Morton International, Inc.

Matthew A Cox

Michael Perry Jordan

Alan J Ward

Christopher Hock

Robert D Taylor

Michael W Barnes

A gas generating inflator assembly for a vehicle safety restraint system including an inflator housing having two walls, an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner and outer walls form a combustion chamber therebetween. A filter pack is disposed within the combustion chamber along an inner diameter of the outer wall. Gas generant is also disposed within the combustion chamber. An internal structure is disposed within the combustion chamber for diffusing the ignitor blast and retaining slag produced by the ignited gas generant. The internal structure is spaced from the filter pack and the inner wall such that a portion of the gas generant is located between the internal structure and the inner wall and another portion of the gas generant is located between the internal structure and the filtration pack. The internal structure can be a ring of solid material, an expanded metal material or screen, a star-shaped configuration having a plurality of portions contacting an inner diameter of the filter pack, or a solid metal structure which may include an internal porous structure screen of wire mesh or expanded metal attached thereto.

Internal structure for a two-walled inflator

Material, such as catalysts, absorbents, and adsorbents, are disposed within an automotive airbag so as to contact airbag inflation gases passing therethrough and remove undesirable gases therefrom.

Automotive airbags containing eliminators of undesirable gases

A gas generant charge comprises a heterogeneous mixture of between about 80 and about 95 wt % of a first gas generant composition 1) and between about 5 and about 20 wt % of a second gas generant composition 2), based on the total weight of 1) plus 2). The first gas generant composition 1) comprises between about 20 and about 40 wt % fuel A) and between about 20 and about 60 wt % oxidizer B). Between about 50 and about 85 wt % of the fuel A) is a triazole or tetrazole compound A.sup.1), and between about 15 and about 50 wt % of the fuel is, a water-soluble fuel A.sup.2). At least about 20 wt % of the oxidizer B), up to 100%, a transition metal oxide B.sup.1); balance of the oxidizer is selected from the group B.sup.2) consisting of alkali and/or alkaline earth metal nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates. The second gas generant composition 2) comprises between about 30 and about 65 wt % of a fuel C) which is an organic compound containing only the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, the oxygen content being between about 35 and about 65 wt % of the organic compound, and an between about 35 and about 70 wt % of an oxidizer D) which is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal chlorates, alkali metal perchlorates, and mixtures thereof. The mixed generant charge produces less undesirable gases than the first gas generant composition alone and less particulate matter than the second gas generant composition alone.

Heterogeneous gas generant charges

A method of forming a filter for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint inflator includes a tubular filter element having a generally cylindrical interior surface and a generally cylindrical outer surface having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined axial length and spaced radially outwardly from the inner surface. A tubular support member surrounds the outer surface. The support member is of an axial length equal to at least a major portion of the axial length of the outer surface and has an inner diameter substantially similar to the diameter of the outer surface for close surrounding engagement therewith. The support member has a plurality of through openings.

Method of forming an automotive air bag filter with support member

A filter for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint inflator includes a tubular filter element having a generally cylindrical interior surface and a generally cylindrical outer surface having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined axial length and spaced radially outwardly from the inner surface. A tubular support member surrounds the outer surface. The support member is of an axial length equal to at least a major portion of the axial length of the outer surface and has an inner diameter substantially similar to the diameter of the outer surface for close surrounding engagement therewith. The support member has a plurality of through openings.

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Bountiful, UT, United States of America

Matthew A Cox