GAS GENERATING DEVICE FOR AIR BAG AND AIR BAG INFLATION METHOD

摘要

The present invention relates to a gas generating device for air bags, which is mounted on a vehicle or the like to inject a gas into an air bag provided between a driver or occupants and parts of the vehicle to inflate the air bag at the time of collision to thereby protect the driver or occupants. The gas generating device for air bags comprises a first chamber (9) containing therein an inflammable fluid (7) and having a first vent port (8) communicating with the air bag (3), a second chamber (5) containing therein the inflammable fluid (7) and larger than the first chamber (9), a first closure member (13) for closing the first vent port (8), and ignition means (14) for igniting the inflammable fluid (7) in the first chamber (9). At least a part of the inflammable fluid (7) in the first chamber (9) is made to burn whereby the fluid in the first chamber (9) and the second chamber (5) is discharged through the first vent port (8) to inflate the air bag. Accordingly, the first closure member is rapidly broken to permit a mixture of the burning fluid in the first chamber to be discharged, so that an initial response time, during which the air bag begins to inflate, can be made short.