Fluid fuel-containing initiator device for an air bag inflator

Claim 1

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber wherein a fuel is burned to produce combustion products and an air bag inflator initiator device comprising: container means defining a fluid fuel storage volume storing at least one fuel in the form of a fluid and an igniter charge storage volume adjacent said fluid fuel storage volume storing a charge of an igniter material; and means for initiating the charge of igniter material to at least produce sufficient combustion products including heat to heat the fuel within said container means and non-mechanically increase the pressure of the fuel within the container means to rupture said container means to release the fuel therefrom into said first chamber.

Claim 2

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber wherein a fuel is burned to produce combustion products and an air bag inflator initiator device comprising: container means defining a fluid fuel storage volume storing at least one fuel in the form of a fluid and an igniter charge storage volume adjacent said fluid fuel storage volume storing a charge of an igniter material; and means for initiating the charge of igniter material to at least produce sufficient combustion products including heat to heat the fuel within said container means and non-mechanically increase the pressure of the fuel within the container means to rupture said container means to release the fuel therefrom into said first chamber.

Claim 17

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber wherein a fuel is burned to produce combustion products and an air bag inflator initator device comprising: container means defining a sealed fluid fuel storage chamber storing at least one fuel in the form of a fluid and an igniter charge storage chamber adjacent said fluid fuel storage chamber storing a charge of a pyrotechnic igniter material, with said sealed fluid fuel storage chamber and said igniter charge storage chamber separated by means of at least one rupturable wall contact barrier; and means for initiating the charge of pyrotechnic igniter material to produce sufficient combustion products to rupture both said rupturable wall contact barrier and said fluid fuel storage chamber to release the fuel therefrom into said first chamber, as well as to ignite at least a portion of the released fuel.

Claim 18

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber wherein a fuel is burned to produce combustion products and an air bag inflator initator device comprising: container means defining a sealed fluid fuel storage chamber storing at least one fuel in the form of a fluid and an igniter charge storage chamber adjacent said fluid fuel storage chamber storing a charge of a pyrotechnic igniter material, with said sealed fluid fuel storage chamber and said igniter charge storage chamber separated by means of at least one rupturable wall contact barrier; and means for initiating the charge of pyrotechnic igniter material to produce sufficient combustion products to rupture both said rupturable wall contact barrier and said fluid fuel storage chamber to release the fuel therefrom into said first chamber, as well as to ignite at least a portion of the released fuel.

Claim 26

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant, at least one oxidant, a first chamber wherein said fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant and said at least one oxidant are burned to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, said first chamber including at least one gas exit opening and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit opening, the combustion of the fuel and said oxidant increasing the temperature and pressure within said first chamber, said first chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized whereby at least a portion of said hot combustion gas is expelled from said first chamber, a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said gas exit opening sealing means, said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixing with said pressurized stored gas to produce inflation gas, said second chamber including at least one gas exit port and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit port, the mixing of said hot combustion gas with said pressurized stored gas increasing the temperature and pressure within said second chamber, said second chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixes with said pressurized stored gas to produce said inflation gas, whereby at least a portion of said inflation gas is expelled from said second chamber to inflate said device, and initiator means for initiating burning of the fuel and said at least one oxidant.

Claim 27

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant, at least one oxidant, a first chamber wherein said fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant and said at least one oxidant are burned to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, said first chamber including at least one gas exit opening and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit opening, the combustion of the fuel and said oxidant increasing the temperature and pressure within said first chamber, said first chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized whereby at least a portion of said hot combustion gas is expelled from said first chamber, a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said gas exit opening sealing means, said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixing with said pressurized stored gas to produce inflation gas, said second chamber including at least one gas exit port and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit port, the mixing of said hot combustion gas with said pressurized stored gas increasing the temperature and pressure within said second chamber, said second chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixes with said pressurized stored gas to produce said inflation gas, whereby at least a portion of said inflation gas is expelled from said second chamber to inflate said device, and initiator means for initiating burning of the fuel and said at least one oxidant.

Claim 36

A method for inflating an inflatable safety device in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: burning at least one fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant with at least one oxidant in a first sealed chamber to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, wherein the first sealed chamber includes at least one gas exit opening normally closed by a sealing means, said burning increasing the temperature and pressure within the first chamber, opening the first chamber sealing means when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized to expel the hot combustion gas from the first chamber into a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, mixing the expelled hot combustion gas with the pressurized stored gas in the second chamber to produce inflation gas, wherein the second chamber includes at least one gas exit port normally closed by a sealing means, said mixing increasing the temperature and pressure within the second chamber, and opening the second chamber port sealing means, after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber has mixed with said pressurized stored gas to produce the inflation gas and when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized, to expel the inflation gas from the second chamber to inflate the inflatable safety device.

