l|||l|llllllllllllllll||l|||!|llI||l|Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`US005269561A
`.
`_
`5,269,561
`[11] Patent Number:
`Umted States Patent
`Davis et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Dec. 14, 1993 _
`
`
`[19]
`
`......................... 422/166
`4,380,346 4/1983 Davis et a1.
`4,846,368 7/1989 Goetz ..................... 280/736
`4,886,293 12/1989 Weiler et al.
`....
`...... 280/736
`4,950,458
`8/1990 Cunningham ....................... 422/166
`'
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`[54] VENTED GAS PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG
`1N1:-LA-yon
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Terry R. Davis. Fruit Heights;
`aid . B li
`,N
`0
`33,’; ofimfl’ °‘"'
`°"h Ede"
`
`,
`
`‘
`
`[73] Assignee: Mom“ International’ Inc.’ Chicago’
`I11.
`[21] App]. No‘: 909,518
`[22] Filed:
`Jul. 6, 1992
`[51]
`Int. Cl.5 .............................................. B60R 21/26 _
`[52] U.S. Cl. .................................. .. 280/736; 280/742;
`422/156
`[58] Field of Search ................ 102/530, 531; 422/164,
`422/165, 166; 280/736, 741, 742, 728, 738, 739
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`2022194 12/1974 United Kingdom ................ 280/742
`Primary Examiner—Karin L. Tyson
`Attorney, Agent, or F1rm—Gera1d K. Whxte
`[57]
`“_BSm“Cr_
`An air bag inflator havmg a p1ural1ty of gas exit orifices
`of three different sizes arranged so as to Provide thrust
`neutral operation maintains air bag performance at the
`same level over the temperaturerange of ambient to
`+35-4 C” directing an of the generated gases into the air
`bag at ambient temperature, but allowing a portion of
`the gases to be directed away from the air bag at +85°
`C.
`
`3,880,447 4/1975 Thorn et al.
`
`........................ 280/740
`
`3 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 14,1993
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`Sheet 1 of4
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`5,269,561
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`PRIORART
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`2_L>
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`FIGI
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`..|..E_.'.l}‘.‘.‘}\.\}\}\...
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 2 of 4
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`PRIOR ART
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`I
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`IIITIIIIIIIIIIIIN
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`While the Davis et al. arrangement is thrust neutral, it
`is subject to a disadvantage in that all of the generated
`gases flow rearwardly into the air bag. The increased
`deployment forces on the stored air bag and module
`housing at the higher temperatures tend to cause defor-
`mation, that is, bell mouthing of the module housing and
`to tear the air bag upon deployment thereof.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,828, G. W. Goetz, discloses an
`inflatable restraint system for the passenger side of an
`automotive vehicle including an elongated cylindrical
`inflator. Provided on one side of the housing for the
`inflator are a plurality of orifices or passages of a first
`size which are arranged to direct generated gases rear-
`wardly into an air bag. A plurality of orifices of a sec-
`ond and smaller size is provided on the opposite side of
`the housing for directing gas forwardly away from the
`bag into the vehicle compartment or into a conduit
`leading to the surrounding environment. A foil on the
`inside wall of the inflator housing ruptures adjacent the
`larger orifices of the first size at a pressure that is lower
`than the pressure at which the foil ruptures at the
`smaller orifices of the second size. The first and second
`pluralities of orifices are blocked by the foil prior to
`activation of the inflator. Upon activation of the infla-
`tor, the foil adjacent the plurality of orifices of the first
`size ruptures when a sufficient pressure builds up in the
`inflator to allow generated gases to flow into the air
`bag. Thus, the air bag is not subjected to relatively low
`pressure which would tend to cause the air bag to be
`inflated slowly in cold weather. If the pressure in the
`inflator is too high, which tends to occur when the
`ambient temperature is high, the second and smaller size
`orifices open when the foil seal covering them is rup-
`tured to direct gas away from the air bag. As a result,
`the air bag is not subjected to excessive pressure be-
`cause of high ambient temperatures.
`Although the Goetz patent provides for directing
`generated gases away from the air bag when the tem-
`perature is high, it is subject to a disadvantage in that it
`does not provide for a thrust neutral configuration. In
`the absence of a thrust neutral configuration, the thrust
`produced by the deployment forces must be absorbed
`by the module housing in which the stored air bag and
`inflator are contained and also by the dashboard of the
`automotive vehicle in which the occupant restraint
`system is installed. Such thrust tends to cause damage
`not only to the module housing but also to the dash-
`board of the vehicle. Additionally, the arrangement of
`the Goetz patent does not allow the inflator to be coop-
`eratively positioned with respect to the air bag in a
`wrap-around configuration.
