Patent ID: 7320479
Filing Date: 2008-01-22
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A hybrid inflator for inflating an airbag system of a vehicle, comprising: an inflator housing having a pair of opposite ends, the inflator housing being filled with a pressurized medium containing an inert gas; one or more gas heaters inside the inflator housing and one gas heater being connected at an end of at least one of the pair of opposite ends of the inflator housing, at least one of the one or more gas heaters including; an outer shell formed by a heater housing having a plurality of heater holes and a plurality of bypass openings; a gas generating chamber in which a gas generant charge is stored, the gas generating chamber and the inflator housing being in communication with each other through the plurality of heater holes and the plurality of bypass openings; an ignition means connected to at least one of the one or more gas heaters connected at an end of the inflator housing and being located at an end of the inflator housing; an enhancer chamber in which an enhancer charge is stored, the enhancer chamber being located between the gas generating chamber in which the gas generant charge is stored and the ignition means, and separated from the gas generating chamber by a bulkhead, the bulkhead having one or more first openings to the gas generator chamber, and being located in close proximity to the plurality of bypass openings; and a rupture disk attached to and covering the one or more first openings in the bulkhead; wherein the enhancer charge when ignited by the ignition means increases the pressure in the enhancer chamber causing the rupture disk to burst after a predetermined pressure is reached within the enhancer chamber, passes ignited gases through the one or more first openings in the bulkhead and passes a portion of the ignited gases of the enhancer charge through the bypass openings in proximity to the bulkhead pre-heating the inert gas in the inflator and a remaining portion of the ignited enhancer charge ignites the gas generant charge stored in the gas generating chamber.