Patent ID: 6543805
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An apparatus for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:a housing; a first inflation fluid source in said housing actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device; a first actuatable initiator in said housing for, when energized, effecting actuation of said first inflation fluid source; a second inflation fluid source in said housing actuatable to effect flow of inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device; and a second actuatable initiator in said housing for, when energized, effecting actuation of said second inflation fluid source; said housing having a fluid passage for directing flow of inflation fluid out of said housing to the inflatable device; said housing further having a first combustion chamber extending completely around a second combustion chamber, said first inflation fluid source being located in said first combustion chamber and said second inflation fluid source being located in said second combustion chamber, said first combustion chamber being generally ring-shaped and said second combustion chamber being generally kidney-shaped; said housing deforming due to the pressure of inflation fluid in said housing upon actuation of one or both of said inflation fluid sources; the flow area of said fluid passage increasing due to deformation of said housing and varying in accordance with the pressure of inflation fluid in said housing.