Patent ID: 8556294

Claim:
An airbag inflator comprising: an inflator housing defining an interior space and having a primary igniter and a secondary igniter fixed to the inflator housing, the primary igniter being partially disposed within an ignition enhancer combustion chamber housing located in the interior space of the inflator housing, the ignition enhancer combustion chamber housing containing an ignition enhancer material, the interior space of the inflator housing containing a primary supply of a gas generant material; the secondary igniter being partially disposed in a closed chamber inside a housing located in the interior space of the inflator housing, the closed chamber containing a secondary supply of a gas generant material, the secondary supply of the gas generant material being separated from the primary supply of the gas generant material, the closed chamber does not contain an ignition enhancer material; activation of the primary igniter causing ignition of the ignition enhancer material which produces hot gas and particulates that exit the ignition enhancer combustion chamber housing via holes through the ignition enhancer combustion chamber housing to cause ignition and combustion of the primary supply of a gas generant material; activation of the secondary igniter causing an opening to be created in the housing that defines the closed chamber located in the interior space of the inflator but not causing ignition of the secondary supply of a gas generant material, the secondary supply of a gas generant material being ignited by hot gas and particulates produced by the combustion of the primary supply of gas generant material; and the inflator housing is provided with gas exit ports that allow gas to escape from the interior space of the inflator housing.