JP2005520734A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (68)

  An inflator for a vehicle airbag system comprising a gas chamber having a longitudinal axis, the gas chamber being oriented to supply a first gas flow from the gas chamber substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A first end with a first outlet orifice configured and a second outlet orifice oriented to supply a second gas stream from the gas chamber in a direction substantially opposite to the first gas stream The first outlet orifice and the second outlet orifice have an open configuration and a sealed configuration, respectively, and the first gas flow through the first outlet orifice. And an inflator further in communication with the gas chamber to induce a second gas flow through the second outlet orifice.   The first outflow orifice and the second outflow orifice discharge the first gas flow and the second gas flow substantially equally such that no thrust acts on the inflator along the longitudinal axis. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is formed to have a size.   The inflator according to claim 2, wherein the first outlet orifice and the second outlet orifice are formed in different sizes so that the first gas flow and the second gas flow contain different amounts of gas. .   The inflator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first outlet orifice and the second outlet orifice each have a fragile structure selected from a burst disk, a scored surface, and a compression closure.   The fragile structure is a burst disk, and the inflator further includes a burst disk holding member disposed outside each burst disk to prevent discharge of the burst disk from the first outlet orifice and the second outlet orifice. The inflator according to claim 4.   The inflator according to claim 5, wherein the burst disk is shaped to expose the first outlet orifice and the second outlet orifice in response to a pressure strike induced by actuation of the initiator.   2. The gas chamber according to claim 1, wherein the gas chamber has a substantially tubular shape, and a first outlet orifice and a second outlet orifice are respectively disposed at opposite ends along the longitudinal axis of the substantially tubular shape. The inflator described.   It is generally disposed between the initiator and the first end, and moves toward the first outlet orifice in response to a pressure increase induced by the initiator to open the first outlet orifice. The first piston to be moved, and the second piston are generally disposed between the initiator and the second end, and move toward the second outlet orifice in response to a pressure increase induced by the initiator. The inflator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a second piston that shifts the outflow orifice to an open configuration.   A first piercing member disposed between the first piston and the first outflow orifice, wherein the first piston operates the first piercing member when the initiator is operated to impact the first outflow orifice; A first puncture member arranged to provide, and a second puncture member arranged between the second piston and a second outflow orifice, wherein the second piston is activated when the initiator is activated. The inflator according to claim 8, further comprising a second piercing member arranged to actuate the member to impact the second outlet orifice.   The inflator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a boosting material disposed proximate to the initiator to promote the first gas flow and the second gas flow.   4. The gas generating material of claim 1, further comprising a gas generating material that substantially supplies the first gas flow and the second gas flow by actuation of the initiator independent of an additional initiator. 5. Inflator.   The inflator of claim 11, wherein the gas generating material is of a type selected such that it can be inserted into the gas chamber as a cryogenic solid.   The inflator according to claim 11, wherein the gas generating material includes compressed gas.   The inflator according to claim 11, wherein the gas generating material contains a dissociated gas.   The inflator of claim 13, further comprising a liquid that vaporizes in response to a pressure drop in the gas chamber to supplement the first gas flow and the second gas flow.   The inflator according to claim 13, further comprising a pyrotechnic gas generator in which the gas generating material burns to supplement the first gas flow and the second gas flow.   A pyrotechnic gas generator for supplying the first gas stream and the second gas stream by burning the gas generating material, the pyrotechnic gas generator being a gaseous generator, a liquid generator, The solid generator, or a combination of two or more of these solid generators, liquid generators, and gaseous generators according to claim 11. Inflator.   The inflator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gas chamber is a single body formed integrally.   A first container having an inner end having a first internal opening and an outer end in which the first outflow orifice is disposed; an inner end having a second internal opening; and a second outflow orifice. A second container having an outer end disposed therein, a first aperture shaped to communicate with the inner end of the first container, and a second aperture sized to communicate with the inner end of the second container The inflator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second aperture is disposed to face the first aperture.   The first end is shaped to be inserted into a first inlet port of an inflatable curtain of a vehicle airbag system, and the second end is shaped to be inserted into a second inlet port of the inflatable curtain. The inflator according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The first gas flow and the second gas flow are introduced into an inflatable cushion of a type selected from a driver side airbag, a passenger side airbag, an overhead airbag, and a knee cushion. The inflator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first outflow orifice and the second outflow orifice are arranged so as to cause the inflow.   The inflator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gas chamber has an elongated shape having a substantially circular cross section.   The inflator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gas chamber has a substantially spherical shape.   An inflator for a vehicle airbag system, having a first end and a second end, containing a gas generator, and having an open state and a sealed state; and A first orifice that is fluidly coupled and disposed at the first end of the inflator; and a fluid that is fluidly coupled to the gas chamber and disposed at the second end of the inflator. An inflator having a second orifice.   