`Also known in the prior art is an elongated cylindri-
`cal solid fuel thrust neutral inflator assembly, its sche-
`matically illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings,
`the internal construction of which is generally similar to
`that of the aforementioned Davis et al. patent. The
`inflator assembly there shown, designated by the refer-
`ence numeral 10, includes first, second and third plurali-
`ties of orifices 12, 14 and 16, respectively, from which,
`upon activation of the inflator 10, generated gases flow
`under pressure and are directed rearwardly into an air
`bag (not shown). The cross sections of the first, second
`and third pluralities of orifices are all of different size.
`Prior to activation of the inflator 10, a rupturable foil
`18 on the inside of the housing 20_ therefor, as seen in
`FIG. 2, blocks all of the orifices. The first plurality of
`orifices 12, those having the largest area, are opened to
`allow gas to flow into the air bag when a sufficient
`
`VENTED GAS PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG
`INFLATOR
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to an improvement in a solid
`fuel inflator for an air bag or cushion restraint system
`that is provided on the passenger side of an automotive
`vehicle and is characterized by providing “leveled per-
`formance” throughout the range of ambient tempera-
`tures over which the inflator is intended to be operative
`while maintaining a “thrust neutral” configuration. The
`invention is further characterized in allowing the use of
`a “wrap-around” bag construction.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Some terminology herein is used for convenience‘ in
`reference only and is not intended to be limiting. The
`words “forwardly” and “rearwardly” refer to the nor-
`mal forward and reverse directions of travel of the
`vehicle to which a passenger restraint module is at-
`tached.
`
`By the term “leveled performance” is meant equiva-
`lent occupant restraint over the ambient temperature
`range -30‘ C. to +85° C.
`By the term “bell mouthing” is meant deformation of
`the module housing or reaction canister tending to be
`caused by the rapid lateral expansion of the air bag
`before it has escaped the confines of the module housing
`or reaction canister in which it has been stored.
`The term “thrust neutral” refers to the production by
`an inflator for an air bag of zero thrust when acciden-
`tally initiated as, for example, during shipping, storage
`and handling, as well as during activation responsively
`to the onset of a collision. Specifically, the gas dis-
`charge orifices of the inflator are so positioned around
`the periphery of the inflator that the gas is discharged in
`opposing directions whereby there are no resulting
`forces tending to cause movement thereof. Thus, the
`inflator will expend the energy generated thereby gen-
`erally in place.
`It is known in the prior art to provide an inflatable
`restraint system including an air bag which is expanded
`by a solid fuel inflator to restrain movement of an occu-
`pant of an automotive vehicle in the event of a collision.
`The inflator is designed to rapidly generate a quantity of
`gas sufficient to inflate the bag. It has been found, how-
`ever, that in very cold weather the inflator attains its
`peak pressure much less rapidly than in warm weather.
`Thus, in cold weather, there is a tendency for the air
`bag to be inflated either too slowly or insufficiently to
`perform its intended purpose.
`Inflator performance
`such as this which varies with ambient temperature can
`cause discomfort or possible injury to the vehicle occu-
`pant who relies upon inflation of the air bag for protec-
`tion.
`
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`U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,346, L. E. Davis et al., assigned to
`the assignee of the present invention, discloses an elon-
`gated cylindrical air bag inflator for the passenger side
`of an automotive vehicle and characterized in providing
`uniform operation in both cold and warm weather in a
`thrust neutral configuration. In this arrangement the
`orifices or passages in the inflator housing are all of
`uniform size and a multiple strength rupturable foil is
`provided in association therewith to allow selected ones
`of the orifices to open at a low pressure, and other
`orifices to open at a higher pressure.
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`pressure builds up in the inflator 10 to rupture the por-
`tions of the 18 adjacent thereto. Thus, the air bag is not
`subjected to a relatively low pressure that could cause
`the air bag to be slowly or otherwise improperly in-
`flated under cold weather conditions.
