Abstract: A gas-powered actuator is provided. The actuator includes a housing and a piston movably positioned within the housing. A cavity is formed in the piston. The housing includes an opening formed therein. The opening is structured to permit insertion of a piston rod into the opening, then into the piston cavity.

Abstract: A gas generating system is provided including a first housing formed from a polymeric material, and a pyrotechnic gas generant material contained in the first housing. The first housing forms a combustion chamber for the gas generant. An airbag system and a vehicle occupant protection system, each incorporating a gas generating system as described herein, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas generating system includes a first enclosure containing a gas, and a second enclosure containing a gas generant material therein. The second enclosure is operatively coupled to the first enclosure so as to provide fluid communication between the gas and the gas generant material prior to ignition of the gas generant material. The second enclosure is also operatively coupled to the first enclosure such that the gas in the first enclosure must pass through the second enclosure prior to exiting the gas generating system.

Abstract: A gas generating system includes a housing structured to form a booster tube mounting structure therein, and a booster tube engaged with the mounting structure so as to form a gas-tight seal therebetween and so as to be movable with respect to the mounting structure, and such that the seal is maintained during movement of the tube with respect to the mounting structure, while the tube is engaged with the mounting structure.

Abstract: A gas generating system usable in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system is provided. The system includes an outer housing having an outer diameter varying within a range of approximately 16 millimeters to approximately 20 millimeters. A vehicle occupant protection system and an airbag module including the gas generating system are also provided.

Abstract: A gas generating system includes a first enclosure containing a gas, and a second enclosure having a gas generant material contained therein. The second enclosure is operatively coupled to the first enclosure so as to enable fluid communication between the first enclosure and the second enclosure. After activation of the gas generating system, the gas in the first enclosure passes through the second enclosure prior to exiting the system.

Abstract: A gas generating system is provided including a first housing formed from a polymeric material, and a pyrotechnic gas generant material contained in the first housing. The first housing forms a combustion chamber for the gas generant. An airbag system and a vehicle occupant protection system, each incorporating a gas generating system as described herein, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas generating system includes a first enclosure containing a gas, and a second enclosure having a gas generant material contained therein. The second enclosure is operatively coupled to the first enclosure so as to enable fluid communication between the first enclosure and the second enclosure. After activation of the gas generating system, the gas in the first enclosure passes through the second enclosure prior to exiting the system.

Abstract: A baffle system is provided including a first end plate having at least one opening formed therein, and a second end plate having at least one opening formed therein. At least one baffle element extends between the first and second end plates. The at least one baffle element defines a chamber. The at least one first end plate opening and the at least one second end plate opening are blocked so as to prevent fluid flow from the chamber to an exterior of the chamber system through the at least one first end plate opening and through the at least one second end plate opening. In addition, the blockage of the end plate openings is such that fluid flow is enabled into the chamber from the exterior of the chamber through the at least one first end plate opening and through the at least one second end plate opening.

Abstract: A gas generating system (10) including a baffle system (42) for modifying the temperature and pressure of a gas generated by the system, and to remove particulates from the gas. The gas generating system includes a first combustion chamber (34a), a second combustion chamber (36a), and the baffle system (42) adjacent both the first and second combustion chambers so as to enable fluid communication with the combustion chambers upon activation of the gas generating system. In another aspect of the present invention, a baffle system (42) is provided including a first end plate (44) having an opening (44b) formed therein for enabling fluid communication with a first fluid source (34a), a second end plate (46) having an opening (46b) formed therein for enabling fluid communication with a second fluid source (36a), and a sequence of baffle elements (48) extending between the first and second end plates.

Abstract: A gas generating system includes a first enclosure containing a gas, and a second enclosure having a gas generant material contained therein. The second enclosure is operatively coupled to the first enclosure so as to enable fluid communication between the first enclosure and the second enclosure. After activation of the gas generating system, the gas in the first enclosure passes through the second enclosure prior to exiting the system.