25. The inflator of claim 24, wherein the first orifice is coupled to a first volume and the second orifice is coupled to a second volume.   The inflator according to claim 24, wherein the gas generator is selected from a compressed gas, a solid, and a liquid.   26. The inflator according to claim 25, wherein the gas generator supplies an expansion gas flow into the first volume part and the second volume part in the open state.   The inflator according to claim 25, wherein the first volume part and the second volume part have different sizes.   29. The inflator according to claim 28, wherein the first volume portion and the second volume portion expand substantially simultaneously in the start sequence of the inflator.   26. The inflator according to claim 25, wherein the first volume part and the second volume part are separate inflatable curtains.   26. The inflator of claim 25, wherein the first volume and the second volume are separate parts of a single inflatable curtain.   32. The inflator according to claim 31, wherein the first volume part and the second volume part are in fluid communication with each other.   33. An inflator according to any one of claims 24 to 32, wherein the gas chamber has a longitudinal axis.   The inflator according to claim 33, wherein the gas chamber is generally elongated.   The first orifice is disposed to discharge gas in a first direction along the longitudinal axis, and the second orifice is disposed to discharge gas in a second direction along the longitudinal direction; 34. The inflator according to claim 33, wherein the first direction is substantially opposite to the second direction.   The first orifice is disposed to release gas in a first direction along the longitudinal axis, and the second orifice emits gas in a second direction that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis. The inflator according to claim 33, which is arranged.   37. The inflator according to claim 36, wherein a thrust component along the longitudinal axis of the first orifice is partially canceled by a thrust component along the longitudinal direction of the second orifice in the open state.   33. An inflator according to any one of claims 24 to 32, further comprising an obstacle selectively disposed within the first orifice to establish a first effective cross-sectional area.   33. An inflator according to any one of claims 24 to 32, further comprising an obstacle selectively disposed within the second orifice to establish a second effective cross-sectional area.   The inflator according to any one of claims 24 to 32, further comprising at least one obstacle selectively disposed at one of the first orifice and the second orifice.   41. The inflator of claim 40, wherein a first obstacle establishes a first effective area of the first orifice and a second obstacle establishes a second effective area of the second orifice.   41. The inflator according to claim 40, wherein the obstacle is a pin selectively disposed within one of the first orifice and the second orifice.   41. The inflator according to claim 40, wherein the obstacle is a substantially circular member selectively disposed within one of the first orifice and the second orifice.   The inflator according to any one of claims 24 to 32, wherein the gas chamber has a first chamber and a second chamber.   45. The inflator according to claim 44, wherein the first gas chamber contains a first gas generator, and the second gas chamber contains a second gas generator.   46. The inflator according to claim 45, wherein gas from the first chamber is released from the first orifice and gas from the second chamber is released from the second orifice in the open state.   33. Any one of claims 24-32, wherein the first end is angled with respect to the second end such that the inflator is substantially thrust balanced along a single axis. The inflator described in.   A two-stage biaxial inflator for a vehicle airbag system, comprising a main gas chamber having at least one outflow orifice having an open configuration and a closed configuration; a sub-gas chamber in gas communication with the main gas chamber; At least one flow restrictor disposed between the first gas chamber and each sub-gas chamber and communicates with the interior of the main gas chamber for selectively inducing a gas flow through each outlet orifice. A two-stage two-axis inflator with an initiator.   49. A two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 48 comprising at least two main gas chambers.   49. The two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 48, comprising at least two auxiliary gas chambers.   49. The two-stage biaxial inflator of claim 48, wherein the at least one outflow orifice is configured to adjust the flow rate of the gas flow.   49. The two-stage biaxial inflator of claim 48, wherein the initiator is in communication with the secondary gas chamber.   49. The two-stage biaxial inflator of claim 48, wherein the initiator is in communication with the main gas chamber and the sub gas chamber.   49. The two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 48, wherein the flow restrictor has a throttle channel.   The two-stage biaxial inflator according to any one of claims 48 to 54, wherein the flow restrictor has a fragile sealing body.   56. A two-stage, biaxial inflator according to claim 55, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a burst disk.   57. The two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 56, wherein the flow restrictor further comprises a burst disk holding member.   56. The two-stage biaxial inflator of claim 55, wherein the flow restrictor has a scored surface.   56. A two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 55, wherein the flow restrictor comprises a compression seal.   The two-stage biaxial inflator according to any one of claims 48 to 54, further comprising a gas generator that supplies the gas flow.   61. The two-stage biaxial inflator of claim 60, wherein the gas generator includes a gas mixture.   62. The two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 61, wherein the gas mixture includes a liquefied gas. Two-stage biaxial inflator of claim 62 comprising N ₂ O and CO ₂ mixture of the gases is liquefied.   The two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 60, wherein the gas generator contains a liquefied gas.   The two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 64, wherein the gas generator further comprises a solid.   The two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 60, wherein the gas generator is a combination of gas and liquefied gas.   The two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 60, wherein the gas generator includes a solid.   68. The two-stage biaxial inflator according to claim 67, wherein the gas generator further contains a gas.