Atlantic Research Corporation

Michael Di Giacomo

Robert S Scheffee

Charles D Woods

Stephen Gold

A hybrid inflator and method of inflating airbags include a pressure vessel which utilizes a solid propellant, a liquid fuel and a compressed oxidizing gas to produce an inflator gas for inflating devices such as airbags. The solid propellant vaporizes and superheats the liquid fuel, thus raising it above its autoignition temperature. When put in contact with the compressed oxidizing gas the liquid fuel ignites. The thus-ignited liquid fuel and compressed gas rupture a burst disk in the inflator to release the inflator gas for inflation purposes.

Hybrid inflator and method of use

A hybrid inflator for inflating vehicle air bags includes a first pressure vessel containing a compressed gaseous fuel, and igniter assembly and a second pressure vessel containing a compressed inflator gas. In use, the compressed fuel gas is released into the compressed inflator gas vessel using an igniter assembly for ignition of the gaseous fuel. Ignition of the gaseous fuel in the second pressure vessel causes a pressure and temperature rise which ruptures a burst disk in the second pressure vessel for gas release and inflation of an air bag.

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Warrenton, VA, United States of America

Michael Di Giacomo