CONTAINERS FOR TRANSPORTING AND DISPOSING OF RECALLED AIRBAG INFLATORS

Abstract

Embodiments described herein include layered mesh containers and methods for using the containers to safely transport and dispose of airbag inflators having ammonium-nitrate-based propellant. For example, a container is provided that can hold multiple airbag inflators and withstand up to 4 moles of matter being deployed from an inflator having ammonium-nitrate-based propellant. The container can contain the inflator and any shrapnel associated with the explosion while also venting gases expelled as a result of the explosion. Various container designs are provided, along with methods for using these containers.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A method for transporting airbag inflators that have ammonium-nitrate-based propellant, comprising: placing the inflators into a container including: at least one metal grate comprising a plurality of connected slats, wherein the slats are positioned to prevent a sphere having a diameter greater than 1 inch from passing through the grate, and wherein the at least one metal grate forms a side of the container and at least partially defines a breathable containment space; and a hinged door for adding and removing the airbag inflators; and transporting the container.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the container further comprises a solid steel plate that at least partially defines the breathable containment space.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the container further comprises a plurality of metal grates.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one metal grate is selected from one of a traffic grate, drive grate, and metal-bar grate.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of slats has a height of 1 to 1.5 inches.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the slats of the plurality of slats have about 1 inch between them.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of slats has a width of about 0.25 inches.

28. A container for transporting airbag inflators with ammonium-nitrate-based propellant, comprising: at least one metal grate comprising a plurality of connected slats, wherein the slats are positioned to prevent a sphere having a diameter greater than 1 inch from passing through the grate, and wherein the at least one metal grate forms a side of the container and at least partially defines a breathable containment space; and a hinged door for adding and removing the airbag inflators.

29. The container of claim 28, further comprising a solid steel plate that at least partially defines the breathable containment space.

30. The container of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of metal grates.

31. The container of claim 28, wherein the at least one metal grate is selected from one of a traffic grate, drive grate, and metal-bar grate.

32. The container of claim 28, wherein each of the plurality of slats has a height of 1 to 1.5 inches.

33. The container of claim 28, wherein the slats of the plurality of slats have about 1 inch between them.

34. The container of claim 28, wherein each of the plurality of slats has a width of about 0.25 inches.

35. A container for transporting airbag inflators with ammonium-nitrate-based propellant, comprising: a plurality of metal grates, each metal grate comprising a plurality of connected slats positioned to prevent a sphere having a diameter greater than 1 inch from passing through the grate, and wherein the plurality of metal grates form a respective plurality of sides of the container and at least partially define a breathable containment space; and a removable door for adding and removing the airbag inflators.

36. The container of claim 35, wherein the removable door is a hinged metal grate.

37. The container of claim 35, wherein the removable door is configured to be mechanically fastened to at least one of the metal grates.

38. The container of claim 35, wherein the removable door is a solid steel plate.

39. The container of claim 35, wherein each of the plurality of metal grates is selected from one of a traffic grate, drive grate, and metal-bar grate.

40. The container of claim 35, wherein the slats of the plurality of slats have about 1 inch between them.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments and aspects of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example container for safely transporting and/or disposing of airbag inflators.

[0025] FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example container lid that includes a baffle built into the lid.

[0026] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the example container lid of FIG. 2.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example container including a baffle and showing example travel paths of shrapnel and gas from a deployed inflator.

[0028] FIG. 4 is an illustration of an example container including an outer structural lattice and example inner mesh layers.

[0029] FIG. 4A is an expanded view of an example inner mesh layer of FIG. 4.

[0030] FIG. 4B is an expanded view of an example inner mesh layer of FIG. 4.

[0031] FIG. 4C is an expanded view of an example inner mesh layer of FIG. 4.

[0032] FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example container with multiple solid sides and a grate that allows gas to escape the container.

[0033] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an example container inside a disposal container, showing the path for gases to escape both containers.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example system for disposing of airbag inflators and extracting power from the gases expelled from the inflators.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example method for handling airbag inflators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments, including examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0037] This disclosure describes a variety of containers that can be used to safely transport or dispose of airbag inflators. While these containers, and the methods of using them, can be applied to any type of airbag inflators, they are also intended to safely handle recalled airbag inflators produced by Takata. Due to manufacturing defects, these recalled inflators have an increased likelihood of exploding when subjected to heat. References to inflators or airbag inflators herein are also assumed to encompass the recalled defective inflators from Takata.

[0038] The containers described herein can be used for transporting inflators, disposing of inflators, or both. During the transportation stage, a container should provide safety from explosions while also aiding a user in filling the container, locking the container, and loading or unloading the container on or off a vehicle. Of course, the container must also be able to withstand forces generated from structural failure of inflator housings inside the container while venting gases appropriately.

[0039] At the disposal stage, a container can be used to intentionally deploy inflators by applying heat, such as fire, to the container. In the disposal process, the container might experience high temperatures and/or come in direct contact with an open flame. The container should be able to withstand these temperatures while still retaining all shrapnel related to inflator deployment and venting gases appropriately. Ideally, the container should be reusable. In some examples, the container can be used both for transportation and disposal, improving efficiency of the overall recall process.

[0040] Containers can come in a wide range of sizes. On the small end of the spectrum, a container can be sized to hold a single inflator. On the other hand, a container can be sized to occupy the bed of a dump truck or a large, intermodal shipping container. In some examples, a container can be sized between these two extremes, such that the containers can be easily moved while also holding a moderate number of inflators. For example, a container can be sized to accommodate a forklift, allowing a forklift operator to handle the containers without getting closer than necessary.

[0041] Due to the extent of the Takata recall, many containers may need to be constructed. To keep costs low, these containers can be constructed from readily available materials. For example, FIG. 1 shows a container 100 that is based on a commonly available steel drum. That drum, denoted cylinder 110 in FIG. 1, can include a cylindrical sidewall as well as a solid cap coupled to the bottom end of the cylinder 110. As shown in the drawing, the cylindrical sidewall need not be a perfectly shaped cylinder. Instead, it can include structural ridges, a lip at the top and bottom, and other variations. Although cylinders provide more strength per volume, other shapes can be used as well, such as a rectangle. The cylinder 110 can be made from a heavy gauge steel, such as 16-Ga or thicker.

[0042] The container 100 of FIG. 1 also includes a shrapnel barrier 120. The shrapnel barrier 120 can be constructed such that shrapnel from a deployed inflator cannot pass through the barrier, while gases emitted from the deployed inflator can pass through. For example, the shrapnel barrier 120 can include a mesh, screen, grate, fencing, or lattice sized to accomplish these goals. In another example, the shrapnel barrier 120 can be a solid plate with apertures that accomplish the same goals. In either case, the shrapnel barrier 120 can include openingssuch as an aperture or a space between four strands of a meshthat are one square in or smaller. In some examples, shrapnel barrier 120 includes openings that are 0.5 square inches or smaller. In other examples, shrapnel barrier 120 includes openings that are 0.25 square inches or smaller.

[0043] Shrapnel barrier 120 can be made from a resilient material, such as steel, to ensure that deployed inflators and the resulting shrapnel does not damage the shrapnel barrier 120 and form larger openings that can allow shrapnel to pass through. The shrapnel barrier 120 can be a removable component, as shown in FIG. 1, or can be part of the cylinder 110 or the lid 130. For example, the shrapnel barrier 120 can be welded to the top of the cylinder 110. In that case, the cylinder 110 can include a door on the side for loading and unloading the container.

[0044] FIG. 1 also shows a lid 130 that can be removably or rotatably coupled to the cylinder 110 and/or shrapnel barrier 120. For example, the lid 130 can be secured to the cylinder 110 via a hinge joint 132 and a latching mechanism. The hinge joint 132 can be coupled to the cylinder 110, such as by welding, to ensure that the lid 130 stays attached to the cylinder 110. The latching mechanism can include a component attached to the cylinder 110 and an associated component attached to the lid 130. These two components can interact to form a latching mechanism. Alternatively, those components can be integrally formed into the cylinder 110 and lid 130, respectively.

