Patent ID: 6168200
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An inflation device for inflating a vehicle safety restraint, comprising: an outer housing including a chamber for containing a quantity of stored inert gas; a unitized gas generator canister assembly mounted in said chamber and including a first generator canister containing a gas generant material, a second generator canister containing a gas generant material and positioned adjacent said first generator canister, and a common base connected to a first end of both said first and said second generator housings, said common base connected to said outer housing; a first ignitor positioned adjacent said common base at said first end of said first generator canister for igniting said gas generant material in said first generator canister; and a second ignitor positioned adjacent said common base at said first end of said second generator canister for igniting said gas generant material in said second generator canister; each of said first generator canister and said second generator canister including a plurality of apertures exposing said generant material to the stored inert gas in said chamber to prevent an undesired pressure increase upon ignition of said gas generant material; and ignition prevention means for preventing inadvertent ignition of said gas oenerant material in said second generator canister upon ignition and burning of said gas generant material in said first generator canister, said ignition prevention means including positioning said plurality of apertures in said first generator canister a sufficient distance from said plurality of apertures in said second generator canister to cause the gas flowing from said plurality of apertures of said first generator canister to be sufficiently cooled by the inert gas in said chamber prior to reaching said plurality of apertures of said second generator canister; each of said first and said second generator canisters including a first side facing in a common first direction and a second side facing in a common second direction substantially opposite from said first direction, said plurality of apertures in said first generator canister being positioned on said first side thereof, said second side of said first generator canister being free from apertures, said plurality of apertures in said second generator canister being positioned on said second side thereof, said first side of said second generator canister being free from apertures.