methods of reducing NOx products present in an effluent of a gas generating composition that upon combustion forms gas useful for inflating a vehicle occupant safety restraint device.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for inflating a vehicular inflatable device are provided wherein inflation gas is produced via a dissociative material wherein an initiator includes an enhanced fuel pyrotechnic formulation which, in addition to initiating dissociation of at least a portion of a quantity of gas source material contained within the inflator, forming dissociation products used to inflate the device, also forms particles to interact with one or more of at least a portion of the remaining quantity of gas source material contained within the inflator and the dissociation products to form additional inflation products for inflating the inflatable device.