Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

William G Lowe

Linda M Rink

Walter A Moore

Bradley W Smith

Daniel R Leininger

Kirk Matthew Bailey

An inflator for a vehicle inflatable safety system comprising a housing configured to contain a gas generating material, an igniting assembly, and an activating assembly. The igniting assembly includes an actuator plate that is configured to ignite the gas generating material contained in the housing and backer plate. The backer plate is attached to the housing such that a seal is formed therebetween that is capable of substantially stopping the flow of the gas generated by the gas generating material in any direction other than the predetermined directions. The igniting assembly also comprises a booster cup, an ignition charge, and a percussion primer. The booster cup with a conical-shaped end surface with the percussion primer disposed therein proximate to the actuator plate for igniting the gas generating material. The actuator plate and the end surface of the booster cup are in contact only along the peripheral edges thereof. The backer plate and the actuator plate are configured to cooperate such that the backer plate prevents the actuator plate from bulging toward said projectile prior to the actuator plate being engaged. The backer plate is positioned substantially against the actuator plate such that said backer plate is between said actuator plate and said projectile. The backer plate is sized and configured so as to hold the actuator plate substantially flat until the actuator plate is impacted by the projectile to ignite the gas generating material. The activating assembly is connected to the housing and comprises a projectile that is configured to impact the actuator piston of said actuator plate so as to cause the actuator plate to move into impacting engagement with the percussion primers to ignite the ignition charge and thereby the gas generating material.

Inflator disk actuator backer plate

An apparatus and a method for producing inflation gas for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint are provided wherein a filter housed within a chamber of the apparatus effects gas redirection and particulate removal from at least a portion of the hot gas released from a gas generating material-containing first chamber of the apparatus, forming a hot gas having a significantly reduced particulate content. The apparatus includes a diffuser having one or more controlling orifices and exit ports to provide for the passage of inflation gas therethrough into the vehicle occupant restraint. There is at least an approximately 180.degree. cumulative change in gas direction between contacting the filter and the passage of the inflation gas into the diffuser.

Particulate removal in inflatable restraint system gas generators

A filter assembly, as well as a treatment system and an inflator module assembly including such a filter assembly are provided. The filter assembly is mounted within the module diffuser housing, external the side or end of an inflator from which gas is emitted and is effective in the treatment of the gaseous emission. Such treatment can include the filtration of particulate from the gaseous emission as well as redirecting the flow of such emission in a desired manner.

Inflatable restraint system inflator emission treatment

An apparatus and method suitable for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint are provided. The apparatus stores a gas generating material in a first chamber and stores a supply of gas under pressure in a second chamber. When ignited, the gas generating material produces a hot gas which contains particulate material. To effect particulate removal, housed within the container and extending about the gas exit nozzle of the first chamber is a filter structure. The filter structure forms inner and outer mixing zones within the second chamber wherein portions of the stored gas mix with the appropriately generated and/or treated gas, forming inflation gas. The inflation gas in turn is passed through a diffuser and into the vehicle occupant restraint.

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Ogden, UT, United States of America

William G Lowe