The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 26, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 23, 1996
Donald Renfroe, Knoxville, TN (US);
Roy G Brown, Knoxville, TN (US);
David A Bilbrey, Crossville, TN (US);
Richard L Frantom, Richmond, MI (US);
Steven L Ludeke, Knoxville, TN (US);
Richard K Robbins, Knoxville, TN (US);
Richard Husband, Farragut, TN (US);
James Rose, Knoxville, TN (US);
Bendix-Atlantic Inflator Company, Knoxville, TN (US);
Abstract
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.