초록 ▼

An inflatable restraint system includes an airbag which is expanded by an inflator assembly to restrain movement of an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a collision. The inflator assembly includes a plurality of grains or bodies of gas generating material which are disposed in a longitudinally e

An inflatable restraint system includes an airbag which is expanded by an inflator assembly to restrain movement of an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a collision. The inflator assembly includes a plurality of grains or bodies of gas generating material which are disposed in a longitudinally extending array and are enclosed by a filter assembly and a housing. To promote a rapid and uniform combustion of the grains to quickly generate a large volume of gas, passages extend through the grains between spaces at opposite ends of the grains. Uniform combustion of the grains is promoted by having the passages located on concentric circles with the longitudinal axes of the passages spaced apart by equal distances along the circles. The axes of the passages on one concentric circle are circumferentially spaced from the axes of the passages on another concentric circle. The grains positioned with the passages in axial alignment and are cushioned by resilient retainer tubes which engage the outside of the grains. When the airbag has become inflated, a pressure control valve system is opened to exhaust excess gas generated by the combustion of the grains.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for generating gas, said apparatus comprising: a cylindrically shaped grain having a central longitudinal axis and opposite, radially extending end faces spaced apart along the longitudinal axis; said grain being made of a material which generates gas upon combustion; said grain having a p

Apparatus for generating gas, said apparatus comprising: a cylindrically shaped grain having a central longitudinal axis and opposite, radially extending end faces spaced apart along the longitudinal axis; said grain being made of a material which generates gas upon combustion; said grain having a plurality of parallel passages extending therethrough and intersecting said opposite end faces each of the passages having a circular cross-section in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said grain and having a uniform cross-section throughout its length; said passages having central longitudinal axes located on concentric circles which have their centers on the longitudinal axis of said grain; the axis of each of the passages on the first one of said concentric circles being circumferentially spaced around said grain from the axes of adjacent passages on the second one of said concentric circles so that the axis of each of the passages on the first one of said concentric circles is disposed in a radial plane angularly offset from a radial plane containing the axis of any of the adjacent passages on the second one of said concentric circles, said anular offset being five degrees (5°) to fifteen degrees (15°); the circumferential distance between axes of adjacent passages disposed on the first concentric circle being equal to the circumferential distance between the axes of adjacent passages disposed on the second concentric circle.