Patent ID: 6206414
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: B60R,F16K

Abstract:
An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:a container defining a gas storage chamber;inflation fluid under pressure in said gas storage chamber;a first opening in said container for enabling fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;a first burst disk extending across said first opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential;first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said first burst disk to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture said first burst disk;a second opening in said container for directing fluid flow from said gas storage chamber to the inflatable device;a second burst disk extending across said second opening and being rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential; andsecond pressurizing means actuatable independently of said first pressurizing means for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across said second burst disk to a level above the second predetermined pressure differential to rupture said second burst disk,said apparatus having an actuated condition in which said first burst disk is ruptured and said second burst disk is unruptured so that all of said inflation fluid flows through only said first opening.