US5344186A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflator assembly
Assignee: ZF Passive Safety Systems US Inc
•
Filing: 1992-12-24
•
Granted: 1994-09-06
•
Expires: 2012-12-24
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus (10) for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a storage chamber (18) containing a mixture of gases which is releasable to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint (12). The mixture of gases includes a combustible fuel gas which, when burning, produces first combustion products which pressurize and supplement the mixture of gases. The apparatus (10) also includes an actuator assembly (16) for igniting the combustible fuel gas. The actuator assembly (16) includes a movable container (104) in which an ignitable material (122) is contained. The ignitable material (122) in the movable container (104), when burning, produces second combustion products which ignite the combustible fuel gas. The actuator assembly (16) casts the movable container (104) across the storage chamber when the second ignitable material (122) is burning.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee D. Bergerson
- 👤 Ivan L. Stonich
- 👤 William J. Sipes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising: means defining a storage chamber for storing gas which is releasable to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint, and for containing a first ignitable material which produces first combustion products to pressurize and supplement the stored gas; actuator means for igniting the first ignitable material, said actuator means including supporting means for supporting a second ignitable material which produces second combustion products to ignite the first ignitable material; and said actuator means further including moving means for moving said supporting means within said storage chamber when said second ignitable material is burning.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising: means defining a storage chamber for storing gas which is releasable to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint, and for containing a first ignitable material which produces first combustion products to pressurize and supplement the stored gas; actuator means for igniting the first ignitable material, said actuator means including supporting means for supporting a second ignitable material which produces second combustion products to ignite the first ignitable material; and said actuator means further including moving means for moving said supporting means within said storage chamber when said second ignitable material is burning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first ignitable material is a combustible fuel gas contained within said storage chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a movable container in which said second ignitable material is contained, said moving means including means for casting said movable container across said storage chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable container has an opening to the exterior of said movable container through which combustion products from ignition of said second ignitable material flow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said moving means supports said movable container at a location outside of said storage chamber, said moving means being responsive to an actuating signal to move said movable container into said storage chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said storage chamber has a rupturable wall, said moving means moving said movable container against said rupturable wall to rupture said rupturable wall in response to said actuating signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said igniter means further includes means for generating said actuating signal in response to vehicle deceleration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first ignitable material is combustible fuel gas contained within said storage chamber.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for opening a sealed pressure vessel and for igniting a combustible fuel and oxidizer gas mixture contained within the pressure vessel, said apparatus comprising: supporting means for supporting an ignitable material which produces combustion products to ignite the combustible gas mixture; and moving means for moving said supporting means within the pressure vessel when said ignitable material is burning.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for opening a sealed pressure vessel and for igniting a combustible fuel and oxidizer gas mixture contained within the pressure vessel, said apparatus comprising: supporting means for supporting an ignitable material which produces combustion products to ignite the combustible gas mixture; and moving means for moving said supporting means within the pressure vessel when said ignitable material is burning.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said supporting means comprises a movable container in which said ignitable material is contained, said moving means including means for casting said movable container across the pressure vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said movable container has an opening through which combustion products from ignition of said ignitable material flow to the exterior of said movable container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said moving means supports said movable container at a location outside of the pressure vessel, said moving means being responsive to an actuating signal to move said movable container into the pressure vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the pressure vessel has a rupturable wall, said moving means moving said movable container against the rupturable wall to rupture the rupturable wall in response to said actuating signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising means for generating said actuating signal in response to vehicle deceleration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1690890A
Cited
US3822895A
Cited
US3836170A
Cited
US3806153A
Cited
US3868124A
Cited
US3895821A
Cited
US5022674A
Cited
US5060974A
Cited
US5131680A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-05 | 1998-03-07 | 1998-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-05 | 2002-03-07 | 2002-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-05 | 2006-03-07 | 2006-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |