Inflator device ignition of gas generant

• US 6,527,297 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hammer, Steve, Mendenhall, Ivan V., Parkinson, David W., Kenney, Steven B., Hess, Gregg
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FELTON, AILEEN BAKER
• Application Number:
  US09/650,786
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 149/61, 149/37, 280/741, 102/530, 102/531
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26047 of film shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/14 a layer or zone containing an inorganic explosive or an inorganic explosive or an inorganic thermic component
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 9/00 Chemical contact igniters; Chemical lighters

Abstract

Inflator device assemblies wherein an igniter composition used to ignite an associated gas generant material is provided on a selected surface, such as on a damper pad, within the inflator device. Suitable igniter compositions may include a silicone resin additive effective to adhere the igniter composition to a surface within the inflator device.

Claims

1. In an airbag inflator device containing a quantity of gas generant material reactable to produce gas for inflation of an associated inflatable device, the inflator device also containing a quantity of an igniter material reactable to ignite at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant material, the improvement comprising:

a damper pad within the inflator device and onto which damper pad at least a portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the damper pad onto which the igniter composition forms a coating comprises a glass fiber-based surface.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the igniter material includes a silicone resin additive effective to adhere the igniter material to the damper pad.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein the silicone resin additive has a hydroxyl content in the range of about 1% to about 10% by weight and a solubility of at least one gram per 100 ml of organic solvent.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the igniter material comprises:

at least about 10 wt. % and no more than about 60 wt. % of an Al/Mg alloy igniter fuel;

at least about 30 wt. % and no more than about 80 wt. % of an igniter oxidizer; and

at least about 1 wt. % and no more than about 10 wt. % of the silicone resin additive.

6. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the silicone resin additive has a solubility of at least one gram per 100 ml of organic solvent selected from the group of solvents consisting of alcohols, ketones, esters, aromatics and chlorinated organics.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the igniter material includes a fuel component comprising an Al/Mg alloy.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the Al/Mg alloy contains about 50 to about 90 wt. % Al and about 10 to about 50 wt. % Mg.

9. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the Al/Mg alloy fuel component constitutes between about 10 to about 60 weight percent of the igniter material.

10. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the igniter material includes an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of strontium nitrate, alkali metal nitrates and combinations thereof.

11. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the igniter material includes strontium nitrate.

12. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the damper pad onto which the igniter material forms a coating is a diffuser damper pad.

13. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the damper pad onto which the igniter material forms a coating is a base damper pad.

14. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the inflator device includes a base portion and wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of the igniter material forms a coating on an inner surface of the base portion.

15. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the inflator device includes a diffuser cap portion and wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating on an inner surface of the diffuser cap portion.

16. The improvement of claim 1 wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of the igniter material forms a coating on at least a portion of the gas generant material.

17. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the inflator device includes a filter assembly contained therewithin and wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating on the filter assembly.

18. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the inflator device includes a retainer contained therewithin and wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating on the retainer.

19. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the inflator device includes a squib adapter contained therewithin and wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating on the squib adapter.

20. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the inflator device includes a generant cup contained therewithin.

21. The improvement of claim 20 wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating on an inner surface of the generant cup.

22. The improvement of claim 20 wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating on an outer surface of the generant cup.

23. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the inflator device includes a generant cup lid closure contained therewithin.

24. The improvement of claim 23 wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating on an inner surface of the generant cup lid closure.

25. The improvement of claim 23 wherein at least a second portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating on an outer surface of the generant cup lid closure.

26. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the inflator device is a single stage inflator assembly.

27. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the inflator device is a dual stage inflator assembly.

28. In an airbag inflator device containing a quantity of gas generant material reactable to produce gas for inflation of an associated inflatable device, the inflator device also containing a quantity of an igniter material reactable to ignite at least a portion of the quantity of gas generant material, the improvement comprising:

a damper pad within the inflator device and onto which damper pad at least a portion of the quantity of igniter material forms a coating and

wherein the igniter material includes a silicone resin additive effective to adhere the igniter material to the damper pad, wherein the silicone resin additive has a hydroxyl content in the range of about 1% to about 10% by weight.

29. The improvement of claim 28 wherein the silicone resin additive has a solubility of at least one gram per 100 ml of organic solvent.

30. The improvement of claim 28 wherein the silicone resin additive has a solubility of at least one gram per 100 ml of organic solvent selected from the group consisting of alcohols and ketones.

31. The improvement of claim 28 wherein the igniter material comprises at least about 1 wt. % of the silicone resin additive and no more than about 10 wt. % of the silicone resin additive.

32. The improvement of claim 28 wherein the damper pad is at least in part-glass fiber-based.

33. The improvement of claim 28 wherein the igniter material includes a fuel component comprising an Al/Mg alloy.

34. The improvement of claim 28 wherein the igniter material includes an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of strontium nitrate, alkali metal nitrates and combinations thereof.

35. The improvement of claim 28 wherein the igniter material comprises:

at least about 10 wt. % and no more than about 60 wt. % of an Al/Mg alloy igniter fuel;

at least about 30 wt. % and no more than about 80 wt. % of an igniter oxidizer selected from the group consisting of strontium nitrate, alkali metal nitrates and combinations thereof; and

at least about 1 wt. % and no more than about 10 wt. % of the silicone resin additive.