Patent ID: 8517420
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A gas discharge orifice for a vehicle safety airbag inflator, the inflator producing pressurized inflation gas for the airbag in an internal gas generation chamber, and pressurized inflation gas from the gas generation chamber flowing through a discharge passageway to the exterior of the inflator, the discharge orifice comprising: (a) a continuous open frame securable within the discharge passageway circumscribing the flow of inflation gas therethrough; and (b) an inflation gas flow control valve filling the frame, the flow control valve converting from an open first condition thereof into an open second condition thereof responsive to the development of pressure in the gas generation chamber greater than a predetermined threshold pressure, the first condition of the flow control valve presenting to the flow of inflation gas through the discharge passageway a first effective outflow cross section tuned to low volume inflation gas production being at pressure below the predetermined threshold pressure in the gas generation chamber, and the second condition of the flow control valve presenting to the flow of inflation gas in the discharge passageway a second effective outflow cross section greater than the first effective outflow cross section and tuned to high volume inflation gas production being at pressure greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold pressure in the gas generation chamber, the flow control valve thereby moderating the difference between the pressure below the predetermined threshold pressure arising in the gas generation chamber during low volume inflation gas production and the pressure greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold pressure arising in the gas generation chamber during high volume inflation gas production, wherein operation of the flow control valve from the first condition thereof into the second condition thereof is irreversible.