`If the pressure internally of the inflator continues to
`rise, as tends to occur upon an increase in the ambient
`temperature, the second plurality of orifices 14, those
`having an area of intermediate size, open to direct gas
`into the air bag as the result of rupture of the portions of
`the foil 18 adjacent thereto. This relieves the inflator
`internal pressure and thus avoids subjecting the air bag
`to an abnormally high deployment force. Similarly, if
`the ambient temperature continues to rise to +85° C.,
`the orifices 16 having the smallest area also open when
`the pressure in the inflator rises sufficiently to rupture
`the portions of foil 18 adjacent those orifices. Opening
`of the orifices 16 also causes generated gas to be di-
`rected into the air bag and the internal pressure within
`the inflator 10 to be additionally relieved. This tends to
`avoid subjecting the air bag to excessive pressures be-
`cause of the high ambient temperature.
`The first, second and third pluralities of orifices 12, 14
`and 16 open at different internal pressures of the inflator
`10. The foil portions 18 covering the largest of the ori-
`fices ruptures first because those orifices have the larg-
`est area exposed to the inflator pressure. The portions of
`foil 18 covering the orifices having the largest area
`rupture at a pressure lower than the foil portions adja-
`cent the orifices 14 of intermediate area. Similarly, the
`foil portions covering the orifices 14 of intermediate
`area rupture at a lower pressure than the portions of foil
`18 adjacent the orifices 16 having the smallest area.
`The inflator assembly 10 disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2,
`similarly to that disclosed in the Davis patent, is subject
`to a disadvantage in that all of the solid fuel generated
`gases over the entire range of operation flow rear-
`wardlyinto the air bag. The resulting increased deploy-
`ment forces on the air bag and on the module (not
`shown) employed to house the inflator at the higher
`temperatures, particularly, tend to cause bell mouthing
`of the module housing and to tear the air bag during
`deployment.
`Thus, there is a need and a demand for an improved
`solid fuel inflator for air bag restraint systems having
`utility on the passenger side of automotive vehicles to
`the end of providing leveled performance throughout
`the range of ambient temperatures over which the infla-
`tor is intended to be operative while maintaining a
`thrust neutral configuration, and further, which is char-
`acterized in allowing the use of a wrap-around air bag
`configuration. The present invention was devised to fill
`the gap that has existed in the art in these respects.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An object of the invention is to provide an improved
`solid fuel inflator assembly for air bag restraint systems
`used on the passenger side of automotive vehicles.
`_
`Another object of the invention is to provide such an
`inflator assembly that is operative to provide leveled
`performance throughout an ambient temperature range
`of —30° C. to +85° C. while maintaining a thrust neu-
`tral configuration.
`A further object of the invention is to provide an
`inflator that is operative at an ambient temperature of
`+ 85° C. to direct gases away from the air bag, thereby
`helping to:
`
`4
`l. dissipate the increased deployment forces on the air
`bag and module housing, minimizing the tendency to
`bell mouthing at the module housing and avoiding tear-
`ing of the air bag upon deployment;
`2. increase the filtering of deployment gases exterior
`to the inflator; and
`3. provide equivalent occupant restraint over the
`ambient temperature range from -30“ C. to +85° C.
`Another object of the invention is to provide an infla-
`tor for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint comprising,
`an elongated housing, said housing having a first
`plurality of orifices and a second plurality of orifices for
`directing gas generated by said inflator into the restraint
`and a third plurality of orifices for directing gas gener-
`ated by said inflator away from the restraint;
`means covering said first plurality of orifices, said
`second plurality of orifices and said third plurality of
`orifices which ruptures at a first predetermined pressure
`to allow gas to flow into the restraint through said first
`plurality of orifices, which ruptures at a second prede-
`termined pressure higher than said first predetermined
`pressure to allow gas to flow into the restraint through
`said second plurality of orifices, and which ruptures at
`a third predetermined pressure higher than said first and
`second predetermined pressures to allow gas to flow
`away from the restraint through said third plurality of
`orifices;
`with the orifices of the first, second and third plural-
`ity of orifices being so positioned with respect to said
`housing as to provide a thrust neutral configuration.
`Still another object of the invention is to provide such
`an inflator assembly that allows the use of a wrap-
`around air bag configuration,
`In accomplishing these and other objectives of the
`invention, there is provided an elongated cylindrical
`solid fuel inflator assembly having a thrust neutral con-
`figuration for air bag restraint systems used on the pas-
`senger side of automotive vehicles. Provided on op-
`posed wall portions of a housing for the inflator and
`displaced substantially 180" from each other are gas
`discharge orifices of first and second pluralities of ori-
`fices, with each of the first and the second plurality of
`orifices positioned in a plane individual thereto, which
`planes are disposed at an angle to one another and inter-
`sect coincidently with the longitudinal axis of the infla-
`tor. The orifices of the first plurality of orifices have a
`larger area than the orifices of the second plurality of
`orifices. The orifices of both of the first and second
`
`pluralities of orifices are spaced generally uniformly
`along a first portion of the length of the inflator with the
`orifices of the first and second pluralities of orifices
`being offset from one another. Rupturable foil on the
`inner side of the wall of the housing for the inflator
`normally blocks all of the orifices of the first and second
`pluralities of orifices.
