Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Other

Harry W Miller, Ii

Gregory J Lang

Walter A Moore

David J Green

Karl K Rink

Brian H Fulmer

Todd S Parker

David P Kosoff

Don T Jensen

Bradley W Smith

Linda M Rink

Scott A Jackson

L John Pierotti

Michael J Ravenberg

Alan J Ward

Mark B Woodbury

David B Monk

David Dean Hansen

Virginia E Chandler

Gerold W Pratt

Kerry A Cooke

Richard W Kirby

Graig S Oba

Steven A Spear

John O Evans

Scott L Gary

William R Eckardt

Lester L Valencia

A resistant initiator for an automobile passenger restraint system which includes a shell casing having an upper chamber and a lower chamber. Contact pins connect the initiator to a mating electrical connector of a vehicle. A metal oxide varistor disposed in the shell casing provides electrostatic discharge and EMI/RFI rotection for the initiator. A glass to metal seal header is formed in the shell casing and includes an integrated circuit for igniting the pyrotechnic material disposed in a charge holder attached to the shell casing.

High pressure resistant initiator with integral metal oxide varistor for

An improved inflator featuring a more reliable and more readily assembled reservoir is described. The reservoir features an interlocking channel lock connection with an adapter which is separately attached to the inflator housing. The reservoir is particularly intended for storing liquid fuels, but is applicable to a variety of fluids.

Fuel bottle attachment in fluid fueled 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

The use of unitary liquid fuel storage chambers provides advantages in the manufacturing and assembly of inflators for use in airbag passive restraint systems. A unique process of injecting liquid fuel through a conduit which is controlled to discharge the liquid fuel beneath the rising surface of the liquid fuel in the container and then sealing the storage chamber with a unique stopper provides consistently accurately filled unitary fuel containing storage chambers. The filled and sealed unitary storage chambers can then be either stored or assembled into an inflator. The assembly of the inflator can be at a location separate from that at which the storage container is loaded with fuel, whereby the relatively hazardous loading and handling of liquid fuels can be separated from the inflator assembly area.

Process and apparatus for filling liquid fuel storage containers and

Unitary filters for airbags. The filters may be formed from various combinations of ceramic grit, ceramic fiber, metal grit, metal fiber, and non-metal fibers. Combinations of disparate particle sizes may be used to increase filter diffusion and reduce the size of particles filtered. The disparate size particles may be uniformly mixed, or may be in relatively discrete layers. Fibers may be used to increase the strength of the filter. The fibers may be mixed with an initial slurry, or the slurry may be pressed into a mat of the fibers.

Unitary drop-in airbag filters

A unitary storage structures for the fluid components of a inflator of a vehicular airbag passive restraint system. The unitary storage structures facilitate the storage, testing, transportation and assembly of such components in the inflator. Advantageous methods of filling the storage chambers and of testing the filled structures for leaks prior to their transportation and assembly into the inflator housing are also disclosed.

Canister assembled fluid fueled inflator

An airbag module incorporates an inflatable airbag cushion having an inflatable body and a collar defining an open mouth for receiving inflation gas, with a stiffening collar ring secured to the collar. The airbag module also includes an inflator and a module housing, the inflator having a peripheral bracket extending radially outwardly and the module housing having an opening. The collar of the airbag cushion extends through the opening and the inflator fits within the open mouth of the airbag cushion with the collar ring and collar seated between the module housing and the peripheral bracket. Clamping structure secures the airbag cushion to the airbag module. The clamping structure is an inwardly facing c-shaped ring having a top leg secured to or integral with the module housing and a bottom leg, with the peripheral bracket, the collar ring and the collar clamped between the legs. In another embodiment, the airbag module includes a c-shaped ring clamping the collar ring and the collar to the peripheral bracket. In a further embodiment, the peripheral bracket of the inflator includes a distal end curled over to clamp the collar ring and the collar to the peripheral bracket.

Airbag module with clamped attachment of airbag cushion

An air bag inflator including a housing formed of sheet metal includes an annular base having a central opening and a cover for containing gas generating pyrotechnic material including an annular top wall spaced from the base having a central opening in coaxial alignment with the central opening of the base and a cylindrical, ported, outer side wall integrally formed around a periphery of the top wall extending downwardly thereof and having a lower edge secured to a portion of the base outwardly of the central opening. The housing includes a hollow, igniter-containing, rivet having an upper end wall closing over the central opening of the top wall and having a tubular, ported, side wall integrally formed with the upper end wall thereof extending downwardly through the central openings of the base and the top wall. The tubular side wall has a lower end portion of reduced wall thickness extending below an upper surface of the base around the central opening therein forming an outer, annular shoulder for supportively engaging the base when the lower end portion is deformed radially outwardly to engage an underside of the base. A crimp-formed joint, a weld and/or a press-fitted joint may be provided between an outer perimeter portion of the base and a lower end portion of the outer side wall.

Air bag inflators having housings with crimp-formed joints

Growing community of inventors

Ogden, UT, United States of America

Harry W Miller, Ii