Trw Limited

Daniel R Hake

Paul S Headley

Homer William Fogle, Jr

Todd R Bailey

Tom Amherdt

Lindsay S Cisney

William A Kopp

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes combustible fluid (18) and a pair of electrodes (102,104). The electrodes (102,104) have a corresponding pair of surface portions (126,128) which are spaced from each other across an electrode gap (130). An ohmic heating element (120) bridges the gap (130) in an ignitable heat transferring relationship with the combustible fluid (18). The heating element (120) has a pair of opposite end portions (132,134) which are mounted on, and fixed to, the surface portions (126,128) of the electrodes (102,104). The surface portions (126,128) of the electrodes (102,104) have arcuate contours facing oppositely across the gap (130).

Inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

An air bag inflator (10) contains inflation fluid in a chamber (40) in a container (20). The container (20) has a fluid outlet (28) closed by a closure means (30). An assembly (50) connected with the container (20) includes a fill tube (120) for filling the container (20) with inflation fluid (42). A glass seal (140) blocks leakage of inflation fluid from the chamber (40) around the fill tube. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly (50) is an igniter assembly that includes two electrodes (100, 110). The glass seal (140) blocks fluid leakage from the chamber (40) around the electrodes (110, 110).

Fill tube for air bag inflator

An air bag inflator (14) includes a pressure vessel (40), an initiator (42) and a filter (38). The pressure vessel (40) has a sealed chamber (44) containing inflation fluid under pressure, and includes a rupturable closure wall (100) which blocks the inflation fluid from exiting the chamber (44). The initiator (42) releases the inflation fluid to exit the chamber, and includes a casing (122) centered on an axis. The casing (122) contains pyrotechnic material which, when ignited, produces combustion products for rupturing the closure wall (100). The filter (38) is a sintered metal screen which filters the inflation fluid. The sintered metal screen (38) has an elongated tubular shape extending longitudinally over the casing (122) radially outward from the casing (122).

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Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America

Daniel R Hake