`Further, in accord with the invention, a third plural-
`ity of gas discharge orifices are provided in two rows in
`a second portion of the inflator located adjacent to an
`end thereof in parallel planes substantially perpendicu-
`lar to the longitudinal axis of the housing for the inflator
`assembly. The orifices of the third plurality of orifices
`are all of the same size, having an area that is intermedi-
`ate in size those of said first and second pluralities of
`orifices and extend completely around the periphery of
`the inflator in uniformly side-by-side spaced relation.
`Rupturable foil on the inner wall of the housing for the
`inflator normally blocks all of the third plurality of
`orifices.
`
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`Prior to activation of the inflator, all three pluralities
`of first, second and third orifices are blocked. Upon
`activation of the inflator, the first plurality of orifices
`open, when a sufficient pressure builds up in the infla-
`tor, to direct a flow of inflating gas into the air bag for
`the proper inflation thereof, even in extremely cold
`weather. When the ambient temperature is in a range
`intermediate extreme cold, -30‘ C., and extremely hot,
`+85’ C., the second plurality of orifices open as the
`pressure within the inflator increases to direct gas into
`the air bag. This relieves the inflator pressure and main-
`tains the pressure at the level for proper inflation of the
`air bag without subjecting it to excessive deployment
`forces because of increasing ambient temperature. If the
`ambient temperature becomes very high, exceeding 85‘
`C., the third plurality of orifices open to direct gas
`therethrough and away from the air bag for dissipation
`into the environment. The air bag, therefore,
`is not
`.subjected to excessive deployment forces because of the
`extremely high ambient temperature.
`In order to increase the amount of orifices working at
`the high temperature of +85° C., the cross section of
`the orifices of the third plurality of orifices, according
`to the invention, is made larger than that for the third
`plurality of orifices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, represent-
`ing the prior art. For accommodating orifices of such
`larger area an increased foil thickness may be provided
`for blocking off the orifices of the third plurality of
`orifices.
`
`With this arrangement, it will be noted that the im-
`proved inflator of the invention is thrust neutral during
`all phases of its operation, specifically when the orifices
`of largest cross section are open, when the orifices of
`largest and smallest area are also open, and also when
`the orifices of largest, smallest and intermediate areas
`are all open at the same time. Thrust neutral perfor-
`mance is achieved with the orifices of the third plurality
`of orifices of intermediate size since those orifices ex-
`tend all around the periphery of the inflator in uni-
`formly spaced relation.
`The invention is further characterized in that it lends
`itself to use with an air bag in a wrap-around configura-
`tion, as described hereinafter.
`The various features of novelty which characterize
`the invention are pointed out with particularity in the
`claims annexed to and forming a part of this specifica-
`tion. For a better understanding of the invention, its
`operating advantages, and specific objects attained by
`its use, reference is made to the accompanying drawings
`and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodi-
`ment of the invention is illustrated.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`With this description of the invention, a detailed de-
`scription follows with reference being made to the ac-
`companying figures of drawing which form part of the
`specification in which like parts are designated by the
`same reference numbers, and of which:
`.
`FIG. 1 is a longitudinal external view of an inflator
`assembly known in the prior art and described hereinbe-
`fore;
`FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along
`the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating the relationship of
`a housing of the inflator assembly to a sheet of ruptur-
`able foil which functions as a pressure control for the
`flow of generated gas from the inflator assembly;
`FIG. 3 is a longitudinal external view of an inflator
`assembly embodying the invention;
`
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`FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along
`the lines 4—4 of FIG. 1 illustrating the relationship of a
`housing for the inflator assembly to one or more sheets
`of rupturable foil which function as a pressure control
`for the flow of generated gas from the inflator assembly;
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an occupant
`restraint system including a reaction can with the infla-
`tor assembly of FIGS. 3 and 4 mounted therein and
`showing an air bag attached thereto in a wrap-around
`configuration prior to being folded and stored therein;
`and
`
`FIG. 6 is a front view of an occupant restraint system
`of FIG. 5 showing the air bag folded and stored therein.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS.
