Patent · US Expired

Flow-through heat-enhanced hybrid inflator

US5518268A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
14References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 19, 1995
Grant dateMay 21, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 19, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC06D5/00
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A heat-enhanced boosted inflator for a vehicle airbag includes a housing defining a storage chamber having compressed inflation gas therein and a heating cup mounted to the housing and defining a portion of a gas delivery path to the airbag. The heating cup contains a heat-producing material and the gas flows through the heat-producing material to heat-expand it. One heat-producing material is thermite (Al+FeO.sub.3) and ignitor means initiate its reaction. A cylindrical heating cup provides an annular heating chamber containing the heat-producing material and further defines an outlet plenum containing inflation gas which is released initially for a "soft" onset of inflation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.