Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Other

Gregory J Lang

Robert E Lewis

Harry W Miller, Ii

Bradley D Harris

Todd S Parker

David J Green

Brian H Fulmer

L John Pierotti

Kenneth J Clark

William D Staheli

Bradley W Smith

Karl K Rink

Christopher Hock

Walter A Moore

F Paul Leonelli

Larry D Rose

Mark Ludwig Enders

Patrick G Jarboe

Brent R Marchant

Scott A Jackson

Michael J Ravenberg

Steven R Fredin

Kevin Smith

Scott Jackson

George C Marjanski

Trudy Lewis

W Gary Wirt

Brian A Laubacher

Gary Smith

Don T Jensen

Steve Taylor

David P Kosoff

Brent T Mitton

Richard W Kirby

Graig S Oba

Steven A Spear

Wael S Elgadah

An inflatable restraint system inflator device having a housing defining an elongated chamber and containing an initial supply of stored inflation gas. An initiator is disposed proximate the first axial end of the housing and an operable closure is disposed proximate the second axial end of the housing. A slidable gas generator assembly is disposed within the chamber between the initiator and the closure and includes a supply of gas generant material reactable upon initiation to produce additional inflation gas. Upon actuation, the initiator and the slidable gas generator assembly cooperate to create a pressure wave to open the closure and to permit release of inflation gas. The slidable gas generator assembly slides within the elongated chamber and gas material reacts to form additional inflation gas.

Pressure wave generating inflator device with slidable gas generator

A hybrid inflator device for a passive restraint air bag system includes a housing defining a first chamber and a baffle passing through the first chamber. A supply of gas generant material is disposed in the first chamber and surrounds the baffle. An initiator is operative for creating a shock wave to open a burst disk and further operative to generate a hot gas to ignite the gas generant material. The initiator is disposed proximate a first end of the baffle. The baffle includes a reduced inner diameter portion and an unobstructed path extending along the length of the baffle.

Hybrid inflator device for a passive restraint air bag system

A deployable inflator that includes a quantity of gas generant. The generant is designed to produce a supply of inflation gas during deployment of the inflator. The inflator includes a first burst disk and a second burst disk. The first and second burst disks are separated by a cavity. The inflator also includes an opening (or multiple openings). During deployment, the inflation gas flows into the cavity via the opening(s) and ruptures the first burst disk to allow inflation gas to escape the inflator. The second burst disk ruptures after the pressure in the cavity drops sufficiently below the pressure on the other side of the second burst disk. This inflator reduces the initial onset rate of deployment.

System for tuning initial onset

An airbag inflator that includes a pyrotechnic material capable of producing a quantity of gas during deployment. The inflator also includes a filter. The filter may be an expanded metal filter that is wrapped about the pyrotechnic material. When this filter is wrapped about the pyrotechnic material, the filter forms a plurality of layers having holes that are a different size. This filter also includes a first set of barriers and a second set of barriers that are positioned exterior of the first set of barriers, the second set of barriers being offset from the first set of barriers. Gas passing through the filter will encounter the first set of barriers, be re-directed, encounter the second set of barriers, be re-directed, and then flow out of the filter.

Filter for airbag inflator using variable expanded metal

An inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system. The inflator device includes a supply of gas generant material disposed within a sealed chamber, and an initiator device in reaction initiation combination with the supply of gas generant material. A venting orifice connects the chamber to the surrounding ambient environment, and a rupturable seal seals the venting orifice. Upon reaction initiation of the gas generant material to produce inflation gas, the rupturable seal ruptures to vent the chamber to the ambient environment. A valve assembly can be disposed adjacent the venting orifice. A moveable valve piston, in combination with an actuator device, can block the venting orifice as needed to close the venting orifice and stop inflation gas venting. An optional tether release mechanism can be used in combination with the valve assembly to release a cushion tether upon closing of the venting orifice.

Active venting inflator device

Disclosed are methods for covering a weld line and structures used to cover a weld line. Embodiments of the method comprise covering a weld line, such as the weld line between components of an airbag inflator structure, with a protective sleeve. This allows jagged edges and whiskers created during the welding process to be covered. The protective sleeve may comprise an annular structure adapted to be fitted over the weld line.

Protective sleeve

An inflator device for an inflatable restraint system. The inflator device includes a tubular body with a center discharge opening disposed in a center portion of reduced diameter. First and second end closures each join an initiator to a respective opposing end of the tubular body to define a sealed chamber. First and second generant housings are disposed within the sealed chamber, define generant chambers containing a supply of generant material and include a plurality of openings providing fluid communication between the generant chambers and the sealed chamber. Rupturable initiator seals are disposed between the initiators and a respective generant chamber. A supply of pressurized stored gas and the supply of generant material are disposed within the sealed chamber.

