Electrically controlled airbag inflator apparatus and method

The present invention relates to an inflator for inflating a cushion of an airbag module. The inflator induces expansion of a gas by application of an electric voltage to the gas or to a plurality of filaments disposed within the gas. The voltage may be applied between a nozzle and a conductor in su...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors LAUBACHER BRIAN A, BREWSTER B. SCOTT, LETENDRE GUY, GREEN DAVID J
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 30.12.2004
Edition7
Subjects
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
TRANSPORTING
VEHICLES IN GENERAL
VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR
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Summary:The present invention relates to an inflator for inflating a cushion of an airbag module. The inflator induces expansion of a gas by application of an electric voltage to the gas or to a plurality of filaments disposed within the gas. The voltage may be applied between a nozzle and a conductor in such a manner that an arc forms within the nozzle. Gas passing through the nozzle then forms an arc-jet that further heats adjacent gas. Multiple gases may be used, including gases designed to combust and/or dissociate to produce additional moles of inflation gas. The voltage may alternatively be applied within the housing in such a manner that a corona is formed in the gas, thereby at least partially ionizing the gas to heat the gas. As yet another alternative, the voltage may be applied to some of the filaments to provide gas expansion via filament combustion.
Bibliography:Application Number: US20030602445