[0045] The lid 130 can include openings 134 to allow gases to vent from the cylinder 110. For example, the lid 130 can be made from one or more solid pieces of steel with multiple apertures formed in the lid 130. In one example, the lid 130 includes apertures formed by drilling. In another example, the lid 130 includes apertures punched through the lid 130. In yet another example, the lid 130 includes a mesh portion that allows gas to vent. The mesh portion can include, for example, a section of a chain-link fence.

[0046] When used with a shrapnel barrier 120, the openings 134 in the lid 130 can be larger than the openings in the shrapnel barrier 120. For example, the openings 134 in the lid 130 can be between about 0.5 to about 8 square inches. The total surface area of the openings 134 in the lid 130 should be sufficient to allow gas to flow through at a rate that prevents unwanted pressure build-up in the container 100. In some examples, the total surface area of the openings 134 in the lid 130 is equal to, or greater than, the total surface area of the openings 134 in the shrapnel barrier 120.

[0047] The container 110 can also include an environmental barrier 140. The environmental barrier 140 can be made from a moisture-impermeable material, such as a plastic sheet. The environmental barrier 140 can be sized to cover the lid 130 and/or shrapnel barrier 120, preventing moisture from entering the openings in the lid 130 and/or shrapnel barrier 120. The environmental barrier 140 can be secured to the container 100 using, for example, a band 150 as shown in FIG. 1. The band 150 can be sized such that it stretches to fit around the cylinder 110, with the environmental barrier 140 under the band 150. The tension in the band 150 can keep the environmental barrier 140 in place. Other mechanisms can hold the environmental barrier 140 in place, such as attaching the barrier 140 to a hook attached to the cylinder 110.

[0048] The environmental barrier 140 can be designed and attached such that it prevents moisture from entering the container 100 when attached, but also allows gas to vent from the container 100 in the event of a deployment. In one example, the band 150 maintains tension sufficient to hold the environmental barrier 140 in place under normal circumstances, but allows the environmental barrier 140 to release when subjected to a high-pressure event such as an airbag inflator deployment. For example, when an airbag deflator explodes, the resulting pressure can force at least a portion of the environmental barrier 140 to release from under the band 150, allowing the gas to escape. In another example, the pressure due to a deployment can cause the environmental barrier 140 to rip. This can provide a visual cue to determine whether any inflators in a container 100 have deployed.

[0049] FIG. 2 provides an illustration of an example lid 200 that includes a baffle built into the lid 200. The lid 200 of FIG. 2 can be used with the container 100 of FIG. 1, or any other cylindrical-shaped container. The lid 200 can be secured to a container using the mounts 240. In one example, the mounts 240 can include removable pins that can interface with both the container and the lid 200. In another example, one mount 240 is a hinge mount coupled to both the container and the lid 200, allowing the lid 200 to rotate about the hinge for opening and closing the container. In that example, the other mount 240 can include a locking mechanism.

[0050] The lid 200 can also include an upper baffle plate 220 and a lower baffle plate 230. The baffle plates 220, 230 can be oriented such that shrapnel from a deployment within the container is unlikely to escape. As shown in FIG. 2A, the lower baffle plate 230 can be oriented such that it is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container (not shown). Shrapnel traveling in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container would likely contact the lower baffle plate 230 and be redirected back down. Some shrapnel traveling parallel to the longitudinal axis can miss the lower baffle plate 230 and instead contact the upper baffle plate 220. However, the upper baffle plate 220 is also oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, which would therefore redirect shrapnel back down into the container.

[0051] If shrapnel enters the space between the upper and lower baffle plates 220, 230 traveling in a trajectory that is not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the container, a grate 250 oriented between the baffle plates 220, 230 can block the shrapnel from passing through the lid 200. The grate 250 can be any type of material that blocks shrapnel but allows gas to pass through. For example, the grate 250 can be a wire mesh, a metal plate with openings in it, parallel slats, chain-link fencing, or any other suitable material. The openings in the grate 250 can be less one square inch in one example. In another example, the openings in the grate 250 can be greater than one square inch, but less than half an inch wide at any point.

[0052] FIG. 3 provides a diagram of a container 300 experiencing an airbag-inflator deployment. The container 300 can be a cylinder, rectangle, or any other shape. In this example, the container 300 includes an upper baffle 310 and a lower baffle 320 built into the container 300 itself. Because the baffles 310, 320 are integrated with the container 300, the container 300 includes a door 330 that provides access to the interior of the container 300. To load or unload the container, a user can open the door 330 via the handle 335 and access the interior of the container 300.

