Patent ID: 7192052
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An inflation assembly effective for supplying a quantity of inflation gas to at least one associated inflatable restraint device, the inflation assembly comprising: a first chamber containing supply of a first reactant material effective, upon reaction, to produce first reaction products at least including a quantity of gas and a quantity of heat; a first initiator in reaction initiating discharge communication with at least a portion of the supply of the first reactant material contained within the first chamber, the first initiator effective upon actuation to initiate reaction of at least a portion of the supply of the first reactant material contained within the first chamber, a diffuser chamber having a first end and a second end, the diffuser chamber in gas flow communication through the first end with the first chamber upon actuation of the first initiator, the diffuser chamber effective to discharge gas into the at least one associated inflatable restraint device, at least one gas treatment element at least in part disposed within the diffuser chamber, the at least one gas treatment element effective for treating gas being discharged into the at least one associated inflatable restraint device, a second chamber having contents including a supply of dissociative gas source material comprising nitrous oxide, the second chamber closed in a static state with the nitrous oxide compressed therewithin, the second chamber openable upon actuation thereof whereby at least a portion of the second chamber contents including at least a portion of the nitrous oxide are in gas flow communication through the second end with the diffuser chamber and the at least one gas treatment element disposed therewithin, and a chamber opener effective upon actuation of the inflation assembly to open the second chamber and to release at least a portion of the second chamber contents including at least a portion of the nitrous oxide into gas flow communication with the diffuser chamber and the at least one gas treatment element disposed therewithin, the chamber opener including a throttling orifice formed therein, wherein the at least a portion of the second chamber contents enter the diffuser chamber through the throttling orifice.