US5480185A — Particulate removal in inflatable restraint syste…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 226 words

An apparatus suitable for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, comprising: a container having a first chamber for storing a gas generating material and a second chamber useful in effecting gas redirection and for storing a supply of gas under pressure, the gas generating material when ignited producing a hot gas, the hot gas containing particulate of the gas generating material and byproducts thereof and being releasable from said first chamber into said second chamber by means of at least one gas exit nozzle, said second chamber housing a filter placed along the inner wall thereof opposite said gas exit nozzle, said filter being useful in effecting gas redirection and particulate removal from at least a portion of the hot gas released from said first chamber and impinging thereon forming an inflation gas for use in inflating the vehicle occupant restraint comprising hot gas having a significantly reduced particulate content; and a diffuser having at least one controlling orifice for providing passage therein of at least a portion of the inflation gas from said container and at least one exit port for dispensing at least a portion of the inflation gas passing therein into the vehicle occupant restraint, whereby there is at least an approximately 180° cumulative change in gas direction between contacting the filter and the passage of the inflation gas into the diffuser.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 226 words

An apparatus suitable for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, comprising: a container having a first chamber for storing a gas generating material and a second chamber useful in effecting gas redirection and for storing a supply of gas under pressure, the gas generating material when ignited producing a hot gas, the hot gas containing particulate of the gas generating material and byproducts thereof and being releasable from said first chamber into said second chamber by means of at least one gas exit nozzle, said second chamber housing a filter placed along the inner wall thereof opposite said gas exit nozzle, said filter being useful in effecting gas redirection and particulate removal from at least a portion of the hot gas released from said first chamber and impinging thereon forming an inflation gas for use in inflating the vehicle occupant restraint comprising hot gas having a significantly reduced particulate content; and a diffuser having at least one controlling orifice for providing passage therein of at least a portion of the inflation gas from said container and at least one exit port for dispensing at least a portion of the inflation gas passing therein into the vehicle occupant restraint, whereby there is at least an approximately 180° cumulative change in gas direction between contacting the filter and the passage of the inflation gas into the diffuser.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter effects said particulate removal at least in part by means of particulate condensation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter effects said particulate removal at least in part by means of particulate entrapment.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter comprises knitted metal wire.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said knitted metal wire comprises stainless steel.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said knitted stainless steel wire has a percent density in the range of 10 to 50 percent.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 269 words

An apparatus suitable for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, comprising: an elongated cylindrical container having a first chamber for storing a gas generating material and a second chamber for storing a supply of gas under pressure and useful in effecting gas redirection, the gas generating material when ignited producing a hot gas, the hot gas containing particulate of the gas generating material and byproducts thereof, the hot gas being releasable from said first chamber into said second chamber by means of at least one gas exit nozzle, said second chamber housing a filter placed along the inner wall thereof opposite said gas exit nozzle, said filter being useful in effecting gas redirection and particulate removal from at least a portion of the hot gas released from said first chamber and impinging thereon forming a hot gas having a significantly reduced particulate content, whereby said filter effects said particulate removal at least in part by means of particulate condensation, wherein at least a portion of the significantly reduced particulate content hot gas mixing with the stored gas in said second chamber forming inflation gas for use in inflating the vehicle occupant restraint; and a diffuser having at least one controlling orifice for providing passage therein of at least a portion of the inflation gas from said container and at least one exit port for dispensing at least a portion of the inflation gas passing therein into the vehicle occupant restraint, whereby there is at least an approximately 180° cumulative change in gas direction between impinging on said filter and the passage of the inflation gas into the diffuser.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 269 words

An apparatus suitable for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, comprising: an elongated cylindrical container having a first chamber for storing a gas generating material and a second chamber for storing a supply of gas under pressure and useful in effecting gas redirection, the gas generating material when ignited producing a hot gas, the hot gas containing particulate of the gas generating material and byproducts thereof, the hot gas being releasable from said first chamber into said second chamber by means of at least one gas exit nozzle, said second chamber housing a filter placed along the inner wall thereof opposite said gas exit nozzle, said filter being useful in effecting gas redirection and particulate removal from at least a portion of the hot gas released from said first chamber and impinging thereon forming a hot gas having a significantly reduced particulate content, whereby said filter effects said particulate removal at least in part by means of particulate condensation, wherein at least a portion of the significantly reduced particulate content hot gas mixing with the stored gas in said second chamber forming inflation gas for use in inflating the vehicle occupant restraint; and a diffuser having at least one controlling orifice for providing passage therein of at least a portion of the inflation gas from said container and at least one exit port for dispensing at least a portion of the inflation gas passing therein into the vehicle occupant restraint, whereby there is at least an approximately 180° cumulative change in gas direction between impinging on said filter and the passage of the inflation gas into the diffuser.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said filter effects said particulate removal at least in part by means of particulate entrapment.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said filter comprises knitted metal wire.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said knitted metal wire comprises stainless steel.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said knitted stainless steel wire has a percent density in the range of 10 to 50 percent.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 296 words

