Vented ignition cup in stored fluid inflator

Claim 1

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising: a container defining a chamber for storing inflation fluid under pressure, said container having an opening through which inflation fluid flows to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said container to block the flow of inflation fluid through the opening; and a flow initiator located in the chamber, said flow initiator comprising: an ignition cup having a base section fixed to said container and a movable section attached to said base section, said movable section being separable from said base section, said movable section having a vent which permits communication of the inflation fluid in the chamber with the interior of said ignition cup; an ignitable propellant located in said ignition cup; and an actuatable igniter to ignite, upon actuation, said propellant to produce combustion products including pressure which acts on interior surfaces of said movable section to separate said movable section from said base section and propel said movable section to engage and rupture said closure.

Claim 2

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising: a container defining a chamber for storing inflation fluid under pressure, said container having an opening through which inflation fluid flows to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said container to block the flow of inflation fluid through the opening; and a flow initiator located in the chamber, said flow initiator comprising: an ignition cup having a base section fixed to said container and a movable section attached to said base section, said movable section being separable from said base section, said movable section having a vent which permits communication of the inflation fluid in the chamber with the interior of said ignition cup; an ignitable propellant located in said ignition cup; and an actuatable igniter to ignite, upon actuation, said propellant to produce combustion products including pressure which acts on interior surfaces of said movable section to separate said movable section from said base section and propel said movable section to engage and rupture said closure.

Claim 10

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising: a container defining a chamber for storing inflation fluid under pressure, said container having an opening through which inflation fluid flows from the chamber to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said container to block the flow of inflation fluid through the opening; and a flow initiator located in the chamber and spaced from said closure, said flow initiator comprising: an ignition cup having a base section fixed to said container and a movable section attached to said base section, said movable section being separable from said base section, said ignition cup having a vent to equalize pressure of the inflation fluid acting on interior and exterior surfaces of the ignition cup; an ignitable propellant located in said ignition cup; and an actuatable igniter to, upon actuation, ignite said propellant to produce combustion products including heat and pressure, the pressure acting on an interior surface of said movable section separating said movable section from said base section to propel said movable section to engage and rupture said closure, the heat pressurizing the inflation fluid in the chamber.

Claim 11

An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising: a container defining a chamber for storing inflation fluid under pressure, said container having an opening through which inflation fluid flows from the chamber to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said container to block the flow of inflation fluid through the opening; and a flow initiator located in the chamber and spaced from said closure, said flow initiator comprising: an ignition cup having a base section fixed to said container and a movable section attached to said base section, said movable section being separable from said base section, said ignition cup having a vent to equalize pressure of the inflation fluid acting on interior and exterior surfaces of the ignition cup; an ignitable propellant located in said ignition cup; and an actuatable igniter to, upon actuation, ignite said propellant to produce combustion products including heat and pressure, the pressure acting on an interior surface of said movable section separating said movable section from said base section to propel said movable section to engage and rupture said closure, the heat pressurizing the inflation fluid in the chamber.

Claim 16

An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising: a container defining a chamber for storing inflation fluid under pressure, said container including a tubular housing and a pair of axially opposite end walls, a first one of said end walls having an opening through which inflation fluid flows from the chamber to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said first end wall of said container, and a flow initiator supported by a second one of said end walls, said flow initiator being located in the chamber and spaced from said closure, said flow initiator comprising: a tubular ignition cup including a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter, a base section of said ignition cup includes said first portion and part of said second portion and is fixed to said second end wall, a movable section of said ignition cup includes another part of said first portion and is connected to said base section at a frangible section located in said first portion, said movable section being separable from said base section in response to a predetermined pressure increase in said ignition cup; a retainer within said ignition cup in engagement with an inner surface of said base section to support base section, said retainer having an opening for inflation fluid to flow through; an ignitable propellant located in said base section; and an actuatable igniter supported by said second end wall and having an end portion surrounded by said base section; said igniter, upon actuation, igniting said propellant to produce combustion products including pressure which flow through the opening in said retainer and act on an interior surface of said movable section to break said frangible section and separate said movable section from said base section and to propel said movable section to engage and rupture said closure.

Claim 17

An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising: a container defining a chamber for storing inflation fluid under pressure, said container including a tubular housing and a pair of axially opposite end walls, a first one of said end walls having an opening through which inflation fluid flows from the chamber to inflate the protection device; a rupturable closure extending across the opening in said first end wall of said container, and a flow initiator supported by a second one of said end walls, said flow initiator being located in the chamber and spaced from said closure, said flow initiator comprising: a tubular ignition cup including a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter, a base section of said ignition cup includes said first portion and part of said second portion and is fixed to said second end wall, a movable section of said ignition cup includes another part of said first portion and is connected to said base section at a frangible section located in said first portion, said movable section being separable from said base section in response to a predetermined pressure increase in said ignition cup; a retainer within said ignition cup in engagement with an inner surface of said base section to support base section, said retainer having an opening for inflation fluid to flow through; an ignitable propellant located in said base section; and an actuatable igniter supported by said second end wall and having an end portion surrounded by said base section; said igniter, upon actuation, igniting said propellant to produce combustion products including pressure which flow through the opening in said retainer and act on an interior surface of said movable section to break said frangible section and separate said movable section from said base section and to propel said movable section to engage and rupture said closure.