`3 and 4 includes a solid fuel inflator 22 the internal
`construction of which may be generally similar to that
`of the aforementioned Davis et al. patent. Provided on
`opposed wall portions of the housing 24 of the inflator
`displaced substantially 180' from each other are first
`and second pluralities or rows of orifices 26 and 28, with
`each of the first and second pluralities of orifices posi-
`tioned in a plane individual thereto, which planes are
`disposed at an angle to one another and intersect coinci-
`dently with the longitudinal axis 30 of the inflator 22.
`The orifices 26 of the first plurality of orifices have a
`larger area than the orifices 28 of the second plurality of
`orifices. The orifices of the first and second pluralities of
`orifices are spaced generally uniformly along a first
`portion of the length of the inflator 22 with the orifices
`26 and 28 of the first and second pluralities of orifices
`being offset from one another. A layer of rupturable foil
`32 on the inner wall of the housing for the inflator nor-
`mally blocks all of the orifices of the first and second
`pluralities of orifices 26 and 28.
`Additionally,
`in the illustrated invention embodi-
`ment, orifices 34 of a third plurality of orifices are pro-
`vided in two rows in a second portion of the inflator 22,
`such second inflator portion being located adjacent and
`parallel to an end of the inflator 22. The orifices 34 of
`the third plurality of orifices are all of the same size,
`having an area that is intermediate in size the orifices 26
`and 28 of said first and second pluralities of orifices, and
`extend completely around the periphery of the inflator
`22 in uniformly side-by-side spaced relation. A layer of
`rupturable foil 36 of thickness greater than that of the
`layer of foil 32 is provided on the inner wall of housing
`24 adjacent the orifices 34.
`Prior to activation of the inflator 22, all three plurali-
`ties of first, second and third orifices are blocked. When
`the inflator 22 is activated by means not shown, as by
`the onset of a collision, the orifices 26 of the first plural-
`ity of orifices are unblocked or opened, when a suffi-
`cient pressure builds up in the inflator to rupture the
`rupturable foil 32 to direct a flow of inflating gas rear-
`wardly into an air bag (not shown) for the proper infla-
`tion thereof, even in extremely cold weather, with the
`ambient temperature in the region of -30‘ C. When the
`ambient temperature is in a range intermediate such
`extreme cold and extremely hot, +85° C., the orifices
`28 of the second plurality of orifices open as the pres-
`sure within the inflator 22 increases and ruptures the
`rupturable foil 32 to direct gas rearwardly into the air
`bag (not shown). If the ambient temperature becomes
`very high, reaching and exceeding 85° C., the orifices
`34 of the third plurality of orifices open as the pressure
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`in the inflator 22 increases and ruptures the rupturable
`foil 36 to direct gas forwardly away from the air bag
`(not shown) and into the surrounding environment, that
`is, either into the compartment of the automotive vehi-
`cle or into a duet for transmission externally thereof.
`The use of rupturable foil 36 of increased thickness
`allows the use of larger orifices 34 than the orifices 16 in
`the inflator assembly 10 of the prior art described here-
`inbefore. The use of larger orifices 34
`increases the amount of orifices working at +85° C.
`An occupant
`inflatable restraint system 38 con-
`structed in accordance with the present invention is .
`illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 in an inactive condition,
`being mounted on the dashboard of an automotive vehi-
`cle. The restraint system includes a rigid metal reaction
`canister 40 which is fixed in any suitable manner to the
`dashboard 42 of the vehicle. The inflator assembly 22 is
`mounted within the reaction canister 40 in an orienta-
`tion so that a flow of generated gas, initiated respon-
`sively to the onset of a collision by means not shown
`flows into the air bag and causes it to expand rear-
`wardly into the passenger compartment. At high ambi-
`ent temperatures, +85° C., while the air bag is still
`expanding, gas from the inflator assembly also flows
`through the rows of orifices 34 at the end of the inflator
`assembly 22 directly into the passenger compartment of
`the vehicle, as indicated by the arrows 44 in FIG. 6.
`Thus,
`in accordance with the invention, there has
`been provided an improved inflator assembly used on
`the passenger side of automotive vehicles that is opera-
`tive to provide leveled performance, that is equivalent
`occupant restraint, over the ambient temperature range
`from an extremely cold temperature of —30° C. to an
`extremely hot temperature of +85“ C.
`There has also been provided such an improved infla-
`tor assembly while maintaining a thrust neutral configu-
`ration.
