Chad L Greenlee

US Patent:

6439604, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Jan 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/491338

Inventors:

Ahmad K. Al-Amin - Higley AZ
Jerome W. Emery - Gilbert AZ
Chad L. Greenlee - Gilbert AZ

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2126

US Classification:

280736, 2807302, 280737, 2807282

Abstract:

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus ( ) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) and an inflator ( ) for providing inflation fluid for the inflatable device. The inflator ( ) has a relatively large diameter body portion ( ) and a relatively small diameter neck portion ( ) extending from the body portion. The neck portion ( ) has an inflation fluid outlet ( ). The occupant protection apparatus ( ) also comprises a conduit ( ) for directing inflation fluid from the inflator ( ) into the inflatable device ( ). The conduit ( ) has a relatively large diameter main body portion ( ) secured on the body portion ( ) of the inflator ( ) by interfitting portions ( ) of the main body portion and the body portion of the inflator. The main body portion ( ) of the conduit ( ) defines a fluid chamber ( ) around the neck portion ( ) of the inflator ( ). The conduit ( ) has a relatively small diameter fill tube portion ( ) for location in the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ).

US Patent:

62064142, Mar 27, 2001

Filed:

Aug 5, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/129710

Inventors:

Fred J. Cook - Gilbert AZ
Kenneth K. Gudewich - Gilbert AZ
Tracy L. Nelson - Sparks NV
Chad L. Greenlee - Gilbert AZ
Darrin L. Johnson - Fountain Hills AZ

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R21/32;21/26

US Classification:

280734

Abstract:

An air bag inflator (10) includes a container (12) defining a chamber (14), and inflation fluid (66) under pressure in the chamber. A first opening (41) in the container (12) enables fluid flow from the chamber (14) to an inflatable device (32). A first burst disk (60) extends across the first opening (41) and is rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across the first burst disk to a level above a first predetermined pressure differential. The inflator (10) includes a first igniter (90) for, when actuated, increasing the pressure differential across the first burst disk (60) to a level above the first predetermined pressure differential to rupture the first burst disk. A second opening (43) in the container (12) enables fluid flow from the chamber (14) to the inflatable device (32). A second burst disk (62) extends across the second opening (43) and is rupturable in response to an increase in the pressure differential across the second burst disk to a second predetermined pressure differential greater than the first differential.