Airbelt inflator

• US 6,871,873 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Quioc, Eduardo L., Whang, David S., Adamini, Chris A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/374,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/736, 280/742, 280/733, 102/531
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26011 using a filter through which the inflation gas passes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• 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

The present invention is best described as a gas generator including an inflator housing 12 containing an initiator assembly 18 and a propellant bed 44 in ignitable communication with the initiator assembly 18. The gas generator 10 further contains a filter body 14 fixed to the inflator housing 12 and coaxially aligned therewith, wherein the filter body 14 at least contains a first filter 56 and a second filter 62 such that the second filter 62 is in coaxial and linear relation with the first filter 56. If desired, the filter body 14 may additionally contain at least one perforated disc 50, at least one spacer member 54, and at least one additional filter member 62. Design requirements or specific applications determine the arrangement and addition of these components in the filter body 14.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

an inflator housing comprising a first end and a second end, said housing further comprising an initiator assembly and a propellant bed ignitable by said initiator assembly; and

a filter body in fluid communication with said inflator housing, the filter body fixed to said inflator housing and coaxially aligned therewith, the filter body comprising at least a first filter and a second filter in coaxial, spaced, and linear relation to said first filter, said filter body further comprising at least one annular spacer to facilitate the spaced relation between said first and second filters,

wherein the interstitial volume of said first filter is either equal to, greater than, or less than the interstitial volume of said second filter, and, gas produced from combustion of said propellant axially flows from the inflator housing through the filter body, and then exits the filter body once passed through said second filter.

2. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said filter body further comprises one or more of the following components:

at least one perforated disc, and at least one annular spacer member, said components arranged in linear and coaxial relation with said first and second filters.

3. A gas inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

an inflator housing comprising an igniter and a propellant bed ignitable by said igniter; and

a filter body in fluid communication with said inflator housing, the filter body fixed to said inflator housing and coaxially aligned therewith, the filter body comprising a first gas filter and a second gas filter in coaxial, spaced, and linear relation to said first gas filter, said filter body further comprising at least one annular spacer to facilitate the spaced relation between said first and second filters,

wherein the interstitial volume of said first filter is either equal to, greater than, or less than the interstitial volume of said second filter, and, gas produced from combustion of said propellant axially flows from said inflator housing through said filter body and then exits the filter body once passed through the second filter.

4. The gas inflator of claim 3 wherein said filter body further comprises one or more of the following components:

at least one perforated disc, and at least one annular spacer member, said components arranged in linear and coaxial relation with said first and second filters for modification of gas flow upon inflator operation.

5. A gas inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

an inflator housing comprising an igniter and a propellant bed ignitable by said igniter;

a filter body in fluid communication with said inflator housing and downstream thereof relative to gas flow upon combustion of said propellant bed, the filter body fixed to said inflator housing end coaxially aligned therewith;

a first filter radially constrained within said filter body for filtration of gases produced upon combustion of said propellant bed; and

a second filter radially constrained within said filter body and downstream of said first filter, for filtration, cooling, or modification or any functional combination thereof of gas flow produced upon combustion of said propellant bed, said first filter and said second filter in coaxial, spaced, and linear relation, said filter body further comprising at least one annular spacer to facilitate the spaced relation between said first and second filters;

wherein the interstitial volume of said first filter is either equal to, greater than, or less then the interstitial volume of said second filter, and, gas produced from combustion of said propellant axially flows from said inflator housing through said filter body and then exits the filter body once passed through the second filter.

6. The gas inflator of claim 5 wherein said filter body further comprises one or more of the following components:

at least one perforated disc, and at least one annular spacer member, said components arranged in linear and coaxial relation with said first and second filters for modification of gas flow upon inflator operation,

wherein said components are coaxially aligned with said first and second filters and radially constrained within said filter body, and said components are arranged and linearly ordered through the filter body to optimize the gas flow produced upon combustion of said propellant.