Vented gas passenger side air bag inflator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An object of the invention is to provide an improved solid fuel inflator assembly for air bag restraint systems used on the passenger side of automotive vehicles.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an inflator assembly that is operative to provide leveled performance throughout an ambient temperature range of -30.
degree.
C.
to +85.
degree.
C.
while maintaining a thrust neutral configuration.
A further object of the invention is to provide an inflator that is operative at an ambient temperature of +85.
degree.
C.
to direct gases away from the air bag, thereby helping to: 1.
dissipate the increased deployment forces on the air bag and module housing, minimizing the tendency to bell mouthing at the module housing and avoiding tearing of the air bag upon deployment; 2.
increase the filtering of deployment gases exterior to the inflator; and 3.
provide equivalent occupant restraint over the ambient temperature range from -30.
degree.
C.
to +85.
degree.
C.
Another object of the invention is to provide an inflator for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint comprising, an elongated housing, said housing having a first plurality of orifices and a second plurality of orifices for directing gas generated by said inflator into the restraint and a third plurality of orifices for directing gas generated by said inflator away from the restraint; means covering said first plurality of orifices, said second plurality of orifices and said third plurality of orifices which ruptures at a first predetermined pressure to allow gas to flow into the restraint through said first plurality of orifices, which ruptures at a second predetermined pressure higher than said first predetermined pressure to allow gas to flow into the restraint through said second plurality of orifices, and which ruptures at a third predetermined pressure higher than said first and second predetermined pressures to allow gas to flow away from the restraint through said third plurality of orifices; with the orifices of the first, second and third plurality of orifices being so positioned with respect to said housing as to provide a thrust neutral configuration