Claim 37

A method for inflating an inflatable safety device in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: burning at least one fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant with at least one oxidant in a first sealed chamber to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, wherein the first sealed chamber includes at least one gas exit opening normally closed by a sealing means, said burning increasing the temperature and pressure within the first chamber, opening the first chamber sealing means when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized to expel the hot combustion gas from the first chamber into a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, mixing the expelled hot combustion gas with the pressurized stored gas in the second chamber to produce inflation gas, wherein the second chamber includes at least one gas exit port normally closed by a sealing means, said mixing increasing the temperature and pressure within the second chamber, and opening the second chamber port sealing means, after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber has mixed with said pressurized stored gas to produce the inflation gas and when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized, to expel the inflation gas from the second chamber to inflate the inflatable safety device.

Claim 45

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber wherein a fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid and at least one oxidant are burned to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, said first chamber including at least one gas exit opening and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit opening, the combustion of the fuel and the oxidant increasing the temperature and pressure within said first chamber, said first chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized whereby at least a portion of said hot combustion gas is expelled from said first chamber, a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said gas exit opening sealing means, said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixing with said pressurized stored gas to produce inflation gas, said second chamber including at least one gas exit port and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit port, the mixing of said hot combustion gas with said pressurized stored gas increasing the temperature and pressure within said second chamber, said second chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixes with said pressurized stored gas to produce said inflation gas, whereby at least a portion of said inflation gas is expelled from said second chamber to inflate said device, and initiator means for initiating burning of the fuel and said at least one oxidant, said apparatus additionally comprising a fluid fuel storage element storing the fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant, said fluid fuel storage element comprising a rupturable flexible wall bladder comprised of material impervious to the fuel and wherein the fuel is stored free of combustion oxidant, said bladder housed within said first chamber and with said initiator means first rupturing said rupturable wall bladder and then initiating the burning of the fuel and said at least one oxidant in said first chamber.

Claim 46

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber wherein a fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid and at least one oxidant are burned to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, said first chamber including at least one gas exit opening and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit opening, the combustion of the fuel and the oxidant increasing the temperature and pressure within said first chamber, said first chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized whereby at least a portion of said hot combustion gas is expelled from said first chamber, a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said gas exit opening sealing means, said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixing with said pressurized stored gas to produce inflation gas, said second chamber including at least one gas exit port and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit port, the mixing of said hot combustion gas with said pressurized stored gas increasing the temperature and pressure within said second chamber, said second chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixes with said pressurized stored gas to produce said inflation gas, whereby at least a portion of said inflation gas is expelled from said second chamber to inflate said device, and initiator means for initiating burning of the fuel and said at least one oxidant, said apparatus additionally comprising a fluid fuel storage element storing the fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant, said fluid fuel storage element comprising a rupturable flexible wall bladder comprised of material impervious to the fuel and wherein the fuel is stored free of combustion oxidant, said bladder housed within said first chamber and with said initiator means first rupturing said rupturable wall bladder and then initiating the burning of the fuel and said at least one oxidant in said first chamber.

Claim 47

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber wherein a fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid and at least one oxidant are burned to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, said first chamber including at least one gas exit opening and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit opening, the combustion of the fuel and said oxidant increasing the temperature and pressure within said first chamber, said first chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized whereby at least a portion of said hot combustion gas is expelled from said first chamber, a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said gas exit opening sealing means, said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixing with said pressurized stored gas to produce inflation gas, said second chamber including at least one gas exit port and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit port, the mixing of said hot combustion gas with said pressurized stored gas increasing the temperature and pressure within said second chamber, said second chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixes with said pressurized stored gas to produce said inflation gas, whereby at least a portion of said inflation gas is expelled from said second chamber to inflate said device, and initiator means for initiating burning of the fuel and said at least one oxidant, said apparatus additionally comprising a fluid fuel storage element storing the fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant, said fluid fuel storage element comprising a sealed storage chamber wherein the fuel is stored free of combustion oxidant, said sealed storage chamber including at least one fuel exit opening, sealing means normally closing said fluid exit opening, and opening means to open said fuel exit opening sealing means, said storage chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said at least one fuel exit opening.

