HYBRID INFLATOR FOR INFLATING AIR BAGS

摘要

PURPOSE: A method of air bag inflation and a hybrid in flator is provide which utilizes a first pressure vessel having a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel therein in conjunction with a second pressure vessel storing an in flator gas for air bag inflation CONSTITUTION: A hybrid in flator (10) for inflating vehicle air bags includes a first pressure vessel (1) containing a compressed gaseous fuel, an igniter assembly (5) and a second pressure vessel (31) containing a compressed in flator gas. In use, the compressed fuel gas is released into the compressed in flator gas vessel (1) using the igniter assembly (5) for ignition of the gaseous fuel. Ignition of the gaseous fuel in the second pressure vessel (31) causes a pressure and temperature rise which ruptures a burst disk (37) in the second pressure vessel (31) for gas release and inflation of an air bag.