Variable output air bag module with heat sink

• Main Authors: SPARKMAN, JOHN P, RYAN, SHAWN G, SPENCER, GRAHAM T, STARNER, ALLEN R, NIEDERMAN, ROBERT R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 11.04.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR

The present invention provides variable deployment performance by controlling the heat content of the inflator gas which exits an air bag sub-module (10), disposed in a module, into an air bag cushion. The air bag sub-module (10) includes a sub-module housing (14) which receives an inflator (12) in a central cavity (20) formed therein. The module housing (14) includes low output module ports (22) formed in the module housing (14) and high output module ports (30). Heat sinking material (40) is disposed within the sub-module housing (14) between an outer wall of the sub-module housing (14) and the inflator (12) such that the heat sinking material (40) surrounds the low output module ports (22). The air bag sub-module (10) provides a first fluid flow path for the heated inflator gas to flow under high level deployment conditions and a second fluid flow path for the inflator gas to flow under reduced level deployment conditions. The first fluid flow path comprises a low resistance fluid flow path in which the heated inflator gas exits the inflator (12) through the high output module ports (30). Little or no heated inflator gas will flow through the second fluid flow path, which comprises a high resistance fluid flow path, because in order for the inflator gas to flow according to the second fluid flow path, the inflator gas must pass through the high resistance heat sink material (40) and the low output module ports (22). The heat content of the inflator gas is reduced by forcing the inflator gas to flow according to the second fluid flow path.