Claim 48

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber wherein a fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid and at least one oxidant are burned to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, said first chamber including at least one gas exit opening and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit opening, the combustion of the fuel and said oxidant increasing the temperature and pressure within said first chamber, said first chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said first chamber is realized whereby at least a portion of said hot combustion gas is expelled from said first chamber, a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, said second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said gas exit opening sealing means, said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixing with said pressurized stored gas to produce inflation gas, said second chamber including at least one gas exit port and having sealing means normally closing said gas exit port, the mixing of said hot combustion gas with said pressurized stored gas increasing the temperature and pressure within said second chamber, said second chamber sealing means adapted to open when a predetermined increase in pressure within said second chamber is realized after said hot combustion gas expelled from said first chamber mixes with said pressurized stored gas to produce said inflation gas, whereby at least a portion of said inflation gas is expelled from said second chamber to inflate said device, and initiator means for initiating burning of the fuel and said at least one oxidant, said apparatus additionally comprising a fluid fuel storage element storing the fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid free of combustion oxidant, said fluid fuel storage element comprising a sealed storage chamber wherein the fuel is stored free of combustion oxidant, said sealed storage chamber including at least one fuel exit opening, sealing means normally closing said fluid exit opening, and opening means to open said fuel exit opening sealing means, said storage chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber upon the opening of said at least one fuel exit opening.

Claim 49

A method for inflating an inflatable safety device in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: burning at least one fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid with at least one oxidant in a first sealed chamber to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, wherein the first sealed chamber includes at least one gas exit opening normally closed by a sealing means, said burning increasing the temperature and pressure within the first chamber, opening the first chamber sealing means to expel the hot combustion gas from the first chamber into a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, mixing the expelled hot combustion gas with the pressurized stored gas in the second chamber to produce inflation gas, wherein the second chamber includes at least one gas exit port normally closed by a sealing means, said mixing increasing the temperature and pressure within the second chamber, and opening the second chamber port sealing means to expel the inflation gas from the second chamber to inflate the inflatable safety device, wherein the fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid is stored free of combustion oxidant in a rupturable flexible wall bladder comprised of material impervious to the fuel, with the bladder housed within the first chamber, the method additionally comprising the step of rupturing the bladder to release the fuel to contact the oxidant prior to said burning.

Claim 50

A method for inflating an inflatable safety device in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: burning at least one fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid with at least one oxidant in a first sealed chamber to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, wherein the first sealed chamber includes at least one gas exit opening normally closed by a sealing means, said burning increasing the temperature and pressure within the first chamber, opening the first chamber sealing means to expel the hot combustion gas from the first chamber into a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, mixing the expelled hot combustion gas with the pressurized stored gas in the second chamber to produce inflation gas, wherein the second chamber includes at least one gas exit port normally closed by a sealing means, said mixing increasing the temperature and pressure within the second chamber, and opening the second chamber port sealing means to expel the inflation gas from the second chamber to inflate the inflatable safety device, wherein the fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid is stored free of combustion oxidant in a rupturable flexible wall bladder comprised of material impervious to the fuel, with the bladder housed within the first chamber, the method additionally comprising the step of rupturing the bladder to release the fuel to contact the oxidant prior to said burning.

Claim 51

A method for inflating an inflatable safety device in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: burning at least fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid with at least one oxidant in a first sealed chamber to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, wherein the first sealed chamber includes at least one gas exit opening normally closed by a sealing means, said burning increasing the temperature and pressure within the first chamber, opening the first chamber sealing means to expel the hot combustion gas from the first chamber into a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, mixing the expelled hot combustion gas with the pressurized stored gas in the second chamber to produce inflation gas, wherein the second chamber includes at least one gas exit port normally closed by a sealing means, said mixing increasing the temperature and pressure within the second chamber, and opening the second chamber port sealing means to expel the inflation gas from the second chamber to inflate the inflatable safety device, wherein the fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid is stored free of combustion oxidant in a sealed storage chamber including at least one fuel exit opening having sealing means normally closing the fuel exit opening, the method additionally comprising the step, prior to said burning, of opening the sealing means to permit the fuel to be in communication with the oxidant in the first chamber.

Claim 52

A method for inflating an inflatable safety device in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: burning at least fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid with at least one oxidant in a first sealed chamber to produce combustion products including hot combustion gas, wherein the first sealed chamber includes at least one gas exit opening normally closed by a sealing means, said burning increasing the temperature and pressure within the first chamber, opening the first chamber sealing means to expel the hot combustion gas from the first chamber into a second chamber containing a supply of pressurized stored gas, mixing the expelled hot combustion gas with the pressurized stored gas in the second chamber to produce inflation gas, wherein the second chamber includes at least one gas exit port normally closed by a sealing means, said mixing increasing the temperature and pressure within the second chamber, and opening the second chamber port sealing means to expel the inflation gas from the second chamber to inflate the inflatable safety device, wherein the fuel in the form of a finely divided solid fluid is stored free of combustion oxidant in a sealed storage chamber including at least one fuel exit opening having sealing means normally closing the fuel exit opening, the method additionally comprising the step, prior to said burning, of opening the sealing means to permit the fuel to be in communication with the oxidant in the first chamber.