Atlantic Research Corporation

Bendix Atlantic Inflator Co.

Richard K Robbins

Donald W Renfroe

Richard L Frantom

James Michael Rose

Roy G Brown

Robert C Zimbrich

David A Bilbrey

David Anthony Bilbrey

Richard Husband

Darton E Greist, Iii

Steven L Ludeke

Todd Steven Carlson

Charles D Rodgers

Andrew C Kohl

Scott Joseph DiGangi

A multi-level output inflator for air bags or the like, comprising a center bulkhead, a primary gas generating unit connected at its inner end to one side of the bulkhead, and a secondary gas generating unit connected at its inner end to the opposite side of the bulkhead. The primary gas generating unit comprises a primary pressure vessel disposed adjacent to the bulkhead and in communication therewith, with an inert gas under pressure in the primary pressure vessel. The secondary gas generating unit comprises a secondary pressure vessel disposed adjacent to the bulkhead and in communication therewith, with an inert gas under pressure in the secondary pressure vessel. The bulkhead comprises a first opening therein in communication with the primary pressure vessel and a primary outlet port in communication with the first opening. A second opening is provided in the bulkhead with is in communication with the secondary pressure vessel and a secondary outlet port. A primary burst disc is disposed between the first opening of the bulkhead and the primary pressure vessel, and a secondary burst disc is provided between the second bulkhead opening and the secondary pressure vessel. Upon the ignition of the gas generating charge of one of the gas generating units, the gas therein is further pressurized to rupture the adjacent burst disc and effect the flow of the pressurized gas to the adjacent bulkhead opening and outlet port to the air bag for inflation thereof.

Multi-level output air bag inflator

A dual level inflator is provided for creating at least two different rates and levels of air bag inflation while optimizing cost effectiveness, size, safety and performance. The dual level inflator includes a unitized gas generator canister assembly including two canisters of gas generant material connected to a common base and positioned in a chamber formed in an inflator outer housing. The unitized assembly is easily transportable and mountable on the outer housing. Each canister of the unitized assembly includes apertures permitting direct communication between each canister cavity and the chamber of the outer housing. As a result, generant material positioned in each canister is directly exposed to the conditions in the outer housing chamber. The present assembly is advantageous in that it maximizes the internal volume available to the stored gas and, after the ignition of one canister and the inflation of the air bag, the remaining canister may be ignited without reinflating the air bag due to the previous depressurization of the chamber in combination with the selection of a generant material incapable of effectively burning in a low pressure environment, i.e. the directly connected chamber. The present dual inflator also includes seal means to prevent inadvertent ignition, and an arrangement by which the plurality of apertures formed in one canister are positioned relative to the apertures in the other canister to cause the gas flowing from one set of apertures to be sufficiently cooled by the inert gas in the chamber prior to reaching the apertures of the other canister thereby preventing inadvertent thermally induced ignition of the generant material in the remaining unfired canister.

Dual level inflator

A hybrid inflator (20) comprising: a pressure vessel (22) including a central member (24) closed at ends by a first (28) and a second closure member (30), one of the closure members including a passage means (70) for introducing pressurized inflation gas into the pressure vessel and the other of the closure members including a breakable disk (34) in communication with at least one exit port (40); a pyrotechnic container (80), within the pressure vessel, secured at one end to one of the closure members (28) and including a plurality of vent openings (90) thereabout, a first quantity of pyrotechnic material (100), located within the pyrotechnic container for providing, at a first controlled gas generation rate, the primary source of heating the inflation gas in the pressure vessel, a second quantity of pyrotechnic material (102) located at least partially within the first quantity of pyrotechnic material characterized by a gas generation rate greater than that of the gas generation rate of the first quantity of material, for producing products of combustion that ignite the first quantity of material and wherein a portion of these products of combustion directly heat the inflation gas, an initiator (104) for igniting the second quantity of pyrotechnic material.

Hybrid inflator

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Richard K Robbins