Abstract: An inflator system that includes an inflatable and an inflator apparatus having a supplemental gas assembly is provided. The supplemental gas assembly supplies gas to the inflatable in order to maintain a desired inflatable volume and pressure for a relatively longer period of time. The inflator apparatus also includes a pyrotechnic inflator. The supplemental gas assembly and the pyrotechnic inflator can be activated at essentially the same time using the same initiator assembly. The supplemental gas assembly preferably has a stored gas that weighs less than 200 grams.

Abstract: An inflation apparatus that includes at least two inflators for selected use in inflating an air bag is disclosed. In one embodiment, the two inflators include a micro hybrid inflator and a pyrotechnic inflator. The micro hybrid inflator includes a pressurized medium having oxygen that contributes to the inflation gases that fill the inflatable. The pyrotechnic inflator is essentially free of any such stored gas. Both inflators include a fuel-rich gas generating material. In another embodiment, instead of a micro hybrid inflator, another pyrotechnic inflator is utilized that includes an oxygen-rich gas generating material. In still another embodiment, a fluid fuel acts as a source of oxygen for the fuel-rich gas generating material of the pyrotechnic inflator. When both inflators of the dual inflation apparatus are activated, the oxygen gas that is present is used in further combusting products of combustion from the pyrotechnic inflator having the fuel-rich gas generating material.

Abstract: An initiator assembly for use with an inflator in a vehicle is provided. The initiator assembly includes an integral, one-piece insert member that is injection molded with insulating material to an initiator. The insert member suitably engages an initiator adapter for properly holding the initiator assembly in place relative to the inflator housing both before and after the initiator assembly is ignited. The insert member can include a number of different embodiments, each of which is characterized by the relatively short length of the shoulder that engages the initiator adapter.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator for an inflatable safety system is provided. The hybrid inflator is configured to provide for efficient mixing of hot combustion gases from combustion of the propellant and other combustible materials with the cooler pressurized medium in the stored gas housing. The mixing of the combustion gases and the pressurized medium provides an output gas having a substantially uniform composition and temperature.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator including a torus-shaped stored gas housings and a central housing assembly extending through a central portion thereof. An activation assembly is disposed at one end of the central housing assembly. A diffuser assembly is located at its opposite end. The central housing assembly has a gas generator containing a propellant. The stored gas housing contains a pressurized medium that is used with the ignited propellant to provide gases to an inflatable. When the propellant is ignited, the force of the generated gas opens a closure disk adjacent to the diffuser assembly.

Abstract: Provided is an inflator for providing propellant gases to inflate a bag of an automotive safety system for restraining an occupant of a vehicle in which the inflator is a pure pyrotechnic inflator that generates propellant gases that are substantially free of metal-containing particulate and condensable materials without requiring storage of a pressurized gas. The propellant gases are generated from a solid gas-generating propellant composition including two components. A first component is fuel-rich and has a fast burn rate. The second component is a oxidizer that, although having a slow burn rate, operates in combination with the first component at an acceptably fast burn rate to oxidize carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen produced during combustion of the first component to carbon dioxide and/or water, respectively.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator comprises an inflator housing, a pressurized medium contained within the inflator housing, and a propellant contained within the inflator housing ranging from about 0.5 grams to about 20 grams. The pressurized medium is released from the inflator housing and the propellant is ignited to produce propellant gases.

Abstract: Hybrid inflators for an inflatable safety system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the hybrid inflator uses a dual function initiator in that the combustion products from the initiator both ignite the propellant by direct contact therewith and propel a projectile through a outlet closure disk to release the stored pressurized medium. In another embodiment, the hardware configuration of the hybrid inflator allows the propellant to be loaded into the inflator after all hardware connections proximate the propellant, which require a weld, have in fact been welded. In another embodiment, the main inflator outlet closure disk is disposed at substantially a mid portion of the inflator. In another embodiment, the propellant gases are required to flow from the combustion chamber and into the stored gas housing prior to exiting the inflator, such by using a projectile to rupture the main inflator outlet closure disk and to thereafter seal the gas generator.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hybrid inflator for an inflatable safety system. The methodology principally relates to forming an annular stored gas housing from a single piece of tubing into a generally toroidal-like or torus-like outer wall configuration. The methodology may also include forming a central housing and a providing an appropriate propellant to at least a portion of the central housing. The central housing may then be disposed in a central opening extending through the stored gas housing and the central housing and stored gas housing may be appropriately interconnected, preferably to seal the inflator. An appropriate inflating medium may then provided to the inflator.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator comprises an inflator housing which contains a pressurized medium and a gas generator housing. The gas generator housing is interconnected with the inflator housing. The gas generator housing comprises a first chamber which contains a propellant, a propellant ignition assembly, a second chamber which is fluidly interconnected with the first chamber and the inflator housing for combusting propellant gases generated by the ignited propellant with the pressurized medium, an outlet port which is arranged on the gas generator housing to provide the pressurized medium and propellant gasses from the second chamber to the air/safety bag, and a main closure disk which normally blocks the outlet port and is ruptured after ignition of the propellant. The first and second chambers and the main closure disk are arranged in that order on a common longitudinal axis of the inflator.