Center discharge hybrid inflator device

An airbag module may have an inflator, a cushion, and a housing that contains the inflator and the cushion. The housing has an outer wall formed of a flexible material and a bracket designed to be attached to a vehicle. During deployment, the cushion is expelled out of the housing through the bracket. The inflator remains in the housing and inflation gas is conveyed to the cushion through the housing. The inflator may be retained by flaps wrapped around the inflator and secured to a perpendicularly oriented diffuser of the inflator. Alternatively, the diffuser may extend through an orifice formed in a fabric wall within the housing, and retention portions of the outer wall may be wrapped around the opposite side of the inflator. The airbag module may be mounted in an instrument panel to provide front seat, passenger's side impact protection without requiring a rigid module housing.

Flexible housing for an airbag module

A method of joining tubular structures using friction welding is disclosed. The invention provides a method of joining a first tubular structure having a conical contact surface to a second tubular member with an elliptical contact orifice by placing the conical surface within the contact orifice, rotating one of the structures, and pressing them together to form a weld. The invention further discloses airbag inflators constructed using the method of the invention.

Inertia or friction welding of conical components into elliptically-shaped holes in a pipe or tube

An inflator apparatus for inflating an inflatable device and a method are provided which utilize a burst disk arrangement which results in a sequential opening regime such as may desirably provide a form of the above-described S curve inflation performance behavior without necessitating the use of or reliance on mechanical opening devices such as projectiles or piston members.

Flow-open inflator

The cost and ease of manufacture and assembly of airbag inflators is enhanced by welding sections of the inflator housing together in a recessed portion of the side wall of such housing. By providing a portion of the housing side wall which is recessed sufficiently that it contains all of the weld flashing produced during the welding operation it is possible to eliminate the machining operation for removing such flashing which, otherwise, could be required to provide external dimensions within specification.

Necked airbag inflator

An inflator having a base containing a diffuser and a canister having a chamber for receiving and holding gas under pressure are inserted in aligned, separated position in a pressure chamber. The pressure chamber is closed, sealed and filled with gas, thereby filling the canister. When the gas fill reaches the desired pressure, an integral top press is activated, thereby joining the base with the filled inflator canister. The base is then welded or crimped to the inflator chamber, thereby assembling a complete airbag inflating device.

Method and apparatus for filling and sealing an inflator for an

Apparatus for inflating an inflatable device, methods for inflating an inflatable safety device and a method of manufacturing an apparatus for inflating an inflatable device are provided having a fuel containment assembly to contain a fuel in the form of a fluid. The fuel, upon proper initiation, is burned to produce gas used in the inflation of the inflatable device.

Fuel containment for fluid fueled airbag inflators

An integral label/gasket for use in crimped sealing engagement with an airbag inflator. The integral label/gasket combines a flat, generally annular label, an annular, deformable outer gasket seal and an annular, deformable inner gasket seal into one component. The outer gasket seal is secured to and extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the label adjacent an outer edge of the label, and the inner gasket seal is secured to and extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the label adjacent an inner edge of the label. The label, for printing handling and operational warnings and other information thereon, has adhesive on a top surface thereof for securing the label to a baseplate of an airbag inflator. The outer gasket seal and the outer edge of the label are sized to be secured between the baseplate and a lower marginal edge of a cylindrical outer sidewall of the airbag inflator crimped radially inwardly engaging the baseplate, with the outer gasket seal providing a seal between the baseplate and the outer sidewall. The inner gasket seal and the inner edge of the label are sized to be secured between the baseplate and a lower marginal edge of a cylindrical inner sidewall of the airbag inflator crimped radially inwardly engaging the baseplate, with the inner gasket seal providing a seal between the baseplate and the inner sidewall.

Integral label/gasket for crimped inflator housing

A flexible sensor, such as a membrane switch, is molded into a plastic automotive panel by a low temperature, low pressure, method which avoids damage to the switch while insuring its placement at a desired depth below the surface of the panel. This is achieved by a process which includes a first step of spraying a mold with a rapid gelling liquid plastic to a preselected thickness. After the plastic has firmed, the sensor is placed thereon and is encapsulated by spraying with a second layer of the plastic. The resulting shell with the embedded sensor may then be provided with a backing, such as a plastic foam.

Growing community of inventors

South Ogden, UT, United States of America

Gregory J Lang