Inflator with temperature responsive valve

摘要

An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) and a container (16) which contains a source of inflation fluid. A valve (30) is located outside the container (16) in an inflation fluid flow path extending from the container (16) to the protection device (14). An initiator (20) is actuatable to initiate a flow of the inflation fluid from the container (16) to the valve (30) along the flow path. The valve (30) includes a metering member (70) and a thermostatic metal element (72). The thermostatic metal element (72) engages the metering member (70) to move the metering member (70) in the flow path under the influence of changes in the ambient temperature prior to initiation of the flow of inflation fluid from the container (16) to the valve (30).