T K Holdings, Inc.

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.

Robert M Krupp

Donald B Patterson

Bruce A Stevens

Paresh S Khandhadia

Chris A Adamini

David M McCormick

Sean P Burns

Brian Andrew Mayville

Graylon K Williams

Rickey L Stratton

Indu B Mishra

A gas generant container assembly includes a porous container defining a chamber therein, and a porous separator positionable and securable within the chamber so as to divide the chamber into at least a pair of sub-chambers.

Container for gas generant

A gas seal for containing a pressurized fluid in a container. The gas seal includes a rupturable portion having a stress riser formed therein, and an extension coupled to the rupturable portion proximate the stress riser such that a predetermined minimum force applied to the extension is transferred to the stress riser to produce a rupture of the rupturable portion.

Pressurized gas release mechanism

A gas generating system includes a first enclosure containing a gas, and a second enclosure having a gas generant material contained therein. The second enclosure is operatively coupled to the first enclosure so as to enable fluid communication between the first enclosure and the second enclosure. After activation of the gas generating system, the gas in the first enclosure passes through the second enclosure prior to exiting the system.

Gas generating system

A pressure vessel for a gas generating system is provided. The vessel is formed from a material and has a first portion and a second portion. A property of the material along the first portion has a value within a first range, and the same property of the material along the second portion has a value within a second range different from the first range.

Pressure vessel for a gas generating system

A gas generating system includes a gas generant material for generating gases upon combustion thereof, and an amount of liquid coolant for cooling the generated gases.

A gas seal for containing a pressurized fluid in a container. The gas seal includes a rupturable portion and an extension coupled to the rupturable portion such that a predetermined minimum force acting on the extension produces a rupture of the rupturable portion, permitting pressurized fluid flow past the gas seal. An inflator and a vehicle occupant protection system incorporating the gas seal are also disclosed.

A filter is provided defining an enclosure having a volume that is resiliently variable responsive to an internal pressure within the enclosure. A gas generating system, an airbag system, and a vehicle occupant protection system incorporating the filter are also disclosed.

Inflator combustion control mechanism

A filter for use in absorbing heat from gases generated in a gas generating system is disclosed. The filter includes a plurality of discrete, continuous gas flow passages extending therethrough. In one embodiment, the filter is incorporated into an inflator used for inflating an inflatable element of a vehicle occupant protection system. A gas generator incorporating the filter and a vehicle occupant protection system incorporating the filter are also described.

Gas generating system with axial flow filter

A gas generating system is provided including a housing and a divider for dividing an interior of the housing into a first interior portion and a second interior portion. The divider defines a fluid flow path therethrough enabling fluid communication from the first interior portion to the second interior portion. A valve mechanism is operatively coupled to the divider for constricting the fluid flow path responsive to a pressure within the first interior portion, thereby enabling the pressure within the first interior portion to be maintained within a predetermined range. A vehicle occupant protection system including the gas generating system is also disclosed.

Gas generating system with pressure regulator

An inflator of a vehicle occupant protection system contains an elongated housing having a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along the length thereof. An ignition body and propellant are provided in lengths substantially equivalent to the length of the housing wherein the ignition body is placed in physical contact with the propellant body for all or most of their respective lengths. Once the ignition body is ignited upon a crash event, resultant uniform ignition and combustion across the length of the propellant results in uniform gas generation and uniform inflation of an airbag , wherein the airbag is at least substantially coextensive with and in fluid communication with the housing . Preferred mixtures of propellant contain silicone, a perchlorate oxidizer, and a coolant.

Inflator

The present invention provides an inflator for an inflatable restraint system in an automobile. The inflator includes an elongate inflator body having a plurality of inflation apertures and defining a first combustion chamber wherein a first propellant charge is positioned. A partitioning assembly is nested within the inflator body , and positioned proximate the second end . The partitioning assembly defines a second combustion chamber wherein a second propellant charge is positioned. First and second initiators and are provided, and are selectively operable to ignite the propellant charges and respectively, thereby supplying an inflation gas via the first chamber to an inflatable restraint cushion.

Airbag inflator

A gas generator utilizes a housing having two combustion chambers defined by a partition disposed intermediate the ends of the housing and retained by a pair of crimps disposed on opposite sides of the partition, respectively.

Two chamber gas generator

A gas generator of an airbag passenger restraint device wherein the gas generator comprises a propellant tube having first and second end closures. The second end closure contains an end cap dual spring subassembly that substantially reduces the vibrations within the generator assembly and propellant. The liberation of fluorocarbons and other undesirable byproducts caused by end cap reactivity is eliminated by employing an inert end cap. By reducing the vibratory effect, inflator performance variability and noise level are substantially reduced.

End cap assembly for airbag inflator

A filter for an air bag inflator comprises juxtaposed layers of pierced sheet metal, wire cloth of a first relatively low mesh, ceramic filter media and wire cloth of relatively larger mesh in a radially outwardly extending array.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MI, United States of America

Robert M Krupp