Patent ID: 6142515
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An inflator for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:a housing defining a generally ring-shaped propellant chamber extending around an axis of said inflator, said housing having a fluid outlet for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device;a quantity of ignitable propellant located in said propellant chamber for, when ignited, producing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device;said housing having a fluid passage between said propellant chamber and said fluid outlet, said fluid passage being normally closed, said fluid passage opening upon actuation of said inflator to enable fluid flow from said propellant chamber to said fluid outlet, said fluid passage, when open, having a variable flow area depending upon the pressure in said housing;a heat sink located in said propellant chamber between said ignitable propellant and said fluid passage for cooling and filtering inflation fluid flowing from said propellant chamber through said fluid passage; anda retainer in said propellant chamber between said heat sink and said fluid passage for retaining said heat sink in said propellant chamber upon actuation of said inflator.