Patent ID: 7108281

Claim:
An inflator comprising: a tubular body portion having axially spaced first and second ends, an igniter endcap secured to the first end of the tubular body portion and a diffuser endcap secured to the second end of the tubular body portion, the tubular body portion, the igniter endcap, and the diffuser endcap collectively defining a fluid chamber, first and second passages extending through the diffuser endcap; a burst disk closing the first passage in the diffuser endcap; a fluid stored under pressure in the fluid chamber; an igniter supported by the igniter endcap and spaced axially away from the burst disk, the igniter being actuatable for opening the burst disk for enabling fluid to flow out of the fluid chamber through the first passage, a fill valve having a valve housing and a valve member that is movable relative to the valve housing, the valve housing being received in the second passage of the diffuser endcap and defining a fill passage for enabling fluid flow into the fluid chamber, the valve member, when located in a first position relative to the valve housing, enabling the flow of the fluid through the fill passage into the fluid chamber, the valve member, when located in a second position relative to the valve housing, preventing fluid flow out of the fluid chamber through the fill passage, the second passage extending radially, through the diffuser endcap, relative to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body portion of the inflator, the valve housing extending through the second passage such that the fill passage extends generally perpendicular relative to an extent of the first passage that extends through the diffuser endcap.