Pyrotechnic inflator for an air bag

Claim 2

A pyrotechnic inflator for an airbag, comprising: housing means for containing gas generator means for inflating an airbag, and having an elongated, hollow, tubular side wall of substantial thickness and strength including an integral end wall, said tubular side wall and said end wall being formed in one piece and said walls formed of rigid porous material for filtering and cooling gas from said gas generator passing through said walls to inflate said airbag; gas generator means sealed inside said housing means for activation to rapidly generate gas to pass outwardly through said walls into said airbag; said gas generator means including a core of ignitable material centrally positioned inside a packet of gas generating pyrotechnic material, said pyrotechnic material contained in a hermetically sealed jacket, which Jacket is contained in said housing means.

Claim 3

The airbag inflator of claim 1, wherein: said walls of said housing means are formed of a metal alloy having pores and adapted for filtering and entrapping contaminants from said gas and cooling said gas flowing to inflate said airbag.

Claim 4

The airbag inflator of claim 1, wherein: said walls of said housing means are formed of a porous ceramic material adapted for filtering and entrapping contaminants from said gas and cooling said gas flowing to inflate said airbag.

Claim 5

The airbag inflator of claim 1, wherein: said gas generator means includes a packet of gas generating pyrotechnic material contained in a hermetically sealed jacket of thin, moisture-impervious, wrapping material.

Claim 6

The airbag inflator of claim 4, wherein: said sealed jacket is formed of flexible metal sheeting.

Claim 7

The airbag inflator of claim 5, wherein: said flexible metal sheeting comprises a foil of magnesium.

Claim 8

The inflator of claim 5, wherein: said flexible metal sheeting comprises a foil of aluminum.

Claim 9

The airbag inflator of claim 4, wherein: said sealed jacket is formed of resinous plastic film.

Claim 10

The airbag inflator of claim 8 wherein: said jacket is formed of ignition material and acts as an ignitor of said gas generating material.

Claim 11

The airbag inflator of claim 8, wherein: said resinous plastic film is formed of polytetraethylene resin.

Claim 12

The airbag inflator of claim 1, wherein: said gas generating pyrotechnic material comprises a plurality of annular elements in a stack mounted on said core of ignitable material.

Claim 13

An inflator for an airbag, comprising: housing means having a unitary hollow tubular body closed at opposite ends, said tubular body being formed of strong, rigid porous material of substantial thickness for holding gas generator means and having pores defining a plurality of tortuous paths for filtering and entrapping contaminants from gas flowing from said gas generator means outwardly through said paths to inflate an airbag, said body including at least one circumferential groove opening onto an interior of said body, said groove being located adjacent one of said ends; gas generator means located within said interior of said tubular body and enclosed in a hermetically sealed jacket for generating gas upon ignition to pass outwardly through said tubular body of said housing means for inflating said airbag; a base closing said tubular body at said one end of said body, said base including a peripheral groove opening at least partially onto said circumferential groove; a solidified ring of initially liquid metal injected between and filling said grooves of said tubular body and said base and thereafter solidified to secure and seal said base to said housing means at said one end; and an initiator connected to said base.

Claim 14

An inflator for an airbag, comprising: housing means having a unitary hollow tubular body closed at opposite ends, said tubular body being formed of strong, rigid porous material of substantial thickness for holding gas generator means and having pores defining a plurality of tortuous paths for filtering and entrapping contaminants from gas flowing from said gas generator means outwardly through said paths to inflate an airbag, said body including at least one circumferential groove opening onto an interior of said body, said groove being located adjacent one of said ends; gas generator means located within said interior of said tubular body and enclosed in a hermetically sealed jacket for generating gas upon ignition to pass outwardly through said tubular body of said housing means for inflating said airbag; a base closing said tubular body at said one end of said body, said base including a peripheral groove opening at least partially onto said circumferential groove; a solidified ring of initially liquid metal injected between and filling said grooves of said tubular body and said base and thereafter solidified to secure and seal said base to said housing means at said one end; and an initiator connected to said base.

Claim 15

The inflator of claim 12, including: said initiator being incorporated with said base for activating said gas generator means.

Claim 16

The inflator of claim 12, wherein: said tubular body has an integral one-piece end wall at an end opposite said base.

Claim 17

The inflator of claim 12, wherein: said jacket of said gas generator means is formed of thin, non-porous film.

Claim 18

The inflator of claim 15, wherein: said gas generator means includes a mass of pyrotechnic material and an ignition train centrally disposed in said mass of pyrotechnic material.

Claim 19

The inflator of claim 16, wherein: said ignition train includes a core of ignition material hermetically sealed in a bag of moisture impervious film.

Claim 20

The inflator of claim 17, wherein: said mass of pyrotechnic material includes a stack of annular discs mounted on said core of ignition material.