초록 ▼

A solid propellant gas generator contains a bed of agglomerated or beaded hydrated gelatin. The gelatin/water bed is oriented such that at least substantially filtered combustion products are humidified by the water vapor as the filtered combustion products pass over the bed. Relative thereto, a met

A solid propellant gas generator contains a bed of agglomerated or beaded hydrated gelatin. The gelatin/water bed is oriented such that at least substantially filtered combustion products are humidified by the water vapor as the filtered combustion products pass over the bed. Relative thereto, a method of improving the release and inflation of an airbag of a vehicle occupant protection system is also described. Humidification of at least substantially filtered combustion products results in a reduced pressure requirement to open and inflate a stored airbag in fluid communication with the gas generator.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A method of improving inflation of an airbag comprising the steps of: igniting a gas generant composition within a gas generator to form combustion products; at least substantially filtering the combustion products to form filtered combustion products; humidifying the filtered combusti

We claim: 1. A method of improving inflation of an airbag comprising the steps of: igniting a gas generant composition within a gas generator to form combustion products; at least substantially filtering the combustion products to form filtered combustion products; humidifying the filtered combustion products to form humidified filtered combustion products without further filtration thereafter; and routing the humidified filtered combustion products into the airbag. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said humidifying step comprises combining the filtered combustion products with at least 0.1-2. 0 moles of water for each mole of gas generant combusted. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said humidifying step further comprises combining the filtered combustion products with about 1. 0 moles of water for each mole of gas generant combusted. 4. A method of reducing an amount of fluid pressure required to release and inflate an airbag comprising the steps of: adding an amount of water to filtered combustion products resulting from combustion of a gas generant composition, thereby forming humidified filtered combustion products without subsequent filtration; and routing the humidified filtered combustion products into an opening leading into the airbag, wherein the added water lubricates the airbag opening.