Bendix Atlantic Inflator Co.

David A Bilbrey

Donald W Renfroe

James Michael Rose

Steven L Ludeke

Richard L Frantom

Roy G Brown

Richard K Robbins

Richard Husband

Michael G Womack

Venny H Sneed

An inflator and method of constructing the inflator comprising: a pressure vessel (22) in which inflation gas is stored; the pressure vessel including a first opening (114), pyrotechnic generator (42, 130) situated remote from the pressure vessel for generating products of to heat the inflation gas, a first burst disk (160, 150, 150') mounted to the pressure vessel to seal the first opening thereof after the pressure vessel has been charged to a determinable pressure with inflation gas and in communication with the pyrotechnic generator such that the products of combustion assist in the opening of the first burst disk.

Center gas fill inflator

A hybrid inflator (20) comprising: a pressure vessel (22) including a central member (24) closed at ends by a first (28) and a second closure member (30), one of the closure members including a passage means (70) for introducing pressurized inflation gas into the pressure vessel and the other of the closure members including a breakable disk (34) in communication with at least one exit port (40); a pyrotechnic container (80), within the pressure vessel, secured at one end to one of the closure members (28) and including a plurality of vent openings (90) thereabout, a first quantity of pyrotechnic material (100), located within the pyrotechnic container for providing, at a first controlled gas generation rate, the primary source of heating the inflation gas in the pressure vessel, a second quantity of pyrotechnic material (102) located at least partially within the first quantity of pyrotechnic material characterized by a gas generation rate greater than that of the gas generation rate of the first quantity of material, for producing products of combustion that ignite the first quantity of material and wherein a portion of these products of combustion directly heat the inflation gas, an initiator (104) for igniting the second quantity of pyrotechnic material.

Hybrid inflator

A pressure indicating device (30) for providing an indication of the pressure that existed within a fluid filled pressure vessel (22) just prior to depressurization of the pressure vessel. The device comprises: a housing (102); a piston (130) for temporarily sealing an open end of the housing and outwardly movable in response to a pressure differential not less than a predetermined level generated subsequent to the depressurization of the pressure vessel; and a sheer disk (150) including a first part (160) attached to an end of the piston and a second part (162) attached to an end of the housing (102). The piston and the housing cooperate to define a pressure storage cavity (170) bounded by the piston and housing, the sheer disk (150) including a valve (164) for permitting the fluid within the pressure vessel to enter the pressure cavity and stabilize at a level substantially equal to the pressure level within the pressure vessel and for inhibiting a rapid decrease in the pressure within the pressure cavity immediately subsequent to depressurization of the pressure vessel.

Sliding piston pressure sensing device

Growing community of inventors

Crossville, TN, United States of America

David A Bilbrey