Fluidbetriebene Aufblasvorrichtung mit Strömungsumkehrung

• Main Authors: MOORE, WALTER ARTHUR, BEUS, GLENN STERLING, RINK, KARL KUNO
• Format: Patent
• Language: German
• Published: 13.09.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; EXPLOSIVES; GAS-ATTACK COMPOSITIONS; GENERATION OF GAS FOR BLASTING OR PROPULSION (CHEMICAL PART); MATCHES; MEANS FOR GENERATING SMOKE OR MIST; METALLURGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR

Apparatus (610) for inflating a device such as a vehicle airbag includes (i) a cylindrical combustion chamber (656) containing an oxidant and a fuel chamber (654) accommodating fuel in a fluid state (e.g. liquid, gas or finely divided solid) and (ii) a second chamber (614) containing pressurized gas and possibly a low pressure sensor (626). Actuation of an initiator (636) in the fuel ruptures the fuel chamber (654) permitting the fuel to mix with the oxidant and burn in the combustion chamber. Resulting pressure in the combustion chamber causes rupture of a weakened combustion chamber wall portion or a rupture disc (664) therein, which may be domed, releasing hot gas into the second chamber (614) from where it escapes with the pressurized gas via outlet openings (668a, 668c) into a diffuser assembly (640). Each outlet opening may be covered by a separate rupturable disc (670a, 670c) or a single rupture disc may cover all the outlet openings.