Specialty Products Development Corporation

Robert W Lynch

Vincent O Catanzarite

Separate subassemblies of a gas generator charged with a combustible propellant and an inflatable fabric bag for restraining an automobile driver are provided. The pre-folded bag is assembled to the gas generator in the final stages of assembly to minimize safety hazards in the bag folding operation. Means are provided for connecting the subassemblies and mounting them in a steering wheel.

Gas generator for automobile driver restraint bag

A hybrid system is described for inflating an automobile passenger restraint bag. Part of the gas for inflating the bag is stored in a high pressure gas reservoir. Another portion is generated by combustion of a pyrotechnic mixture. In a preferred embodiment the gas storage cylinder and pyrotechnic generator are coaxial with an axial gas flow passage through the pyrotechnic generator for collecting and conveying gas. A frangible diaphragm separates the pyrotechnic gas generator from the high pressure gas storage vessel. The gas generator has four compartments surrounding the gas flow passage, each containing a pyrotechnic gas generator grain. Combustion gas flows from one of these compartments through another and thence to the axial gas passage. In each embodiment the two inflation gas sources are in series with the inflatable bag rather than in parallel with each other.

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Fountain Valley, CA, United States of America

Robert W Lynch