Morton Thiokol Inc.

Thiokol Corporation

David P Dahle

Gary V Adams

George F Kirchoff

Donald J Cunningham

Fred E Schneiter

Leland E Davis

Wilbur J Ahlf

An assembly for coupling an ignitive reaction to the inflator of a steering wheel mounted air bag safety system utilizes a through bulkhead initiator of the inflator through a slip joint or ring on the steering shaft which holds stationary a pyrotechnic transfer/booster from a collision responsive sensor and allows the inflator to turn with the steering wheel.

Inflator and remote sensor with through bulkhead initiator

A gas generator or inflator particularly for the inflation of inflatable protective bags that are used in vehicle safety systems includes first and second aluminum structural components. The first component, a diffuser shell having outlet ports, includes integrally formed concentric cylinders which define chambers containing ignition materials, a solid gas generant composition and filters and provide ports for the passage of generated gases from chamber to chamber and then through the outlet ports. The second component, a base shell, has an attachment flange, includes an initiator, and is provided with three concentric surfaces that mate with the ends of the concentric cylinders of the first component. The three concentric cylinders of the first component are simultaneously joined with the concentric mating surfaces of the second component by a single inertia welding operation.

Light weight welded aluminum inflator

An air bag inflator for the passenger side of an automobile includes an elongated, tubular housing having a plurality of perforations in its cylindrical wall for discharging gas. Within the housing are a gas generant composition, an igniter and filtering screens. The perforations are normally sealed with 0.003 inch (0.0762 mm.) thick non-tempered aluminum foil which is easily ruptured by the gas pressure when the inflator is ignited. The foil, in addition to serving as a hermetic seal for protecting the gas generant and igniter from moisture and dust, insures that the gas pressure will reach a certain, threshold level before being discharged into an air bag. In very cold weather the inflator attains its peak pressure considerably more slowly than in warm weather. As a result, the air bag may be inflated either too slowly or insufficiently to perform its intended purpose. In order to preclude this from happening at least some of the perforations in the housing are covered with an additional or buttressing layer of thicker (0.006 inch; 0.1524 mm.) non-tempered aluminum foil, so that the threshold gas pressure necessary to rupture these seals is raised. This shortens the time for attaining peak gas pressure within the tubular housing and results in faster, more satisfactory inflation of the air bag when the ambient temperature is low.

Method of and apparatus for speeding the response of an air bag inflator

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Logan, UT, United States of America

David P Dahle