Patent ID: 6196584
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: B60R,F16K,F42B

Abstract:
An apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said apparatus comprising:a container defining a chamber, said container having a portion, which is rupturable to form an opening in said container, said rupturable portion being a concave burst disk;a quantity of inflation fluid under pressure in said chamber;an electrically actuatable initiator connected with said container for rupturing said rupturable portion of said container to enable flow of inflation fluid out of said inflator to inflate the protection device;said initiator comprising an ignitable primary charge and electrically energizable means for igniting said primary charge;said initiator further comprising a secondary charge ignitable by said primary charge;said secondary charge comprising an ignitable metal in solid form which liquefies when ignited by said primary charge;said primary charge when ignited generating combustion products under pressure which ignite said secondary charge and direct said liquefied metal into engagement with said rupturable portion of said container to help open said rupturable portion of said container; anda gas outlet opening extending between said initiator and said rupturable portion.