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`30
`
`35
`
`8
`wherein said third plurality of orifices are uniformly
`distributed in at least one row around the periphery
`of a second portion of said housing adjacent an end
`thereof,
`means covering said first plurality of orifices, said
`second plurality of orifices, and said third plurality
`of orifices which ruptures at a first predetermined
`pressure to allow gas to flow into- the restrain
`through said first plurality of orifices, which rup-
`tures at a second predetermined pressure higher
`than said first predetermined pressure to allow gas
`to flow into the restraint through said second plu-
`rality of orifices, and which ruptures at a third
`predetermined pressure higher than said first and
`second predetermined pressures to allow gas to
`flow away from the restrain through said third
`plurality of orifices,
`with the orifices of the first, second and third plural-
`ity of orifices being so positioned with respect to
`said housing as to provide a thrust neutral configu-
`ration.
`
`2. An inflator as defined by claim 1 wherein the ori-
`fices of each of said first plurality of orifices and of said
`second plurality of orifices are uniformly distributed
`along the length of said housing with the orifices of said
`first plurality of orifices being offset from said second
`plurality of orifices, and
`wherein the orifices of said third plurality of orifices
`are positioned in one or more parallel planes that
`are substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal
`axis of said housing.
`3. An inflator assembly for air bag passenger restraint
`systems comprising,
`an elongated housing, said housing having a generally
`cylindrical wall, and a longitudinal axis,
`said wall having first and second pluralities of gas
`discharge orifices formed on opposite sides thereof
`with each of said first and said second plurality of
`orifices positioned in spaced relation in a plane
`individual thereto, which planes are disposed at an
`angle to one another and intersect coincidently
`with the longitudinal axis of said housing, said
`orifices of said first plurality of orifices having a
`larger area than the orifices of the second plurality
`of orifices, said orifices of said first and said second
`plurality of orifices being spaced generally uni-
`formly along a first portion of the length of said
`elongated housing with the orifices of said first and
`said second pluralities of orifices being offset from
`one another,
`first rupturable foil means on the inner side of the
`wall of said housing blocking all of said first and
`second pluralities of orifices, and
`said wall further having a third plurality of gas dis-
`charge orifices provided in two rows in a second
`portion of the wall of said housing located adjacent
`and parallel to an end thereof, the orifices of said
`third plurality of orifices being all of the same size,
`with each such orifice having an area that is inter-
`mediate in size the areas of the orifices of said first
`and second pluralities of orifices, and extending in
`a plurality of rows completely around the periph-
`ery of said housing, and
`-
`second rupturable foil means on the inner side of the
`wall of said housing blocking the orifices of said
`third plurality of orifices.
`*
`3
`t
`1
`1
`
`Additionally, there has been provided such an im-
`proved inflator assembly that allows a wrap-around
`configuration.
`With this description of the invention in detail, those
`skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may
`be made to the invention without departing from the
`spirit thereof. Therefore,
`it
`is not intended that the
`scope of the present invention be limited to the specific
`embodiments illustrated and described. Rather,
`it
`is
`intended that the scope of the invention be determined
`by the scope of the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. An inflator for generating gas for inflating a vehi-
`cle occupant restrain, said inflator comprising,
`an elongated housing, said housing having a first
`plurality of orifices and a second plurality of ori-
`fices for directing gas generated by said inflator
`into the restraint and a third plurality of orifices for
`directing gas directed by said inflator away from
`the restraint,
`wherein said housing has a longitudinal axis,
`wherein said first plurality of orifices and said second
`plurality of orifices are distributed on opposite
`sides of said housing along a first portion along the
`length thereof with the orifices of each of saidfirst
`plurality of orifices and of said second plurality of
`orifices being positioned in a plane individual
`thereto that passes through the longitudinal axis of
`said housing, and
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Page 9 of 10
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`KSS 1033
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`Page 9 of 10
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`KSS 1033
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`

`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION-
`
`PATENT N0.
`
`DATED
`
`lNVENTOR(S)
`
`:
`
`:
`
`:
`
`5,269,561
`
`December 14, 1993
`
`Davis et al.
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`corrected as shown below:
`'
`
`At column 8, line 8, "restrain" should be -— restraint --.
`
`At column 8, line 16, "restrain" should be -- restraint --.
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`
`_ Sixth Day of September, 1994
`
`Attesting 0./ficer
`
`Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
`
`BRUCE LEI-[MAN
`
`Pa e 10 of 10
`
`- KSS 1033
`
`
`
`Page 10 of 10
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`KSS 1033