Patent ID: 9221420
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: B01D,B60R

Abstract:
1. An inflator for an airbag system for protecting a vehicle occupant from injury through use of an airbag, the inflator comprising: an exterior wall housing a gas source chamber and a centrifugal flow chamber, the exterior wall having a longitudinal axis and a generally tubular shape that defines a circumferential boundary of the centrifugal flow chamber; a gas source contained within the gas source chamber, wherein, in response to receipt by the inflator of an activation signal, the gas source provides a gas; a centrifugal flow barrier disposed between the gas source chamber and the centrifugal flow chamber, the centrifugal flow barrier comprises a centrifugal flow feature that urges the gas passing through the centrifugal flow barrier to move in an arc centered on the longitudinal axis; an inward flow barrier comprising an orifice generally perpendicular to and proximate the longitudinal axis, the inward flow barrier permits the gas to flow inward to release from the centrifugal flow chamber; and an inward flow region that spans a width of the centrifugal flow chamber adjacent to the inward flow barrier, the inward flow region is substantially free of any structure that would block inward flow of the gas toward the longitudinal axis to release through the orifice.