Air bag inflator assembly
US6142516A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 7, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R21/268
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (40) includes a housing (12) and a container (50) mounted in the housing. A quantity of helium gas (52) is stored under pressure in the container (50). The apparatus (10) includes means (58) for opening the container (50) to enable flow of helium gas (52) out of the container into the housing (12). The housing (12) has wall portions (14, 16, 18, 20) for directing helium gas (52) flowing from the container (50) through an outlet (26) of the housing into the inflatable device (40) to inflate the inflatable device. The housing (12) has at least one aspiration opening (30, 32) for aspirating ambient air into the housing due to the flow of helium gas (52) to mix with the helium gas during flow of helium gas from the container (50) into the inflatable device (40). Preferably, the apparatus (10) includes a converging-diverging nozzle (70) which is connected with the container (50) and through which gas (52) flows from the container prior to mixing with ambient air in the housing (12).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.