Airbag inflator with external filter

• US 6,341,799 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Heinle, Josef, Khandhadia, Paresh S., Furusawa, Takasi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US09/642,168
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/741, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

An airbag module (10) contains a gas generating inflator (18) containing a plurality of apertures (24) in radially spaced relation to an external annular filter (40) constrained by a retainer (42). The plurality of apertures (24) are each radially aligned with the filter (40). Gases produced from inflator (18) are thus cooled and dispersed with a minimum pressure drop, thereby providing a pressure sufficient to inflate an airbag (16).

Claims

1. An airbag module comprising:

an inflator comprising a housing wherein said housing contains an upper section and a lower section but not a filter;

a gas generating propellant contained within said housing;

a plurality of apertures spaced about the periphery of said upper section;

at least one annular filter in external and radially spaced relation to said housing thereby forming an annular space between said filter and said plurality of apertures, wherein said plurality of apertures are radially aligned with said filter;

a filter retainer having a portion radially external of said filter for securing said filter;

an airbag arranged to fluidly communicate with said plurality of apertures; and

a radially inwardly extending flange integral to said filter retainer for directing a gas flow produced from said propellant to inflate an airbag.

2. An airbag inflator comprising:

a housing containing an upper section and a lower section but not a filter;

a gas generating propellant contained within said housing;

an igniter within said housing for igniting said propellant;

a plurality of apertures spaced about the periphery of said upper section;

at least one annular filter in external and radially spaced relation to said housing thereby forming an annular space between said filter and said plurality of apertures, wherein said plurality of apertures are radially aligned with said filter;

a filter retainer having a portion radially external of said filter for securing said filter; and

a radially inwardly extending flange integral to said filter retainer for directing gas flow produced from said propellant.