Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Brian K. Hamilton ·
Assignee(s)	Oea, Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Sheridan Ross & McIntosh ·
Primary Examiner	Harold J. Tudor ·
Application Number	US8408113
Filing date	03/21/1995
Issue date	01/23/1996
Predicted expiration date	05/28/2013
U.S. Classifications	102/531  · 102/204  ·
International Classifications	C06D 500  ·
Kind Code	A
International Classifications	102204;205;272;275.11;530;531;702 ·
Related U.S. Application Data	This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/068,889, filed on May 28, 1993, now abandoned.

Patent Family

Abstract

A gas generator for providing gases in which the gas generating propellant is ignited by a multiple charge primer. In one embodiment the primer includes a primer housing which contains a sensitizer and output charge pill which are maintained in spaced relationship. When a firing pin is driven into engagement with the primer, the sensitizer frictionally engages with the output charge pill to cause ignition of at least the output charge pill. This ignition of the output charge pill, directly or indirectly, ignites the propellant to provide gases for a desired function. In this regard, the gas generator is suitable for use in a pretensioner for a seat belt restraint system and in an inflator for expanding an air/safety bag.

Independent Claims | See all claims (22)

1. 1. A gas generator, comprising:a gas generator housing comprising at least one gas generator outlet and containing a gas generating propellant;a primer comprising a primer housing and first and second charges within said primer housing, wherein said primer housing is interconnected with said gas generator housing, wherein said first and second charges are spaced from each other within said primer housing, and wherein said second charge comprises a first surface which projects toward said first charge and has a first surface area, said primer housing further comprising first and second interconnected and aligned bores which collectively extend through said primer housing and input and output discs which close an end of said first and second bores, respectively, said first charge being positioned on an interior surface of said input disc and said second charge being positioned within at least a portion of said second bore;a firing pin aligned with said primer, said input disc projecting toward said firing pin and said output disc projecting toward said propellant, wherein said firing pin engages said primer to frictionally engage said first and second charges to ignite at least said second charge, said propellant being ignited by said ignition of at least said second charge to generate propellant gases which flow out of said at least one gas generator outlet;said firing pin concentrating an engaging force between said first and second charges over a region of said first surface of said second charge which is substantially less than said first surface area, wherein a ratio of an area of said region to said first surface area is within the range from about 0.07% to about 2.56%; andan automotive safety device responsive to said propellant gases.
2. 12. A gas generator, comprising:a gas generator housing comprising at least one gas generator outlet and containing a gas generating propellant;a primer comprising a primer housing and first and second charges within said primer housing, wherein said primer housing is interconnected with said gas generator housing and wherein said first and second charges are spaced from each other within said primer housing; anda firing pin aligned with said primer, wherein said firing pin engages said primer to frictionally engage said first and second charges to ignite at least said second charge, said propellant being ignited by said ignition of said second charge to generate propellant gases which flow out of said at least one gas generator outlet, wherein said primer housing further comprises first and second interconnected and aligned bores which collectively extend through said primer housing and input and output discs which close an end of said first and second bores, respectively, said first charge being positioned on an interior surface of said input disc and said second charge being positioned within at least a portion of said second bore, said input disc projecting toward said firing pin and said output disc projecting toward said propellant, wherein said first bore has a first diameter and said second bore has a second diameter less than said first diameter; andan automotive safety device responsive to said propellant gases.