An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a hollow cylindrical filter for removing efficiently foreign substances from fluids. This is performed by forming complicated passages including an axial direction and a radial direction in the filter. The hollow cylindrical filter is formed by winding a metal wire rod in a spiral and multilayered manner. The metal wire rod includes a recess formed throughout the entire length in a longitudinal direction, or recesses repeated along said longitudinal direction. Some wire rod layers extend in an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical filter while the adjacent wire rod layers extend in an intersecting direction, thereby forming a plurality of communication paths for communicating between the overlapping wire rod layers. Additionally, a space is formed between the recess of one wire rod layer and another adjacent wire rod layer, allowing the plurality of communication paths to communicate with each other.

A filter for gas generator has an outer geometry substantially of a hollow cylinder and it is formed by a wound body of a metal wire. The metal wire is made of an elongated member having a V-shaped cross-section orthogonal to a direction of extension thereof. A V-shaped groove defined in the metal wire faces a hollow portion in the filter for gas generator and an angle α of the V-shaped groove is not smaller than 130[°] and not greater than 140[°].

An inflator for generating inflation gases for a safety device includes a housing having an internal cavity including a combustion chamber and a filter chamber. A filter is disposed in the filter chamber. A separating member is disposed in the housing on a first axial side of the filter and separates the filter chamber from the combustion chamber. An insulating member is disposed in the filter chamber on a second axial side of the filter. The second axial side is opposite the first axial side. The separating member is coupled to the insulating member.

A diffuser includes a first tube and a second tube. The first tube includes a key and defines a first opening. The second tube is inserted through the first opening. The second tube defines a notch. The key is inserted into the notch.

A retainer secures an airbag inflator to a base plate of an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The retainer includes a base wall and a sidewall that extends from the base wall and is configured to encircle a discharge portion of the inflator from which the inflation fluid is discharged. The retainer also includes a filter liner secured to the retainer sidewall, wherein the sidewall and filter liner are configured so that inflation fluid discharged from the discharge portion is directed into the filter liner.

An inflator for generating inflation gases for a safety device includes a housing having an internal cavity including a combustion chamber and a filter chamber. A filter is disposed in the filter chamber. A separating member is disposed in the housing on a first axial side of the filter and separates the filter chamber from the combustion chamber. An insulating member is disposed in the filter chamber on a second axial side of the filter. The second axial side is opposite the first axial side. The separating member is coupled to the insulating member.

An airbag assembly may include an airbag and an inflator that provides inflation gas to inflate the airbag. A filter module may be positioned such that inflation gas exiting the inflator must first pass through the filter module. The filter module may be formed of a sheet of metal that is wrapped into a generally spiraling tubular shape. The filter module may have an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer. The intermediate layer generally encircles the inner layer, and the outer layer generally encircles the inner layer and the intermediate layer in a spiraling fashion. The inner layer, the intermediate layer, and the outer layer each may have a pattern of holes and dimples that are separate from and/or displaced from each other. The dimples may protrude toward an adjacent layer to maintain spacing to enable relatively unrestricted gas flow from the holes of the inner layer through unaligned holes of the intermediate layer and the outer layer. The resulting tortuous gas flow path may help to slow, cool, and/or purify the gas before it exits the inflator.

A retainer secures an airbag inflator to a base plate of an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The retainer includes a base wall and a sidewall that extends from the base wall and is configured to encircle a discharge portion of the inflator from which the inflation fluid is discharged. The retainer also includes a filter liner secured to the retainer sidewall, wherein the sidewall and filter liner are configured so that inflation fluid discharged from the discharge portion is directed into the filter liner.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a hollow cylindrical filter for removing efficiently foreign substances from fluids. This is performed by forming complicated passages including an axial direction and a radial direction in the filter. The hollow cylindrical filter is formed by winding a metal wire rod in a spiral and multilayered manner. The metal wire rod includes a recess formed throughout the entire length in a longitudinal direction, or recesses repeated along said longitudinal direction. Some wire rod layers extend in an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical filter while the adjacent wire rod layers extend in an intersecting direction, thereby forming a plurality of communication paths for communicating between the overlapping wire rod layers. Additionally, a space is formed between the recess of one wire rod layer and another adjacent wire rod layer, allowing the plurality of communication paths to communicate with each other.