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:
Mar. 16, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 10, 1997
Walter A Moore, Ogden, UT (US);
Robert E Lewis, Roy, UT (US);
Marcus T Clark, Kaysville, UT (US);
Bryan D Matzl, Valrico, FL (US);
Autoliv ASP, Inc., Ogden, UT (US);
Abstract
A hybrid inflator having a quantity of stored gas in a pressure vessel, and a quantity of gas generant stored within a generant housing having at least one port in its longitudinal end. Within the generant housing the gas generant is retained within a porous sleeve. This sleeve is spaced inward from the non-porous generant housing, such that a free flow area is formed between the sleeve and the generant housing. The inflation gas created by the gas generant will thus flow radially outward through the sleeve, and then be turned to flow longitudinally toward the port(s) in the generant housing. Providing the free flow area reduces the pressure drop across the generant sleeve, resulting in less slag being forced through the sleeve to be entrained within the created gas flow. Additionally, the changes in direction forced upon the created gas flow to exit the generant housing cause additional amounts of slag to be removed from the created gas flow. This results in a hybrid inflator having reduced solid emissions. A second embodiment employs longitudinal flow directly from the gas generant with a free flow area leading to radial ports on the generant housing.