Abstract: A gas generating system for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system is provided wherein an end closure is coupled to an outer housing at a first end, in a metal-to-metal seal. The gas generating system may also include a baffle system having a plurality of flow orifices defining a flow path for generated gases through an interior of the gas generating system, and a plurality of particulate aggregation surfaces positioned along the flow path of the gases for changing a flow direction of gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces. Each aggregation surface of the plurality of aggregation surfaces is oriented such that a difference between a flow direction of the gases prior to impinging on the aggregation surface and a flow direction of the gases after impinging on the aggregation surface is at least approximately 90°, wherein particulates in gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces aggregate on the surfaces.

Abstract: A gas generating system for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system is provided wherein an end closure is coupled to an outer housing at a first end, in a metal-to-metal seal. The gas generating system may also include a baffle system having a plurality of flow orifices defining a flow path for generated gases through an interior of the gas generating system, and a plurality of particulate aggregation surfaces positioned along the flow path of the gases for changing a flow direction of gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces. Each aggregation surface of the plurality of aggregation surfaces is oriented such that a difference between a flow direction of the gases prior to impinging on the aggregation surface and a flow direction of the gases after impinging on the aggregation surface is at least approximately 90°, wherein particulates in gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces aggregate on the surfaces.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system includes a plurality of inflatable devices, at least one fluid source for supplying a pressurized fluid for the vehicle occupant protection system, and at least one gas-tight manifold coupled to the at least one fluid source for receiving pressurized fluid from the at least one fluid source. The at least one manifold is also coupled to the plurality of inflatable devices such that, upon activation of the vehicle occupant protection system, the plurality of inflatable devices receive from the at least one manifold sufficient pressurized fluid to inflate the plurality of inflatable devices.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system includes a plurality of inflatable devices, at least one fluid source for supplying a pressurized fluid for the vehicle occupant protection system, and at least one gas-tight manifold coupled to the at least one fluid source for receiving pressurized fluid from the at least one fluid source. The at least one manifold is also coupled to the plurality of inflatable devices such that, upon activation of the vehicle occupant protection system, the plurality of inflatable devices receive from the at least one manifold sufficient pressurized fluid to inflate the plurality of inflatable devices.

Abstract: A gas generating system usable in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system is provided. The system includes an outer housing having an outer diameter varying within a range of approximately 16 millimeters to approximately 20 millimeters. A vehicle occupant protection system and an airbag module including the gas generating system are also provided.

Abstract: A gas generating system includes a first enclosure containing a gas, and a second enclosure having a gas generant material contained therein. The second enclosure is operatively coupled to the first enclosure so as to enable fluid communication between the first enclosure and the second enclosure. After activation of the gas generating system, the gas in the first enclosure passes through the second enclosure prior to exiting the system.

Abstract: A gas generating system (10) including a baffle system for cooling a gas generated by the gas generating system. The baffle system (40) includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure (80) spaced apart from a wall (14) of the first enclosure to define a first fluid flow passage (86) extending between the second enclosure (80) and the wall (14). The second enclosure (80) defines a baffle chamber (92) therein. The second enclosure (80) also includes at least one opening (94) for enabling fluid communication between a gas source and the second enclosure baffle chamber (92), and at least one opening (96) for enabling fluid communication between the second enclosure baffle chamber (92) and the first fluid flow passage (86). A third enclosure (32) is also provided spaced apart from the wall (14) of the first enclosure to define a second fluid flow passage (98) extending between the third enclosure (32) and the wall (14).

Abstract: A gas generating system is provided including a first housing formed from a polymeric material, and a pyrotechnic gas generant material contained in the first housing. The first housing forms a combustion chamber for the gas generant. An airbag system and a vehicle occupant protection system, each incorporating a gas generating system as described herein, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An inflator (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The inflator (10) includes a housing (12) having apertures (13) formed therealong to enable fluid communication between an interior of the housing (12) and an exterior of the housing. A first baffle (14) is positioned in the housing interior. The baffle (14) is spaced apart from the housing (12) to define a fluid channel (33) therebetween in communication with the housing apertures (13). The baffle (14) includes a first opening (17) for fluid communication between an interior of the baffle (14) and the fluid channel (33), and an open end portion for fluid communication between the baffle interior and the baffle exterior. A spacer (18) positioned in the housing interior cavity defines an enclosure (18c) and includes an aperture (19) formed therein for fluid communication between the enclosure (18c) and the open end portion of the baffle. A gas generant (30) is positioned within the spacer enclosure (18c).