A passenger airbag inflator for a vehicle includes: a housing having a first gunpowder therein, including a vent hole, and communicating with an airbag cushion; a first chamber located in a first side inner space of the housing, having a first booster and a first igniter, and configured to be triggered forwardly when the first igniter is ignited; and a second chamber located in a second side inner space of the housing, having a second booster and a second gunpowder, including a second igniter, and configured to be triggered forwardly when the second igniter is ignited.

A gas distribution system for airbag inflation in a vehicle can include: a passenger airbag including a plurality of inflatable chambers; an airbag inflation device configured to produce a gas when a collision involving the vehicle is sensed and to supply the gas to the passenger airbag, causing deployment of the passenger airbag; and an inflation gas distributor disposed at least partially between the airbag inflation device and the passenger airbag, the inflation gas distributor including a rotatable distributor belt, the inflation gas distributor configured to allow passage of the gas from the airbag inflation device to a first subset of the plurality of chambers, and to impede passage of the gas from the airbag inflation device to a second subset of the plurality of chambers, by rotating the distributor belt to a gas distribution position selected among a plurality of predetermined gas distribution positions.

A hybrid airbag inflator (100, 200) has a disk-shaped pressure vessel having a central axis with a domed upper housing portion (20) with a sealed exhaust port (22) for releasing inflation gases and a domed lower body portion (10) welded to the domed upper housing portion (20). The domed lower body portion (10) has one or more protrusions (12) extending from an outer or exterior surface positioned offset from the center axis. At least one of the protrusions (12) houses an igniter assembly (60) with accessible electrical connections (61, 63). The disk-shaped pressure vessel inflator (100, 200) contains gas generant pellets (2) and a quantity of pressurized inert gas (1) for inflating an airbag. The combination of the protrusions (12) and domed lower body portion (10) has a unique profile of a petaloid shape. Optionally, the domed upper housing portion (20) can also have the petaloid shape.

A gas generator including an outer vessel including a housing provided with a gas discharge port, the outer vessel accommodating therein an igniter and a gas generating agent, wherein any of surfaces of the outer vessel includes an annular fragile portion, and the annular fragile portion is a groove formed in a continuous annular shape or a groove formed in a discontinuous annular shape.

A gas distribution system for airbag inflation in a vehicle can include: a passenger airbag including a plurality of inflatable chambers; an airbag inflation device configured to produce a gas when a collision involving the vehicle is sensed and to supply the gas to the passenger airbag, causing deployment of the passenger airbag; and an inflation gas distributor disposed at least partially between the airbag inflation device and the passenger airbag, the inflation gas distributor including a rotatable distributor belt, the inflation gas distributor configured to allow passage of the gas from the airbag inflation device to a first subset of the plurality of chambers, and to impede passage of the gas from the airbag inflation device to a second subset of the plurality of chambers, by rotating the distributor belt to a gas distribution position selected among a plurality of predetermined gas distribution positions.

An inflator-based system provides for the actuation of valves and other devices using automotive air bag inflators, for example. One or more inflators can be connected to a valve body with an adapter such that upon inflator activation, inflator gases can act on a piston or similar device to achieve desired movement or operation of the valve or device. An inflator-based actuator can provide for a single action or multiple actions of a valve or other device. Such a system can provide safer and more reliable alternatives to electro-explosive ordnance devices found in pyrovalves, for example. Other uses for an inflator-based actuation system can include a lanyard pull initiator, a dual cartridge cutter, a bolt cutter, a hot gas generator (HGG) body, and a HGG pressure cartridge, to name a few examples.

An ignition device includes an igniter fixed to an igniter collar, a first cup member filled with a gas generating component therein, and a second cup member. The first cup member covers the igniter collar to enclose a portion including an ignition portion of the igniter. The second cup member covers the igniter collar to enclose the first cup member. A gap is formed between an outer surface of the first cup member and an inner surface of the second cup member to function as a heat insulating layer. The first cup member has a first opening, and the second cup member has a second opening. At least one of the first opening and the second opening is closed before actuation and is opened only when gas is generated from the gas generating component.

Provided is a gas generator including a housing including a top plate, a bottom plate, and a peripheral wall, the bottom plate being axially opposite the top plate, and the peripheral wall including a gas discharge port and being located between the top plate and the bottom plate. In the gas generator, an internal space of the housing is separated into a first combustion chamber and a second combustion chamber by a partition wall axially and radially partitioning the internal space of the housing, the first combustion chamber being formed to accommodate a first gas generating agent and being on the top plate side, and the second combustion chamber being formed to accommodate a second gas generating agent and being on the bottom plate side. A first igniter and a second igniter are disposed at the bottom plate, the first igniter being configured to burn the first gas generating agent, and the second igniter being configured to burn the second gas generating agent. The partition wall includes a cylindrical portion and an annular portion, the cylindrical portion being formed to surround the first igniter and include a communication hole for making the first combustion chamber and the second combustion chamber to communicate with each other, and the annular portion being formed extend radially outward from a second opening on the top plate side of the cylindrical portion. A first opening of the cylindrical portion axially opposite the second opening is in contact with the first igniter, and an outer periphery of the annular portion is in contact with the peripheral wall of the housing, and, thereby, the first combustion chamber and the second combustion chamber are separated from each other.

A passenger airbag inflator for a vehicle includes: a housing having a first gunpowder therein, including a vent hole, and communicating with an airbag cushion; a first chamber located in a first side inner space of the housing, having a first booster and a first igniter, and configured to be triggered forwardly when the first igniter is ignited; and a second chamber located in a second side inner space of the housing, having a second booster and a second gunpowder, including a second igniter, and configured to be triggered forwardly when the second igniter is ignited.

A gas generator including an igniter, a combustion chamber, and a restriction part, the igniter including an accommodating chamber accommodating an explosive therein, an ignition portion provided in the accommodating chamber, and a separating part including a pressure receiving surface, the separating part being configured to be separable from the igniter and movable in a predetermined direction, the combustion chamber being configured to burn a gas generating agent filled outside the accommodating chamber, by the combustion of the explosive, the restriction part provided in a predetermined position in the predetermined direction from the igniter and restricting a movement of the separating part, and the separating part including a guide that directs the combustion product of the explosive by the pressure receiving surface toward the igniter, in a state where the movement of the separating part in the predetermined direction is restricted by the restriction part.