Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.

T K Holdings, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.

Donald B Patterson

Robert M Krupp

Bruce A Stevens

Paresh S Khandhadia

Graylon K Williams

David M McCormick

Sean P Burns

Paul C Braithwaite

Paul Carlos Edwards, Ii

Chris A Adamini

Indu B Mishra

Scott A Mason

Joseph J Kliger

Brian C Liechty

Roberta A Armstrong

A solid rocket motor comprises a pressure vessel, a solid propellant structure within the pressure vessel, and a flight termination system overlying the pressure vessel. The flight termination system comprises a shaped charge configured and positioned to effectuate ignition of an inner portion of the solid propellant structure and a reduction in an ability of the pressure vessel to withstand a change in internal pressure. Another solid rocket motor, a multi-stage rocket motor assembly, and a method of destroying a launch vehicle in flight are also described.

Solid rocket motors including flight termination systems, and related multi-stage solid rocket motor assemblies and methods

A gas generating system includes a first enclosure containing a gas, and a second enclosure having a gas generant material contained therein. The second enclosure is operatively coupled to the first enclosure so as to enable fluid communication between the first enclosure and the second enclosure. After activation of the gas generating system, the gas in the first enclosure passes through the second enclosure prior to exiting the system.

Gas generating system

A baffle system () for use in a gas generating system (). The baffle system () includes a plurality of adjacent plates (), each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein. Each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates () is in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide at least one gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates. A gas generating system () incorporating the baffle system (), and a vehicle occupant protection system () incorporating the gas generating system (), are also described.

Gas generator

An inflatorof the present invention contains: a housing, a cold gas chamberwithin the housingfor storage of a stored gas supply, a pyrotechnic chamberwithin the housing, a pyrotechnic chargewithin the pyrotechnic chamber, a walladjoining the cold gas and the pyrotechnic chambers, a first orificedefined in the wallfor passage of gas between the chambers, and a perforated flexible membercontained within the cold gas chamber, wherein the flexible memberis fixed about the orificefor modulation or controlled variation of gas flow through the orifice

Hybrid gas generator

A filter is provided defining an enclosure having a volume that is resiliently variable responsive to an internal pressure within the enclosure. A gas generating system, an airbag system, and a vehicle occupant protection system incorporating the filter are also disclosed.

Inflator combustion control mechanism

A filter for use in absorbing heat from gases generated in a gas generating system is disclosed. The filter includes a plurality of discrete, continuous gas flow passages extending therethrough. In one embodiment, the filter is incorporated into an inflator used for inflating an inflatable element of a vehicle occupant protection system. A gas generator incorporating the filter and a vehicle occupant protection system incorporating the filter are also described.

Gas generating system with axial flow filter

A gas generating system is provided including a housing and a divider for dividing an interior of the housing into a first interior portion and a second interior portion. The divider defines a fluid flow path therethrough enabling fluid communication from the first interior portion to the second interior portion. A valve mechanism is operatively coupled to the divider for constricting the fluid flow path responsive to a pressure within the first interior portion, thereby enabling the pressure within the first interior portion to be maintained within a predetermined range. A vehicle occupant protection system including the gas generating system is also disclosed.

Gas generating system with pressure regulator

A gas generator () is provided including a housing (). A gas generating composition () produces expanded gases upon activation of the inflator (), thereby increasing the internal pressure and compressing the spring () operably coupled to the gas release member (). As the spring () is compressed, at least one gas exit aperture (), sealed prior to gas generator () activation, is opened as the gas release member () slidably engages an inner wall () of the housing (). After gas generator () activation, the spring energy of the spring () gradually equalizes and then exceeds the gas pressure of the system gases, thereby once again attenuating the gas exit opening to maintain an optimum average system pressure as the gas is released from the housing ().

Pressure regulator

A gas generator () is provided including a housing (). A gas generating composition () produces expanded gases upon activation of the inflator (), thereby increasing the internal pressure and compressing the spring () operably coupled to the gas release member (). As the spring () is compressed, a gas exit aperture (), sealed prior to gas generator () activation, is opened as the gas release member () is unseated from gas exit aperture (). After gas generator () activation, the spring energy of the spring () gradually equalizes and then counters the gas pressure of the system gases, thereby once again attenuating the gas exit opening () to maintain an optimum average system pressure as the gas is released from the housing ().

An airbag inflator () is provided which includes a first chamber () containing a quantity of a first gas generant composition (), a second chamber () containing a quantity of a second gas generant composition (), and a sympathetic ignition enhancement apparatus () for sympathetically igniting the second gas generant composition () in response to combustion of the first gas generant composition (). The ignition apparatus () is in thermal communication with both the first gas generant composition () and the second gas generant composition (). Heat from combustion of the first gas generant composition () is communicated through conduction along the ignition apparatus () to produce sympathetic ignition of the second gas generant composition ().

Multi-stage inflator with sympathetic ignition enhancement device

A multiple-chamber inflator () for a vehicle occupant protection system. The inflator () includes a housing () having a first end and a second end, and a divider disc () positioned in an interior of the housing () intermediate the housing ends to form a first (primary) propellant chamber () and a second (secondary) propellant chamber () within the interior of the housing (). The divider () has a first surface () in communication with the first propellant chamber (), a second surface () in communication with the second propellant chamber (), and at least one aperture () extending between the first and second surfaces to provide fluid communication between the first propellant chamber () and the second propellant chamber (). A pressure-resistant shim () fabricated from a low-melting point material is fixed on the divider first surface () over the at least one aperture () to block the aperture. The shim () is configured to melt upon exposure to a predetermined temperature generated by combustion of the propellant () in the first propellant chamber (), thereby opening the at least one aperture (). The shim () isolates the first chamber () from the second chamber (). The shim () also facilitates an increase in pressure in the first chamber () during combustion of the first gas generating propellant (), thereby increasing the efficiency of the combustion reaction in the first chamber ().

Multiple chamber inflator

A dual stage inflatorutilizes a housinghaving two supplemental propellant combustion chambersand, both symmetrically oriented within a primary propellant combustion chamber. Chambersandare formed to be substantially equivalent in dimensions and volume thereby simplifying the assembly and manufacturing process.

Multiple chamber dual stage inflator

An inflator of a vehicle occupant protection system contains an elongated housing having a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along the length thereof. An ignition body and propellant are provided in lengths substantially equivalent to the length of the housing wherein the ignition body is placed in physical contact with the propellant body for all or most of their respective lengths. Once the ignition body is ignited upon a crash event, resultant uniform ignition and combustion across the length of the propellant results in uniform gas generation and uniform inflation of an airbag , wherein the airbag is at least substantially coextensive with and in fluid communication with the housing . Preferred mixtures of propellant contain silicone, a perchlorate oxidizer, and a coolant.

Inflator

The present invention provides an inflator for an inflatable restraint system in an automobile. The inflator includes an elongate inflator body having a plurality of inflation apertures and defining a first combustion chamber wherein a first propellant charge is positioned. A partitioning assembly is nested within the inflator body , and positioned proximate the second end . The partitioning assembly defines a second combustion chamber wherein a second propellant charge is positioned. First and second initiators and are provided, and are selectively operable to ignite the propellant charges and respectively, thereby supplying an inflation gas via the first chamber to an inflatable restraint cushion.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MI, United States of America

Donald B Patterson