VARIABLE OUTPUT AIRBAG INFLATOR

摘要

A multi-stage airbag inflator (10) is operable initially, when activated, to cause an airbag to deploy slowly and then, after a delay, to deploy rapidly, includes a housing having at least first and second chambers of preferably different size, separated by a bulkhead (40). Preferably one chamber is smaller since it can be used to produce a smaller amount of gas to cause an initial slow deployment of the airbag. A gas generant charge is ignited in the first chamber (30), and after some delay, a gas generant charge in the second chamber (32) is ignited. The multi-stage inflator can be used to provide the varying inflation rates needed to adjust the inflation of airbags to accommodate the severity of the crash and the position of a vehicle occupants.