Importance

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Abstract

A stored gas inflator (10) comprising a pressure vessel (12) for storing a pressurized medium therein. The pressure vessel (12) has a wall (14) defining an interior of the vessel. A gas flow conduit (26) extends through the interior of the pressure vessel (12). The conduit (26) has a first portion extending from the interior of the vessel (12) through a first portion of the wall (14) to an exterior of the vessel, and a second portion extending from the interior of the vessel through a second portion of the wall (14) to the exterior of the vessel. Rupturable barriers (40) are formed along a portion of the conduit (26) that extends through the interior of the vessel, for separating an interior of the conduit (26) from the interior of the pressure vessel (12) prior to activation of the inflator (10). The barriers (40) are rupturable upon activation of the inflator (10) to enable fluid communication between the interior of the conduit (26) and the interior of the pressure vessel (12). This permits the pressurized inflation medium to flow from the pressure vessel (12) into the conduit (26) and out of the conduit in opposing directions into one or more associated airbag(s) or other inflatable element(s). Use of multiple gas flow paths from the inflator (10) permits a greater quantity of gas to flow relatively rapidly from the inflator (10).

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First Claim