Pressurized gas release mechanism
View Patent ↗A gas seal for containing a pressurized fluid in a container. The gas seal includes a rupturable portion having a stress riser formed therein, and an extension coupled to the rupturable portion proximate the stress riser such that a predetermined minimum force applied to the extension is transferred to the stress riser to produce a rupture of the rupturable portion.
1. A mechanism for releasably containing pressurized fluid in a container, the mechanism comprising:
a housing attachable to the container, the housing defining gas flow passage therein; and
a gas seal mounted to the housing so as to block a flow of gas along the passage, the gas seal including a rupturable portion residing exterior of the passage, an extension extending from the rupturable portion into the passage, and a stress riser formed along the rupturable portion.
2. The mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a mechanism for generating a predetermined minimum force for acting on the extension to produce a rupture of the gas seal.
3. A mechanism for releasably containing pressurized fluid in a container, the mechanism comprising:
a housing attachable to the container, the housing defining gas flow passage therein; and
a gas seal mounted to the housing so as to block a flow of gas along the passage, the gas seal including a rupturable portion, an extension extending from the rupturable portion into the passage, and a stress riser formed along the rupturable portion exterior of the passage.
4. The mechanism of claim 2 further comprising a mechanism for generating a predetermined minimum force for acting on the extension to produce a rupture of the gas seal.
5. An inflator including a mechanism in accordance with claim 3 .
6. A gas generating system including a mechanism in accordance with claim 3 .
7. A vehicle occupant protection system including a mechanism in accordance with claim 3 .