Flash ignition system
First Claim
1. A flash ignition system for use in a gas generator that employs solid fuel gas generant material to effect the inflation of a protective bag to cushion a passenger from impact with the structure of a vehicle in the event of a crash, which gas generator includes a tubular housing having an elongated chamber therein containing the solid fuel gas generant material with the tubular portion of the housing having aperture means therein for directing generated gases to the protective bag, comprising:
- an elongated perforated igniter tube positioned in the elongated chamber in the tubular housing with the solid fuel gas generant material therein distributed throughout the length of the chamber in surrounding relation to said igniter tube, said igniter tube having a first end and a second end and being composed of carbon steel with the surface thereof suitably primed to cause a coating of BKNO3 to adhere thereto, which surface is provided with a further coating of BKNO3 deposited thereon,means including explosive BKNO3 powder positioned in the tubular housing adjacent the first end of said igniter tube, andinitiator means for igniting the explosive BKNO3 powder.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Because of the length of the airbag gas generator that is used on the passenger side of an automotive vehicle, it has been extremely difficult and expensive to provide an ignition system that would ignite solid gas generant pellets and wafers uniformly throughout the entire length thereof. In order to effect ignition of all pellets throughout the length of the gas generator combustion chamber substantially simultaneously, there is positioned in concentric relation therein an elongated BKNO3 dipped igniter tube having similarly dipped disks positioned thereon in spaced relation, transversely thereof, BKNO3 powder initiated by a squib directs fire down the igniter tube to produce a rapid flash of fire that ignites the BKNO3 dipped igniter tube and disks and surrounding gas generant pellets. The hot gas from the gas generant pellets is cooled and filtered by a screen pack assembly prior to exiting through holes in the cylindrical wall of the gas generator and directed to an airbag for inflation.
70 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A flash ignition system for use in a gas generator that employs solid fuel gas generant material to effect the inflation of a protective bag to cushion a passenger from impact with the structure of a vehicle in the event of a crash, which gas generator includes a tubular housing having an elongated chamber therein containing the solid fuel gas generant material with the tubular portion of the housing having aperture means therein for directing generated gases to the protective bag, comprising:
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an elongated perforated igniter tube positioned in the elongated chamber in the tubular housing with the solid fuel gas generant material therein distributed throughout the length of the chamber in surrounding relation to said igniter tube, said igniter tube having a first end and a second end and being composed of carbon steel with the surface thereof suitably primed to cause a coating of BKNO3 to adhere thereto, which surface is provided with a further coating of BKNO3 deposited thereon, means including explosive BKNO3 powder positioned in the tubular housing adjacent the first end of said igniter tube, and initiator means for igniting the explosive BKNO3 powder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A flash igniter tube for use in a gas generator that employs solid fuel gas generant material to effect the inflation of a protective bag to cushion a passenger from impact with the structure of a vehicle in the event of a crash, which gas generator includes a tubular housing having an elongated chamber therein containing the solid fuel gas generant material with the tubular portion of the housing having an aperture therein for directing generated gases to the protective bag, comprising,
an elongated perforated igniter tube positioned in the elongated chamber in the tubular housing with the solid fuel gas generator material therein distributed throughout the length of the chamber in surrounding relation to said igniter tube, said igniter tube having a first end and a second end and being composed of carbon steel with the surface thereof suitably primed to cause a coating of BKNO3 to adhere thereto, which surface is provided with a further coating of BKNO3 deposited thereon, and means including explosive BKNO3 powder positioned in the tubular housing adjacent the first end of said igniter tube.
Specification