Inflator for a protective inflatable cushion system

• US 4,437,681 A
• Filed: 06/25/1982
• Issued: 03/20/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thiokol Corporation (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adams, Gary V., Schneiter, Fred E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roesch, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US06/392,210
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 102/530, 102/531, 280/736-742, 280/733, 422/165-167
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/00 Apparatus for generating gases production of inert gas mixtures B01J19/14; for generating specific gases, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. C01B, C10J ; in "air bags" on vehicles B60R21/26; for starter gas F02C7/26; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure F42B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26

Abstract

An inflator or gas generator is provided for inflating a protective cushion associated with a safety harness used in a vehicle including an aircraft. The generator is of a structure which provides a maximum quantity of inflating gases for a minimum size, weight, shape and general compactness of the generating unit.

Claims

1. A gas generator located on a support strap of a safety harness of a vehicle restraint within a safety cushion thereof for inflating said safety cushion, said gas generator comprising:

a body having the form of a thin, flat rectangular package and including plural side-by-side, elongated combustion chambers having longitudinal axes which lie in a common plane and extend substantially parallel to the sides of said rectangular package having the longer dimensions, each of said combustion chambers being filled with gas generating material and including filtering, cooling and pH-adjusting screens, said generator body further including an igniter having a longitudinal axis and being commonly located with respect to and in communicating relation with at least two of said chambers, each of said chambers having an outlet formed in said generator body, said outlet being in direct communication with the interior of said cushion for inflating said cushion; and

ignition means for said igniter.

2. A gas generator as in claim 1 in which the combustion chambers are dual chambers and the igniter is centrally located between said dual chambers.

3. A gas generator as in claim 1 in which the longitudinal axis of said igniter lies in the common plane in which the longitudinal axes of said combustion chambers lie.

4. A gas generator as in claim 2 in which the longitudinal axes of said igniter and said dual chambers lie in a common plane.

5. A gas generator as in claim 1 in which said body further includes a removable cap for closing one end of said chamber and said igniter.

6. A gas generator as in claim 1 further including means for mounting said generator in said safety cushion when locating said generator within said cushion on said harness strap.

7. A gas generator as in claim 1 in which each of said combustion chambers includes an elongated port that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said combustion chambers,

in which said igniter is an electrically activated type having electrical connecting wires for the activation thereof,

in which said body includes an elongated igniter chamber for said igniter that is located in between said combustion chambers with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said combustion chambers, said igniter chamber including an elongated port on each of the opposite sides thereof with one of said igniter chamber ports being disposed in contiguous relation with one of said combustion chamber ports and the other of said igniter chamber ports disposed in contiguous relation with the other one of said combustion chamber ports to afford communication between said igniter chamber and said combustion chambers,

including a plate to cover one end of the combustion and igniter chambers, the outlets for each of said combustion chambers being at the other ends thereof, and

further including an opening at the other end of said igniter chamber through which said electrical connecting wires may pass out of said body for connection to said electrical means.