[0053] In the example of FIG. 3, the container 300 includes five inflators 340. A container 300 can be sized to hold more than five inflators 340, however, and this quantity is merely chosen as one example. In practice, a particular container design can be tested to establish a containable load for the container. For example, the container can be subjected to the DOT Bonfire test (also known as the UN6(c) Bonfire Test) with a single inflator, then two inflators, and so on, until the container is unable to perform suitably. After establishing the maximum inflator load that a container can handle, a safety factor can be applied to establish a containable load. For example, 80% of the maximum can be used to establish a containable load. In that example, a container design that can contain up to 20 inflators in a DOT Bonfire test would have a containable load of 16 inflators.

[0054] In the example of FIG. 3, one of the five inflators 340 has deployed. The deployment has ejected several pieces of shrapnel 345 from the inflator 340. In practice, the size, number, and makeup of the shrapnel 345 can vary greatly from one deployment to the next. In some cases, the inflator 340 itself may propel itself in various directions as the propellant escapes the body of the inflator 340. As shown in FIG. 3, the shrapnel 345 impacts the sidewalls of the container 300 as well as the upper and lower baffles 310, 320 of the container 300. In each case, the shrapnel is redirected from the wall or baffle back into the container 300.

[0055] Meanwhile, gases 350 expelled from the deployed inflator 340 can travel between the upper and lower baffles 310, 320 of the container and escape into the atmosphere. The distance between the upper and lower baffles 310, 320 can be optimized to provide the smallest opening without unduly restricting the flow of gas 350. This size can depend on the containable load for the container 300, as a larger containable load will require a larger exit port for gases 350. In practice, the baffles 310, 320 can be oriented such that they allow sufficient venting for a deployed containable load while maintaining the smallest opening possible. Additionally, the lengths of the baffles 310, 320 can be optimized to reduce the chance of shrapnel 345 exiting the container 300 while still allowing gas 350 flow. For example, the overlapping portions of the upper and lower baffles 310, 320 can be increased or decreased relative to the overlap shown in FIG. 3.

[0056] FIG. 4 provides an illustration of an example container 400. The container 400 of FIG. 4 includes a lattice structure forming a rectangular box. For example, the container 400 includes multiple sidewall lattices 410, a rotatable top lattice 430, and a rotatable front lattice 420. While this example depicts both the top and front lattices 430, 420 as rotatable, the container 400 can also have only one of those lattices rotatable while the other is fixed. However, having both lattices 430, 420 rotatable provides a larger opening for loading and unloading the container 400. The top and front lattices 430, 420 can include a locking mechanism that locks the lattice structure 410, 420, 430 together.

[0057] The lattices can be constructed from wire mesh, such as a metal wire or fencing. The thickness of the wire can be between about 0.09 inches and 0.6 inches, in one example. The openings in the lattice structure can be sized such that a sphere having a diameter greater than 0.5 inches would not fit through the openings. Other sizes can be used as well. If the lattice structure has openings that are small enough, then an inner mesh layer is not necessary.

[0058] In the example of FIG. 4, however, various inner mesh layers 440, 450, and 460 are shown. Mesh layer 440 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4C, mesh layer 450 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4B, and mesh layer 460 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4C. Although they take different shapes, each mesh layer 440, 450, 460 includes openings 442, 452, and 462, respectively, that are sized to prevent shrapnel from passing through the mesh layer while allowing gases to vent through. These openings 442, 452, 462 can be sized such that a sphere having a diameter of 0.25 inches or greater cannot pass through the mesh layer. Larger or smaller openings 442, 452, 462 can be used. Although the mesh layers 440, 450, 460 are shown as covering only a small portion of a lattice 410, in practice a mesh layer can cover an entire lattice. In some examples, each lattice component of the container 440 includes an interior mesh layer.

[0059] In some examples, an environmental barrier can be used with the container 400 to prevent rain or other moisture from entering the container 400. For example, a plastic sheet can be secured to the top of the container to prevent fluid from dropping down into the container 400 while also allowing the sides of the container 400 to vent gases. In some examples, the environmental barrier can cover multiple sides of the container 400. The environmental barrier can be configured such that it releases from the container 400 or rips apart when deployment occurs.

[0060] FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example container 500 constructed from readily available materials such as steel plates and a grate. In this example, the container 500 includes four sidewalls 510 joined together via 90-degree brackets 540 and fasteners 545. Although fasteners 545 are shown here, other methods, such as welding, could be used instead. The sidewalls 510 can be made from a strong, solid material such as a steel. Other materials can be used as well, with varying thickness based on the strength of the material. Regarding steel, an example type of steel plate that can be used for a sidewall 510 is 0.25-inch-thick 4130 steel. These types of steel plates can be purchased off the shelf in a 2-foot by 2-foot configuration, for example.

[0061] An example bracket 540 that can be purchased off the shelf is 90-degree-angle steel, 0.25-inch-thick, 2 feet long, and 2 inches wide and deep. The brackets 540 can be positioned such that they extend beyond the base of the sidewalls 510, as shown in FIG. 5, such that the brackets 540 are the only components of the container 500 touching supporting the container 500 when positioned on flat ground.

[0062] A top plate 520 can be used to seal the top portion of the container 500. The top plate 520 can be made from a similar steel plate as used for the sidewalls 510. The top plate 520 can be coupled to one of the sidewalls 510 via a hinge joint 530. In this example, the hinge joint 530 spans one edge of the top plate 520, although in other examples the hinge joint 530 can be smaller, such as an embodiment using two or three hinge joints 530. The top plate 520 can include a locking mechanism that locks the top plate to one of the sidewalls 510 when closed.

[0063] A grate 550 can be coupled to the sidewalls 510 via one or more brackets 540. The grate 550 can be an off-the-shelf item, such as a 2-foot by 2-foot grate with slats having a height of 1 to 1.5 inches, width of 0.25 inches, and about 1 inch between slats. These types of grates are commonly used for roads and sidewalks, for example. Other types of grates or mesh can be used as well, such as a metal-wire mesh, chain-link fencing, or other suitable types. An additional steel plate can optionally be attached to the base of the brackets 540, such that the container 500 is fixed on the optional steel plate and includes a gap between the optional steel plate and the grate 550. Fixing the container 500 to the steel plate improves safety in the event of a tip-over, due to fire, explosions, or an accident involving the transport vehicle.

[0064] When deployment occurs within the container 500 of FIG. 5, gas can escape through the grate 550 of the container 500. In some examples, the grate 550 can be sized such that no shrapnel can pass through the grate 550. In other examples, the grate 550 can be sized to allow small shrapnel pieces to pass through the grate 550. However, because the grate 550 is at the bottom of the container 500, the shrapnel would do minimal damage, especially when the container 500 is placed on the ground or on top of a solid surface, or when the steel plate is fixed to the legs of the container below the grate.

[0065] In some examples, wheels can be affixed to the container 500 to allow the container 500 to be more easily moved from one location to another. For example, commonly available caster wheels can be mounted to the container 500. In one example, metal fasteners are used to fasten the caster wheels to the container 500. Similar wheels can be attached to any of the containers disclosed herein.

[0066] Although FIG. 5 shows a container with solid sides, a solid top, and a grate on the bottom, other configuration are also possible. For example, the grate can be placed on any side of the container, or on the top of the container. In some examples, only one grate is used and the remaining surfaces are solid. In other examples, multiple grates are used and the remaining surfaces are solid. In yet other examples, all of the surfaces are solid and no grates are used. Any combination can be used based on the intended use of the container.

[0067] FIG. 6 provides an illustration of an example embodiment of a disposal container 600 within which the container 500 from FIG. 5 is place. In some examples, the container 500 of FIG. 5 can be used directly as a disposal container, for example by applying heat to the container 500 sufficient to trigger inflator deployment within the container 500. In other examples, the container 500 can be placed within a larger disposal container 600 that can capture any shrapnel exiting the smaller container 500.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the disposal container 600 can include solid walls 610, including a base 610, that can capture any shrapnel ejected through the grate 550 of the container 500 inside the disposal container 600. The disposal container 600 can include a vented lid 620 that allows gases 630 from deployed inflators to exit the disposal container 600. In some examples, the disposal container 600 can work without any lid at all, especially in cases where the container 500 inside the disposal container 600 is expected to retain shrapnel.

