Stored gas inflator

Abstract

An occupant protection system includes an airbag with inflator that directs a projectile into a burst disk. As the burst disk ruptures, high pressure gas releases into the airbag for inflating the airbag.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an inflator according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the initiator and burst disks of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the inflator of FIG. 1 during a first stage of inflation in which the initiator is activated;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inflator of FIG. 3 during a second stage of inflation in which gas contained within a nozzle of the initiator is ignited by the initiator;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the inflator of FIG. 4 during a third stage of inflation in which a projectile of the initiator is driven by expansion of the ignited gas within the nozzle in the initiator;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inflator of FIG. 5 during a fourth stage of inflation in which the projectile is driven through a burst disk;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an inflator according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an inflator according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a vehicle having an occupant protection system according to an exemplary embodiment.

Claims

1. An inflator for inflating an airbag, comprising: a bottle configured to contain a high pressure gas, wherein the bottle includes an outlet located at one end of the bottle, and wherein the outlet is sealed by a burst disk;an initiator connected to the bottle and configured to contain a propellant gas;a nozzle located in the bottle and sealed by a projectile, wherein the nozzle is configured to receive propellant gas from the initiator;wherein the initiator and nozzle are configured so that the propellant gas ignites and passes into the nozzle causing the projectile to be directed away from the nozzle toward the burst disk; andwherein the burst disk is configured so that when the projectile contacts the burst disk, the outlet is unsealed and the high pressure gas is released into the airbag.

2. The inflator of claim 1, wherein the projectile is disk shaped.

3. The inflator of claim 1, wherein the projectile is a ball bearing.

4. The inflator of claim 1, wherein the projectile includes a pointed portion for contacting the burst disk.

5. The inflator of claim 1, wherein the initiator is welded onto the bottle.

6. An occupant protection system for use in a vehicle, comprising: an inflatable airbag;a bottle connected to the airbag and configured to contain a high pressure gas, wherein the bottle includes an outlet located at one end of the bottle, and wherein the outlet is sealed by a burst disk;an initiator connected to the bottle and configured to contain a propellant gas;a nozzle located in the bottle and sealed by a projectile, wherein the nozzle is configured to receive propellant gas from the initiator;wherein the initiator and nozzle are configured so that the propellant gas ignites and passes into the nozzle causing the projectile to be directed away from the nozzle toward the burst disk; andwherein the burst disk is configured so that when the projectile contacts the burst disk, the outlet is unsealed and the high pressure gas is released into the airbag.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the projectile is disk shaped.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the projectile is a ball bearing.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the projectile includes a pointed portion for contacting the burst disk.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising: an adapter connecting the bottle to the outlet, wherein the burst disk is positioned within the adapter.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the adapter is welded onto the bottle.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a deflector coupled to the adapter configured to separate the high pressure gas released from the bottle into at least two flow streams.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein airbag is a curtain-style airbag.

14. An airbag module for use in a passenger vehicle, comprising: an inflatable airbag;an adapter to which the airbag is secured;a bottle connected to the adapter and configured to contain a high pressure gas;a burst disk connected to the adapter and positioned to seal the bottle and separate the high pressure gas from the airbag;an initiator containing a propellant and being connected to the bottle; anda projectile positioned so that propellant from the initiator propels the projectile towards the burst disk;wherein the burst disk is configured so that when the projectile contacts the burst disk, the burst disk ruptures and the high pressure gas is released into the airbag.

15. The airbag module of claim 14, comprising: a nozzle located in the bottle and sealed by the projectile, wherein the nozzle is configured to receive propellant gas from the initiator;wherein the initiator and nozzle are configured so that the propellant gas ignites and passes into the nozzle causing the projectile to be directed away from the nozzle toward the burst disk.

16. The airbag module of claim 14, further comprising: a deflector coupled to the adapter configured to separate the high pressure gas released from the bottle into at least two flow streams.

17. The airbag module of claim 14, wherein the projectile is disk shaped.

18. The airbag module of claim 14, wherein the projectile is a ball bearing.

19. The airbag module of claim 14, wherein the projectile includes a pointed portion.

20. The airbag module of claim 14, wherein airbag is a curtain-style airbag.