Light weight welded aluminum inflator
First Claim
1. An inflator for the generation of gas to inflate vehicle inflatable crash protection bags comprising,a solid gas generant composition which is operable upon ignition to produce gas and combustion products,ignition means to ignite said gas generant composition,initiator means to actuate said ignition means,filter means to cool said gas and to trap said combustion products, andfirst and second structural components,said first structural component having three concentric cylinders which extend from a common wall means and define three concentric chambers with the inner chamber containing said ignition means, the intermediate chamber containing said gas generant composition, and the outer chamber containing said filter means, and with outlet ports in the outer one of said cylinders for the outflow of generated gas and with other ports in the inner cylinders for the passage of generated gas from chamber to chamber and then through the outlet ports in the outer cylinder,said second structural component containing said initiator means, having an attachment flange, and providing concentric mating surfaces for the concentric cylinders of said first structural component, the concentric cylinders of said first structural component being welded to the concentric mating surfaces of said second structural component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas generator or inflator particularly for the inflation of inflatable protective bags that are used in vehicle safety systems includes first and second aluminum structural components. The first component, a diffuser shell having outlet ports, includes integrally formed concentric cylinders which define chambers containing ignition materials, a solid gas generant composition and filters and provide ports for the passage of generated gases from chamber to chamber and then through the outlet ports. The second component, a base shell, has an attachment flange, includes an initiator, and is provided with three concentric surfaces that mate with the ends of the concentric cylinders of the first component. The three concentric cylinders of the first component are simultaneously joined with the concentric mating surfaces of the second component by a single inertia welding operation.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An inflator for the generation of gas to inflate vehicle inflatable crash protection bags comprising,
a solid gas generant composition which is operable upon ignition to produce gas and combustion products, ignition means to ignite said gas generant composition, initiator means to actuate said ignition means, filter means to cool said gas and to trap said combustion products, and first and second structural components, said first structural component having three concentric cylinders which extend from a common wall means and define three concentric chambers with the inner chamber containing said ignition means, the intermediate chamber containing said gas generant composition, and the outer chamber containing said filter means, and with outlet ports in the outer one of said cylinders for the outflow of generated gas and with other ports in the inner cylinders for the passage of generated gas from chamber to chamber and then through the outlet ports in the outer cylinder, said second structural component containing said initiator means, having an attachment flange, and providing concentric mating surfaces for the concentric cylinders of said first structural component, the concentric cylinders of said first structural component being welded to the concentric mating surfaces of said second structural component.
Specification