Abstract: Slurry-loadable electrical initiators are disclosed. In one aspect, a fuel slurry and oxidizer slurry are separately prepared and then mixed (e.g., in a static mixer) into a pyrotechnic material slurry. The pyrotechnic material slurry is loaded into the initiator (e.g., by a positive displacement pump). An ignition assembly which includes a header having at least one electrically conductive pin and a bridgewire between the header and the pin are installed such that the bridgewire appropriately interfaces with the pyrotechnic material of the initiator. In another aspect, another of the electrical connectors for the header is a shell and is joined to the header by a crimped connection or by a welded connection which also interconnects the shell with the charge cup which contains the pyrotechnic material.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator for an automotive inflatable safety system and method for assembling the same. In one embodiment, a mixture of an inert gas (e.g., argon) and oxygen are contained within the inflator housing and a gun type propellant is used in the gas generator to supply the propellant gases.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator for an automotive inflatable safety system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mixture of an inert gas (e.g., argon) and oxygen are contained within the inflator housing and a hybrid propellant (i.e., ballistic properties similar to double-base and long-term stability similar to LOVA) is included in the gas generator.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator comprises an inflator housing which contains a pressurized medium and a gas generator. The gas generator comprises a gas generator housing, a propellant contained within the gas generator housing, a gas generator inlet port which fluidly interconnects the gas generator housing and the inflator housing, and a gas generator outlet port which fluidly interconnects the gas generator housing and the air/safety bag. The inflator also includes a propellant ignition assembly interconnected with the gas generator and a valve operatively associated with the gas generator inlet port. The valve substantially inhibits flow between the inflator housing and the gas generator housing through the gas generator inlet port until a pressure within the inflator housing exceeds a pressure within the gas generator housing by a predetermined degree after the propellant ignition assembly is activated.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator for an automotive inflatable safety system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mixture of an inert gas (e.g., argon) and oxygen are contained within the inflator housing and a hybrid propellant (i.e., ballistic properties similar to double-base and long-term stability similar to LOVA) is included in the gas generator.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator for an automotive inflatable safety system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mixture of an inert gas (e.g., argon) and oxygen are contained within the inflator housing and a hybrid propellant (i.e., ballistic properties similar to double-base and long-term stability similar to LOVA) is included in the gas generator.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator for an automotive inflatable safety system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mixture of an inert gas (e.g., argon) and oxygen are contained within the inflator housing and a hybrid propellant (i.e., ballistic properties similar to double-base and long-term stability similar to LOVA) is included in the gas generator.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator for an automotive inflatable safety system and method for assembling the same. In one embodiment, a mixture of an inert gas (e.g., argon) and oxygen are contained within the inflator housing and a gun type propellant is used in the gas generator to supply the propellant gases.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator for an automotive inflatable safety system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the inflator includes a stored gas housing and a gas generator housing. Propellant grains are contained within the gas generator and an appropriate pressurized medium is contained within the stored gas housing. Generally, the pressurized medium flows through the gas generator or an extension thereof when exiting the inflator to the air/safety bag to enhance the mixing of the pressurized medium with the propellant gases. Moreover, a rapid pressurization of a region proximate the main closure disk is used such that fluid pressure acts directly on the disk to open the same and initiate flow to the air/safety bag.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solid pyrotechnic propellant compositions useful in automotive inflatable safety systems for generating gas to inflate air/safety bags. The propellant compositions produce surprisingly high gas volume to weight ratios when combusted and substantially little to no production of smoke, particulate matter and toxic gases. These propellant compositions include a complex or coordination compound, preferably, a complex of hydrazine.