Patent ID: 6012737
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
Apparatus comprising:an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;a housing defining a storage chamber containing a canister, said housing having an end wall defining a solitary inflation fluid outlet passage extending outward from said storage chamber;said housing being a rigid metal housing containing said canister, said housing having an imperforate cylindrical side wall surrounding said canister fully throughout the length and circumference of said canister;said canister defining a hermetically sealed combustion chamber, said canister having a cylindrical configuration with a longitudinal central axis, a cylindrical side wall engaging said housing, and first and second opposite end walls, each of said end walls having a predetermined rupturable portion extending across said axis, said second end wall abutting said end wall of said housing;a source of inflation fluid comprising a body of ignitable gas generating material contained in said combustion chamber, said body of ignitable gas generating material, when ignited, producing sufficient inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; andan initiator assembly which is located outside said canister and which, when actuated, ruptures said rupturable portion of said first end wall and projects pyrotechnic combustion products into said combustion chamber along said axis to ignite said body of gas generating material in said combustion chamber;said rupturable portion of said second end wall being rupturable under a predetermined inflation fluid pressure force acting outward from said combustion chamber.