Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Autoliv Development Ab

Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Matthew Alan Cox

Bradley W Smith

Brent A Parks

Kevin Smith

Michael Perry Jordan

David W Parkinson

Romain Danielou

Kirk H Rasmussen

Robert E Lewis

Ludovic Pogeant

Larry D Rose

Gary K Lund

Robert D Taylor

Scott A Jackson

Scott Jackson

François Peremarty

Gildas Clech

Isaac Hoffman

Jean Champendal

Gerald Prima

Yvonnig Patton

Xavier Lelievre

Ludovic Cueff

Dominique Louboutin

Laurent Mazeas

K Doyle Russell

Sebastien Delacroix

Michael Jones

An inflator for generating inflation gases for a safety device includes a housing having an internal cavity including a combustion chamber and a filter chamber. A filter is disposed in the filter chamber. A separating member is disposed in the housing on a first axial side of the filter and separates the filter chamber from the combustion chamber. An insulating member is disposed in the filter chamber on a second axial side of the filter. The second axial side is opposite the first axial side. The separating member is coupled to the insulating member.

Inflator for a passive vehicle safety device

A dual stage inflator includes a housing defining an internal cavity including a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber includes a first portion having a first gas generant material separated from a second portion having a second gas generant material. A gas generant retaining wall is disposed in the housing. A first stage ignition device is disposed in the first portion of the combustion chamber. A second stage ignition device is disposed in the second portion of the combustion chamber. A lid normally closes the second portion of the combustion chamber and is spaced from the gas generant retaining wall. The lid is moveable to an open position opening the second portion of the internal cavity to release combustion gas and abutting the gas generant retaining wall in response to an increase of pressure within the second portion of the combustion chamber. An outer side of the lid and the adjacent side of the gas generant retaining wall are cooperatively configured to allow a flow of combustion gas between the gas generant retaining wall and the lid when the lid abuts the gas generant retaining wall in the open position.

Gas generator for a safety system, comprising: at least one pyrotechnic substance arranged to produce gases; a first part; a second part; a third part; and a fourth part separate from the previous parts, the first part and the second part being friction-welded to the third part. The gas generator is characterised in that the fourth part comprises: a first interface for positioning with the first part, and a second interface for positioning with the second part, such as to temporarily block at least one degree of freedom between the first and second parts in order to allow the first and second parts to be simultaneously friction-welded to the third part.

Gas generator for a safety system

An inflator for generating inflation gases for a safety device includes a filter having a main body portion constructed of metal and an opening passing through the main body portion in an axial direction. The opening has a first end with a first diameter at a first axial side of the main body portion and a second end with a greater, second diameter at a second axial side of the main body portion. A plate disposed in the housing axially separates a filter chamber containing the filter and a combustion chamber containing at least one gas generant material. The plate includes a weakened zone which opens in response to an increase in pressure within the combustion chamber with a plurality of petals axially extending into the filter chamber. A first axially extending portion of the filter is adjacent the plate and opposes radial movement of the plurality of petals upon opening of the weakened zone into the filter chamber.

Inflator for a passive vehicle safety device and filter for an inflator of a passive vehicle safety device

Pressed and segmented gas generant grain assemblies formed from a plurality of symmetric gas generant pieces or segments are disclosed. The symmetric pieces or segments are arranged circumferentially to define a substantially round, segmented body. In certain variations, the symmetric segments are substantially free of polymeric binder and have a high density. The segmented pressed grain assemblies are more robust and less expensive to manufacture, while still exhibiting desired combustion performance. Methods of making such segmented gas generant grain assemblies are also provided.

Generant grain assembly formed of multiple symmetric pieces

An inflator including an initiator and a bulkhead molded around the initiator. The inflator includes a housing formed of two overlapping housing portions mechanically coupled together around a portion of the bulkhead. One of the housing portions includes cut tabs that are crimped into cut receivers of the other housing portion.

Inflator having a mechanically coupled two-piece housing

A pyrotechnic inflator assembly including a shell member and an end cap joinable with the shell member to form a subassembly. The subassembly contains a quantity of pyrotechnic material and at least in part defines a combustion chamber wherein at least a portion of the quantity of pyrotechnic material is reactable to form product gas for inflation of an associated airbag cushion and to generate pressure therewithin. A diffuser assembly can be disposed adjacent an end of the shell member and includes flow control features for controlling flow of product gas from the inflator assembly. The inflator assembly further includes a composite overwrap about at least a portion of the subassembly and the diffuser assembly such that the pyrotechnic inflator assembly can withstand the pressure generated within the combustion chamber upon reaction of the pyrotechnic material. Corresponding methods of making a pyrotechnic inflator assembly are also provided.