[0069] Although FIG. 6 shows the container 500 of FIG. 5 within the disposal container 600, any type of container can be placed inside the disposal container 600. For example, the containers of FIG. 1, 3, or 4 can be placed inside the disposal container 600. In some examples, the disposal container 600 is sized to accommodate multiple transport containers. In that example, a single disposal container 600 can be used to cook off inflators within multiple transport containers. This can make the process more efficient depending on the facilities used to heat the disposal container 600. The transport containers may also be exposed to an open, uncontained heat such as a flame for the purpose of disposing of the inflators.

[0070] During the disposal process, large amounts of energy can be released from inflators by the combustion of inflator propellant. A single passenger-side airbag inflator can release 4 moles of matter, in the form of gas, at temperatures in excess of 400 degrees Celsius. FIG. 7 provides an illustration of an energy recovery system 700 that can be used to recover energy produced by inflator propellant combustion. The example of FIG. 7 shows three of the containers 300 described with respect to FIG. 3. The containers 300 are placed on a heating surface 710 that can accommodate several containers 300. Heat 720 can be applied to the heating surface 710, or applied directly to the containers 300 in some examples. In one example the heating surface 710 can be a large grate that allows flames 720 to pass through and contact the containers 300. In another example, the heating surface 710 is a solid surface that is heated via flames 720 and then transfers heat to the containers 300 via conduction. Any type of heat transfer mechanism can be used, including conduction, convection, induction, or radiation.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 7, a hood 730 can be attached to each container 300. The hood 730 can be configured to seal around the top of the container 300, forcing any gas produced via deployment to enter the hood 730. The hood 730 can connect to piping 740 that routes the high-energy gas away from the container 300. In the example of FIG. 7, several hoods 730 connect to piping 740 that joins together and routes toward a filter 750.

[0072] The filter 750 can prepare the gas flow for entering a turbine 760. Based on the needs of the turbine 760, the filter 750 can be designed to provide an appropriate level of filtering. For example, the filter 750 can be a simple grate or mesh that prevents solid shrapnel particles from entering the turbine 760. In another example, the filter 750 can include a filter medium, such as paper or charcoal, that removes certain particulates from the gas flowing through the piping 740. The filtered gas then enters the turbine 760 and causes the turbine 760 to produce power that can be harnessed and reused. For example, the turbine 760 can be used to power a heating mechanism that produces and applies heat to the heating surface 710. Other energy-recovery mechanisms can be used in place of a turbine. For example, the expelled gases can be used to heat a boiler.

[0073] In one example, the containers are heated using excess heat created from a process unrelated to the inflators. For example, the containers can be heated using excess heat from a power generation process at a coal plant or nuclear plant. In that example, the containers can be made to interface with a heat source that provides rejected heat from the power generation process. For example, if the heat is rejected from the power generation process via air, the exhaust manifold that exhausts the heated air can be attached to a container. The container can include an a manifold that mates with the exhaust manifold to direct the heated air toward the inflators in the container. In an example where the heat is rejected from the power generation process via a liquid, the container can include a heat exchanger that can intercept the heated liquid, extract heat from the liquid, and direct the liquid back to its original path. The shape and size of the container can be modified to fit any type of heat source. Using heat waste from an industrial process can lower the costs for disposing of the recalled inflators.

[0074] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example method for handling airbag inflators. Stage 810 of the method can include placing a live airbag inflator in a vented container, such as one of the containers disclosed above with respect to FIGS. 1-7. The container can be shaped to hold multiple live airbag inflators, and can withstand a deployment of an airbag inflator by retaining the deployed airbag inflator and shrapnel associated therewith while allowing gas associated with the deployment to exit the container.

