US5547638A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pyrotechnic air bag inflator with unitary filter
Assignee: Autoliv ASP Inc
•
Filing: 1994-07-26
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Granted: 1996-08-20
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Expires: 2014-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A pyrotechnic air bag inflator utilizing non-azide gas generating material such as mixtures of copper oxide and amino tetrazol includes a unitary, rigid, drop-in type, filter for cooling and filtering high temperature, high pressure corrosive gas generated when the air bag inflator is activated to inflate an associated air bag. The filter comprises a reticulated structure formed of strong, porous, metal, metal alloy or ceramic material having a high thermal diffusivity and surface area for absorbing heat from the gas and defining a plurality of tortuous passages for entrapping contaminants from the gas passing through the filter.
Inventors
- 👤 Linda M. Rink
- 👤 Christopher Hock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/264; B60R21/2644; B01; B01D; B01D39/00; B01D39/14; B01D39/20; B01D39/2027; B01D39/2051; B01D39/2068; B01D39/2093; B01D46/00; B01D46/24; B01D46/42; B01D46/4218; B01D2273/00; B01D2273/20; B01D2279/00; B01D2279/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An air bag inflator comprising: a housing for containing gas generator means, said housing including a plurality of diffuser ports in an outer wall for directing gas to inflate an air bag; and a unitary, filter element mounted in said housing for entrapping contaminants from generated gas moving from said gas generator means toward said diffuser ports; said filter element including a rigid, porous body of ceramic foam, having a reticulated structure forming a plurality of tortuous paths for gas flow therethrough for entrapment of contaminants from said gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
An air bag inflator comprising: a housing for containing gas generator means, said housing including a plurality of diffuser ports in an outer wall for directing gas to inflate an air bag; and a unitary, filter element mounted in said housing for entrapping contaminants from generated gas moving from said gas generator means toward said diffuser ports; said filter element including a rigid, porous body of ceramic foam, having a reticulated structure forming a plurality of tortuous paths for gas flow therethrough for entrapment of contaminants from said gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The air bag inflator of claim 1, wherein: said reticulated structure is formed by chemical vapor deposition of a ceramic on a base of open-celled foam material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The air bag inflator of claim 2, wherein: said reticulated structure is sintered and said foam material is burned out.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The air bag inflator of claim 1, wherein: said reticulated structure is coated with a metal alloy containing at least one element from the group consisting of: aluminum, copper, iron, molybdenum, nickel, zirconium and tungsten.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The air bag inflator of claim 1, wherein: said reticulated structure is coated with a ceramic material containing at least one of the materials from the group consisting of: silicon carbide, silicon dioxide, alumina-silica, mullite and alumina.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The air bag inflator of claim 1, wherein: said reticulated structure is formed of an open-celled foam material soaked in a ceramic mixture and sintered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The air bag inflator of claim 1, wherein: said porous body has a pores per square inch rating range of 20 to 65 PPI.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A filter for an air bag inflator comprising: a unitary, filter element for entrapping contaminants from generated gas, said filter element including a rigid, porous body of ceramic foam, having a reticulated structure forming a plurality of tortuous paths for gas flow therethrough for entrapment of contaminants from said gas, said filter element being so dimensioned as to at least partially encompass a quantity of gas generating material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
A filter for an air bag inflator comprising: a unitary, filter element for entrapping contaminants from generated gas, said filter element including a rigid, porous body of ceramic foam, having a reticulated structure forming a plurality of tortuous paths for gas flow therethrough for entrapment of contaminants from said gas, said filter element being so dimensioned as to at least partially encompass a quantity of gas generating material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The filter of claim 8, wherein: said reticulated structure is formed by chemical vapor deposition of a ceramic on a base of open-celled foam material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The filter of claim 9, wherein: said reticulated structure is sintered and said foam material is burned out.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The filter of claim 8, wherein: said reticulated structure is coated with a metal alloy containing at least one element from the group consisting of: aluminum, copper, iron, molybdenum, nickel, zirconium and tungsten.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The filter of claim 8, wherein: said reticulated structure is coated with a ceramic material containing at least one of the materials from the group consisting of: silicon carbide, silicon dioxide, alumina-silica, mullite and alumina.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The filter of claim 8, wherein: said reticulated structure os formed of an open-celled foam material soaked in a ceramic mixture an sintered.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The filter of claim 8, wherein: said porous body has a pores per square inch rating range of 20 to 80 PPI.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-20 | 2000-02-19 | 2000-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-20 | 2004-02-19 | 2004-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-20 | 2008-02-19 | 2008-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |