Patent ID: 6874814

Claim:
An inflator for inflating an airbag comprising: (a) an outer housing having a cylindrical housing wall, a first end and a second end attached on opposites ends of the cylindrical housing wall, whereby the cylindrical housing wall, the first end, and the second end define a sealed pressure vessel containing stored gas; (b) a diffuser subassembly disposed on the first end, the diffuser subassembly comprising a burst disk, the diffuser having a plurality of outlet ports for directing gas flow in a radial direction, and an opening device which is positioned so that a longitudinal axis of the opening device is essentially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the inflator; (c) a first gas generator subassembly disposed on the second end, the first gas generator subassembly having a first housing containing an igniter, an enhancer, and a gas generant; and (d) a second gas generator subassembly disposed on the second end, the second gas generator subassembly having a second housing containing an igniter, an enhancer, and a gas generant, wherein the first housing and second housing are attached inside the pressure vessel of the outer housing at the second end and spaced from the diffuser subassembly at the first end.