A protection system comprises at least one inflatable safety structure, each associated with a gas generator that can be activated by an external command, wherein the external command comprises an electrical signal from an automated system that is responsible for the critical safety functions of a vehicle, corresponding to predictive information about an impact. The gas generator is configured to generate a gas over a time period such that the total inflation time of the inflatable structure is greater than 50 milliseconds. The inflatable structure may be waterproof.

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.

An instrument panel assembly includes an instrument panel. The instrument panel assembly includes an airbag having an inboard chamber and an outboard chamber. A panel separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. A diffuser is in fluid communication with both the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. A releasable vent is between the diffuser and one of the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. An inflator is in fluid communication with the diffuser.

A method is provided for destructively processing an airbag inflator having an outer housing, a propellant housed within the outer housing, and a membrane disposed between the propellant and an inner surface of the outer housing. The method includes rupturing the membrane, exposing the propellant to a liquid, and permitting the propellant to mix with the liquid to form a liquid-propellant mixture. The method may further include removing at least a portion of the liquid from the liquid-propellant mixture to produce an at least partially solidified material that includes the propellant.

The present invention provides a gas generator, including: in a cylindrical housing, a cup-shaped member separating the combustion chamber in a cylindrical housing main body portion from the diffuser portion, the cup-shaped member being disposed such that a bottom surface thereof is positioned on the side of a first end of the cylindrical housing main body portion, an opening thereof is positioned on the side of a second end of the cylindrical housing main body portion, and a first gap which allows the combustion chamber to communicate with the diffuser portion, is formed between the the cup-shaped member and an inner wall surface of the cylindrical housing main body portion; and a filter disposed in a space surrounded by the cup-shaped member and the diffuser portion, the filter being a cup-shaped filter having a base, a circumferential wall and an opening, and the filter being provided such that, the base of the filter abuts on a closed end surface of the diffuser portion, an end surface of the opening of the filter faces the bottom surface of the cup-shaped member, and the circumferential wall of the filter abuts, from inside, on the circumferential wall of the cup-shaped member including a plurality of the communication holes, and being disposed with a second gap formed between the filter and the gas discharge ports.

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.

An ejector for ejecting a combustion product including, an igniter including an ignition charge and an ignition portion, a pyrotechnic agent, and a cup made of metal, the cup including a bottom surface and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being contiguous with a peripheral edge of the bottom surface and disposed to surround the ignition portion, the cup further including an accommodating space accommodating therein the pyrotechnic agent, the bottom surface of the cup including a through hole being defined by a plurality of through-hole peripheral edges, and the adjacent through-hole peripheral edges being connected together at a predetermined connection point, and the through hole including a narrow part, in which a width of the through hole defined by each of parts of the two through-hole peripheral edges of the plurality of through-hole peripheral edges decreases gradually with an increasing distance from a center of the bottom surface toward the peripheral edge of the bottom surface, and the narrow part being located closer to the peripheral edge of the bottom surface than a non-narrow part, which is defined by each of other parts of the two through-hole peripheral edges, is located.

The present invention provides a gas generator, including: an ignition device being disposed at a first end of a cylindrical housing main body portion, a diffuser portion being provided with a gas discharge port and closing a second end thereof which is axially opposite to the first end; a combustion chamber being present in an internal space of the cylindrical housing main body portion; a cup-shaped member partitioning the combustion chamber and the diffuser portion, a bottom surface and an opening of the cup-shaped member being located on the side of the first end and the second end of the cylindrical housing main body portion respectively, and a first gap being formed between the circumferential wall of the cup-shaped member and an inner wall surface of the cylindrical housing main body portion; a cylindrical filter being disposed in a space surrounded by the cup-shaped member and the diffuser portion, and a first end surface of the cylindrical filter being abutted against the bottom surface of the cup-shaped member, and a second end surface thereof on the opposite side being abutted against a closed end surface of the diffuser portion; and the communication hole of the cup-shaped member being formed at a position closer to the first end surface of the cylindrical filter to face the first gap, and the gas discharge port of the diffuser portion being formed closer to the second end surface of the cylindrical filter.

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.