Pyrotechnic inflator with central diffuser and composite overwrap

A gas generator includes a case enclosing a combustion chamber containing at least one pyrotechnic charge, a diffusion chamber, and a chamber for storing a material releasable from the chamber during combustion of the charge, to change state endothermically under the effect of gas coming from this combustion, then be evacuated via the diffusion chamber. The material is a liquid stored at atmospheric pressure. The chamber has at least one inlet opening, and a series of outlet openings. The outlet openings are arranged within a wall separating the chamber from the diffusion chamber. The charge and the combustion and diffusion chambers are dimensioned such that during combustion, at least one portion of gas flow generated by the charge opens at least the inlet opening and penetrates into the chamber provoking the escape of the material via the outlet openings, then its endothermic change in state, mainly in the diffusion chamber.

Gas generator having a storage chamber for material with endothermic change of state

A fire suppression apparatus that includes a housing defining a first chamber containing a gas generant. The apparatus further includes an initiator operatively associated with the first chamber and in reaction initiating communication with the gas generant. The initiator, upon actuation, acts to ignite at least some of the gas generant to form gas. The housing further defines a second chamber adjacently disposed to the first chamber. The second chamber contains an endothermically-alterable material and a piston assembly including a piston. Upon actuation, the piston moves to expel at least a portion of the endothermically-alterable material from the second chamber such that the expelled endothermically-alterable material contacts and cools gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant. The housing further has at least one discharge opening to permit cooled gas to exit the housing. Corresponding or associated methods for suppressing a fire are also provided.

Inflator-based fire suppression

An airbag assembly may include an airbag and an inflator in fluid communication with the airbag. The inflator may have a first chamber containing a first gas source and a second chamber containing a second gas source. A filter module may be positioned to filter and redirect gas flows from the first and second gas sources. The filter module may be constructed by securing a baffle within an interior cavity of a filter medium having a generally tubular shape, prior to installation of the filter module the inflator. The baffle may be supported directly by the material of the filter module, by a bracket, or by a support structure formed of wire thicker than that of the filter medium. The baffle may maintain isolation between the first and second chambers, or may help gas from the first gas source initiate gas provision from the second gas source.

Filter with integrated baffle

A relief valve is provided and may include a housing having a first inlet port and a second inlet port. An initiator may be disposed within the housing and an engagement member may be slideably disposed within the housing and may be moveable between a retracted position and an extended position under force of the initiator. The engagement member may include a first bore aligned with the first inlet port in the extended position and a second bore aligned with the second inlet port in the extended position.

Relief valve

Inflatable airbag assemblies having a strap and clamp system to securely hold an inflator relative to a housing. The strap may be attached to an airbag cushion to restrict the movement of the strap or strap may not be attached to the airbag cushion and may move freely while positioned within openings in the housing.

Airbag assemblies with strap clamps

An inflator including a housing with a first chamber that contains a quantity of gas generant. An initiator is operatively associated with the first chamber and in reaction initiating communication with at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant. The initiator, upon actuation, acts to ignite at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant to form gas. The housing further has a second chamber adjacently disposed to the first chamber. The second chamber contains a sealed storage reservoir and a piston assembly. The sealed storage reservoir includes a liner and a lid and contains a quantity of liquid. The piston assembly includes a piston. During deployment, the piston moves to unseal the storage reservoir to release at least a portion of the quantity of liquid such that the released liquid contacts and cools gas formed by the ignition of the gas generant. A discharge opening permits gas to exit the housing.

Liquid cooled inflator

A multi-stage inflator including a housing at least in part defining first and second combustion chambers each containing a quantity of gas generant reactable to form respective product gases. The inflator includes first and second initiators each operatively associated with a respective one of the combustion chambers in reaction initiating communication with at least a portion of the quantity of the gas generant therein contained such that upon actuation the gas generant ignites to form product gas. The second combustion chamber has an exit opening to allow product gas to exit from the second combustion chamber and into the first combustion chamber. The housing includes at least one discharge opening to permit gas to exit the housing and an end wall and wherein both the first and the second initiators are connected.

Growing community of inventors

Centerville, UT, United States of America

Matthew Alan Cox