| 摘要 |
The invention is directed to an inflator device and a method of inflating an inflatable member. The inflator device is adapted for producing a sufficient quantity of a gaseous product to substantially inflate the inflatable member operatively associated therewith without substantial heating of the device or the member. The device has a housing that defines an interior volume, and contains a pressurized gas at a first pressure in the interior volume. The housing also has a member for maintaining the pressurized gas at the first pressure within the interior volume and for opening when the gas attains a predetermined second, higher pressure upon combustion of a pyrotechnic material within the housing to allow the gas to pass from the housing. The pyrotechnic material is stored within a container within the interior volume of the housing. At least a portion of the pyrotechnic material, upon combustion, exits the container, and generates heat and combustion products within the pressurized gas. Because the first pressure is sufficiently high and the pyrotechnic material has a burning time that is sufficiently short, upon combustion, the pyrotechnic material burns substantially completely without substantial contact of burning material upon the inner surface of the housing, such that the heat generated by the combustion of the pyrotechnic material is transferred directly and thermally to the pressurized gas without substantial transfer of heat to the housing, thereby heating the pressurized gas at the first pressure, increasing the gas pressure to at least the second, higher pressure to cause the pressure maintaining member to open and the gas to exit the interior volume without substantial heating of the inflator device.
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