Minimum bulk, light weight welded aluminum inflator

Abstract

A generally cylindrical housing construction for a light weight gas generator of minimum bulk includes two subassemblies, each of which have first and second concentric cylinders depending from a flat wall and which are joined together by inertia welding to form a central igniter chamber and an outer annular chamber. The outer chamber is divided into three axially extending annular chambers by two flat annular barriers. Solid fuel is contained in a first annular chamber. Communication between the three annular chambers is provided by openings in the barriers, the openings in the barrier adjacent the solid fuel being disposed on a circle adjacent the outer edge thereof while the openings in the other barrier are disposed on a circle adjacent the inner edge. A cooling and filtering means is provided in each of the second and third annular chambers, with an air space between the two subassemblies for clearance during welding. Upon ignition, flame flows through openings in the wall of the igniter chamber into the solid fuel and ignites it. Pressure developed in the first annular chamber moves the adjacent barrier and cooling and filtering means against the second barrier, closing the clearance space and forcing the generated gas to flows radially inwardly through the first cooling and filtering means before passing through the inwardly located openings in the second barrier into the second cooling and filtering means. Gas flows radially outwardly through the second cooling and filtering means to the exit openings of the generator.