Abstract: An apparatus comprises vehicle seat belt webbing (18), a cylinder (50), and a piston (60) movable in the cylinder to effect pretensioning of the seat belt webbing. The apparatus also comprises a fluid source (10) for providing fluid under pressure to move the piston (60) in the cylinder (50). The fluid source (10) comprises a propellant container (122) defining a propellant chamber (123) and a propellant (82) in the propellant chamber. The propellant (82) is ignitable to produce fluid under pressure. The propellant container (122) comprises a first portion (124) made from plastic and a second portion (126) made from metal. The metal portion (126) is secured to the plastic portion (124) to effect a hermetic seal of the propellant container (122).

Abstract: An inflator (10) includes a container (12) having a fluid storage chamber (70) and an exit passage (64). A fluid (80) is stored in the chamber (70). The fluid (80), when heated beyond a predetermined temperature, undergoes one of combustion, thermal decomposition, or a change of state to result in inflation fluid. An igniter (82) of the inflator (10), when actuated, heats the fluid (80) beyond the predetermined temperature. The inflator (10) also includes structure (110) that is located within the chamber (70) for limiting the flow of the fluid through the exit passage (64) of the container (12) prior to being heated beyond the predetermined temperature.