Patent ID: 6701849
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said inflator comprising:a housing; a primary propellant in a primary chamber in said housing and ignitable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device; a secondary propellant in a secondary chamber in said housing and ignitable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device; initiator means for selectively igniting either said primary propellant alone or both of said primary and secondary propellants; and a secondary propellant cap having a generally kidney-shaped configuration for closing said secondary chamber and for maintaining said secondary propellant in said secondary chamber; said secondary propellant cap having a first position blocking flow of combustion products of said primary propellant into said secondary chamber when only said primary propellant is ignited; said secondary propellant cap being movable by combustion products of said secondary propellant when ignited from the first position to a second position enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said secondary chamber to inflate the inflatable device.