Apparatus and Method for Inflating an Inflatable Vehicle Occupant Restraint

摘要

An inflator assembly (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a pressure vessel (14) with a storage chamber (18) containing a combustible mixture of gases. An ignitable material (122), when burning, increases the pressure of the mixture of gases by igniting the mixture of gases. The mixture of gases is released to exit the storage chamber (18) at a first flow rate and subsequently at a second, greater flow rate. A first gas outlet opening (172) is provided in the pressure vessel (14) when the inflator assembly (10) is actuated, and a second gas outlet opening (186) is subsequently provided in the pressure vessel (14) at a predetermined time. A diffuser (176) directs gas from the gas outlet openings (172) and (186) into the inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12).