Low onset dual stage hybrid inflator

US6769714B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Edward Hosey · Lakeland, US
• Keith Lam · Lakeland, US
• John Adams · Lakeland, US
• Don Burroughs · Lakeland, US
• Russell Watrous · Land O' Lakes, US
• Michael Kelley · Valrico, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 13, 2002
• Grant date: Aug 3, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 10, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/2633
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A low onset dual stage hybrid inflator comprising a diffuser subassembly, a gas generator subassembly, and a pressure vessel. The dual stage inflator offers a variety of different output levels of inflation gas. The four main deployment scenarios for the dual stage inflator are primary output, staged output, full output, and secondary only. For primary output, only the stored gas is released from the inflator. For staged output, the stored gas is released and after a short period of time (i.e. 30 ms), the gas generant is ignited. For the full output, the stored gas is released from the dual stage inflator at the same time the gas generant is ignited. For secondary output, only the gas generant subassembly is fired, and the hot gases from the gas generant subassembly mix with the stored gas. The combination of the hot gas and the stored gas has sufficient pressure to rupture the burst disk.