Apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint using a mixture of gases

USRE37843E1 · kind E1 · reissue

Assignee

• TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS INC. · US

Inventors

• Jack L. Blumenthal · Los Angeles, US
• Nahum Gat · Manhattan Beach, US
• Ernst M. Faigle · Lapeer, US
• John H. Semchena · Royal Oak, US
• Richard J. Thompson · Ipswich, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 19, 1996
• Grant date: Sep 17, 2002
• Expiry date: Sep 19, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

An apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint includes containing means for receiving gases to provide a combustible mixture of the gases. An igniter is activated to effect ignition of the mixture of gases in response to sudden vehicle deceleration. A directing means directs a flow of gas from containing means into the inflatable occupant restraint. In the preferred embodiment the gases are an inert gas, a fuel gas, and an oxidizer gas. Also, a lean mixture of a fuel gas and oxidizer gas could be used. An improved igniter transmits energy through an imperforate portion of a wall of the containing means to ignite a charge in the containing means. The igniter may include an elongate core disposed in a frangible sheath which is shattered as the core is burned.