[0075] Stage 820 of the method can include positioning the container in or on a transport vehicle. This can include, for example, lifting the container by hand and placing it in a truck bed. In another example, a forklift, crane, or other lifting mechanism can be used to lift the container and move it. The transport vehicle can be any type of vehicle, including a car, truck, ship, train, or airplane. In some examples, the container is already positioned on a transport vehicle before stage 810 takes place. For example, a container can be constructed using a standard inter-modal shipping container. The shipping container can include a lattice structure similar to that described with respect to FIG. 4. In that example, the shipping container can be positioned on the trailer of a truck before the airbag inflators are positioned in the container.

[0076] Stage 830 can include measuring a first weight of the container including the live airbag inflator. For example, the container can be placed on a large scale to determine a total weight. In another example, a lifting mechanism can measure the weight of the container as the container is positioned on a transport vehicle at stage 820. This stage can also include noting the total number of inflators in the container, as well as the number of driver-side inflators, passenger-side inflators, side-impact inflators, and curtain inflators.

[0077] Stage 840 includes applying heat to the container sufficient to deploy a live airbag inflator. This can include, for example, applying a flame directly to the container. In another example, heated air can be directed toward the container. In yet another example, a heating surface can conduct heat into the container. In one example, the container is heated such that the inflators reach a minimum internal temperature of 130 degrees Celsius. In another example, the container is heated such that the inflators reach a minimum temperature of 180 degrees Celsius.

[0078] In yet another example, the container is heated such that the inflators reach a minimum temperature of 200 degrees Celsius.

[0079] Stage 850 can include measure a second weight of the container including the inflator. For example, at the conclusion of the heating process, the container can be placed on a scale. A single passenger-side inflator typically loses approximately 80-140 grams of mass due to a deployment. A single driver-side inflator typically loses approximately 20-50 grams of mass due to a deployment. A single side-impact inflator typically loses approximately 20-40 grams of mass due to a deployment.

[0080] Stage 860 can include calculating a difference between the first weight and the second weight. The difference between these two weights can indicate whether any inflators within the container have deployed, and if so, how many. The difference between the first and second weights can also be divided by the number of inflators in the container to determine an average weight difference per inflator.

[0081] Based on the difference between the first and second weight being above a threshold value, at stage 870, the exploded inflator can be removed from the container. The threshold value can be based on the number of inflators in the container. As an illustration, an example container can hold 10 driver-side inflators and 10 passenger-side inflators. An estimation can predict that the driver-side inflators will lose 300 grams (30 grams each) if all inflators deploy, while the passenger-side inflators will lose 1000 grams (100 grams each) if they all deploy. In that example, the difference between the first and second weight should be above a threshold that is close, or equal to, 1300 grams. If the difference is substantially less than 1300 grams in that example, then the container can undergo further heating, including being heated at a higher temperature than previously. After the additional heating, a replacement second weight can be obtained and used to calculate a weight difference from the first weight.

[0082] In one example, a large-scale shipping container can be used for transporting airbag inflators. For example, a commonly used 30-yard dumpster or dump truck bed rated for 20-ton gravel loads can be used. A smaller metal shipping container could also be nested inside a larger one to achieve sufficient container integrity, such as small dumpster housed inside a larger dumpster. The purpose of the shipping container can be to prevent inflator metal fragments from exiting the sidewall of the container and directing all energy that results from inflator deployments up toward the top of the container.

[0083] Another purpose of the shipping container can be to prevent propagation of an explosion. In some examples, recalled inflators can have characteristics that create a risk of an explosion propagating to nearby inflators. This can be specified in the new classification, or reclassification, that applies to recalled inflators. The risk of propagation can be lessened by controlling the size of the containable load used with each container. However, the containers can be designed to withstand propagation and prevent explosions from propagating across containers.

[0084] Continuing the large-scale shipping container example, a containment blanket can be used to prevent shrapnel from escaping the container. The containment blanket can include a net or mesh structure that prevents shrapnel from passing through the containment blanket. The blanketing structure on top of the inflator load can prevent over-pressurization of the shipping container if inflators deploy inside the container, allowing inflator combustion gases to vent while preventing metal inflator fragments of critical mass from exiting the top of the container. Examples of suitable material for the containment blanket are expanded steel mesh or grates with properly sized openings. Another example of a suitable material is a chain-link fencing material.

[0085] The large-scale shipping container can also be implemented in a similar manner with respect to rail cars or barges, such that the inflators can be shipped via rail or water.

[0086] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.