Inflator having a variable gas flow throttle
View Patent ↗An airbag inflator has a variable gas flow throttle disposed in a gas flow path. The throttle has at least one gas passageway through a base portion thereof. A tab extends from the base portion and is bendable towards the base portion by a selected amount of gas pressure to close, or at least partially closes, the gas passageway. The tab may have another gas passageway therethrough.
1. An inflator comprising a gas storage container and a gas flow path through which inflation gas can pass to exit the inflator when the inflator is activated, the gas storage container having an outlet opening that is closed by a sealing element and the gas flow path includes a variable gas flow throttle member located inside the gas storage container upstream in the gas flow path with respect to the outlet opening of the gas storage container, and having a first gas flow passageway therethrough, the first gas flow passageway in the variable gas flow throttle member having a first gas flow area that is varied, when the sealing element is opened during activation of the inflator, by a tab that is integral with the gas flow throttle member being bent towards the first gas flow passageway by a predetermined minimum gas pressure inside the gas storage container whereby the tab at least partially blocks the first gas flow passageway and reduces the first gas flow area of the first gas flow passageway through the variable gas flow throttle member, a second gas flow passageway extending through either the tab or through the gas flow throttle member at another location on the gas flow throttle member whereby the second gas flow passageway has a second gas flow area that is not varied by movement of the tab, and a positive thrust stop, the positive thrust stop preventing the tab from bending beyond a position where the first gas flow passageway is fully closed.
2. The inflator according to claim 1 wherein the positive thrust stop being formed by complimentary inclined edges or chamfers in the tab and the variable gas flow throttle member.
3. The inflator according to claim 2 wherein the positive thrust stop is formed by complimentary inclined edges or chamfers in the tab and the variable gas flow throttle member.
4. The inflator according to claim 1 wherein the inflator has a disk shaped housing and the variable gas flow throttle member is adjacent to or an integral part of a housing structure.
5. The inflator according to claim 1 wherein the inflator has a longitudinally cylindrical housing.
6. The inflator according to claim 1 wherein the tab is inclined 60° or less relative to the variable gas flow member.