A hybrid inflator for an air bag comprising, a storage chamber for storing inflation gas under high pressure, said storage chamber being formed by a hollow cylindrical sleeve that is closed at one end by a fill plug means and open at an opposite end, a pyrotechnic heater closing said opposite end of said sleeve, said pyrotechnic heater being recessed into said sleeve and including a combustion chamber having a pyrotechnic charge therein, a nozzle orifice, a solid plug means abutting a shoulder adjacent said nozzle orifice, and a first diaphragm, a diffuser having a plurality of orifices for dispensing inflation gas from said storage chamber uniformly into an air bag, and a second diaphragm, said storage chamber being sealed from said diffuser by said second diaphragm and being further sealed from said combustion chamber by said first diaphragm backed up by said solid plug means against the high pressure of the inflation gas stored in said storage chamber, whereby as the pressure in the combustion chamber rises and exceeds the pressure of the stored inflation gas in said storage chamber upon ignition of said pyrotechnic charge, said solid plug is unseated with said first diaphragm subsequently rupturing when the pressure in said combustion chamber exceeds the pressure in the storage chamber, and hot gas from the burning pyrotechnic charge heats the stored inflation gas in said storage chamber causing a rapid pressure rise therein so that when the pressure in said storage chamber exceeds the structural capability of said second diaphragm, rupture of the latter occurs allowing the heated gas to vent through said diffuser orifices in an air bag, said inflator further including impingement filter material placed on the inner wall of said fill plug means opposite the nozzle orifice of said pyrotechnic heater.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 296 words

A hybrid inflator for an air bag comprising, a storage chamber for storing inflation gas under high pressure, said storage chamber being formed by a hollow cylindrical sleeve that is closed at one end by a fill plug means and open at an opposite end, a pyrotechnic heater closing said opposite end of said sleeve, said pyrotechnic heater being recessed into said sleeve and including a combustion chamber having a pyrotechnic charge therein, a nozzle orifice, a solid plug means abutting a shoulder adjacent said nozzle orifice, and a first diaphragm, a diffuser having a plurality of orifices for dispensing inflation gas from said storage chamber uniformly into an air bag, and a second diaphragm, said storage chamber being sealed from said diffuser by said second diaphragm and being further sealed from said combustion chamber by said first diaphragm backed up by said solid plug means against the high pressure of the inflation gas stored in said storage chamber, whereby as the pressure in the combustion chamber rises and exceeds the pressure of the stored inflation gas in said storage chamber upon ignition of said pyrotechnic charge, said solid plug is unseated with said first diaphragm subsequently rupturing when the pressure in said combustion chamber exceeds the pressure in the storage chamber, and hot gas from the burning pyrotechnic charge heats the stored inflation gas in said storage chamber causing a rapid pressure rise therein so that when the pressure in said storage chamber exceeds the structural capability of said second diaphragm, rupture of the latter occurs allowing the heated gas to vent through said diffuser orifices in an air bag, said inflator further including impingement filter material placed on the inner wall of said fill plug means opposite the nozzle orifice of said pyrotechnic heater.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The hybrid inflator of claim 12 wherein said filter material effects filtering by means of condensation thereon of liquid phase particles entrained the hot gas impinging thereon.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 275 words

A method for producing inflation gas in an apparatus suitable for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint and comprising a container having a first chamber for storing a gas generating material and a second chamber useful in effecting gas redirection and for storing a supply of gas under pressure, said method comprising the steps of: igniting the gas generating material stored in the first chamber to produce a hot gas, the hot gas containing particulate of the gas generating material and byproducts thereof, releasing the hot gas from the first chamber into the second chamber by means of at least one gas exit nozzle and whereby at least a portion of the released hot gas impinges onto a filter placed along the inner wall of the second chamber opposite the gas exit nozzle; effecting gas redirection and particulate removal from at least a portion of the released hot gas by means of a filter secured to an inner wall of the second chamber opposite the gas exit nozzle of the first chamber to form an inflation gas for use in inflating the vehicle occupant restraint comprising hot gas having a significantly reduced particulate content; and passing the inflation gas by means of a diffuser having at least one controlling orifice for providing passage therein of at least a portion of the inflation gas and at least one exit port for dispensing at least a portion of the inflation gas passing therein into the vehicle occupant restraint; whereby there is at least an approximately 180° cumulative change in gas direction between impinging onto the filter and the passage of the inflation gas into the diffuser.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 275 words

A method for producing inflation gas in an apparatus suitable for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint and comprising a container having a first chamber for storing a gas generating material and a second chamber useful in effecting gas redirection and for storing a supply of gas under pressure, said method comprising the steps of: igniting the gas generating material stored in the first chamber to produce a hot gas, the hot gas containing particulate of the gas generating material and byproducts thereof, releasing the hot gas from the first chamber into the second chamber by means of at least one gas exit nozzle and whereby at least a portion of the released hot gas impinges onto a filter placed along the inner wall of the second chamber opposite the gas exit nozzle; effecting gas redirection and particulate removal from at least a portion of the released hot gas by means of a filter secured to an inner wall of the second chamber opposite the gas exit nozzle of the first chamber to form an inflation gas for use in inflating the vehicle occupant restraint comprising hot gas having a significantly reduced particulate content; and passing the inflation gas by means of a diffuser having at least one controlling orifice for providing passage therein of at least a portion of the inflation gas and at least one exit port for dispensing at least a portion of the inflation gas passing therein into the vehicle occupant restraint; whereby there is at least an approximately 180° cumulative change in gas direction between impinging onto the filter and the passage of the inflation gas into the diffuser.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said particulate removal comprises condensation of liquid phase particulate on said filter.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said particulate removal comprises entrapment of particulate on said filter.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said filter forms a body and said effecting gas redirection and particulate removal comprises impinging the particulate-containing hot gas onto the filter with at least a portion of the hot gas progressing into the filter body with said particulate removal comprising condensation of liquid phase particulate and entrapment of particulate on the filter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-01-01	1999-07-03	2000-01-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-01-01	2003-07-03	2004-01-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-01-01	2007-07-03	2008-01-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Particulate removal in inflatable restraint system gas generators

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