Claims
- 1. An air bag inflator comprising:
- a first elongated and perforated cylindrical housing;
- a second elongated and perforated cylindrical housing;
- a first elongated and perforated cylindrical filter disposed radially inwardly of an inner wall of said first housing;
- a second elongated and perforated cylindrical filter disposed radially inwardly of an inner wall of said second housing;
- a first propellant chamber within said first filter;
- a second propellant chamber within said second filter;
- a perforated hollow tube connecting said first and second housings whereby heat transfer and flame propagation are eliminated therebetween and each chamber operates independently of the other;
- a first propellant located within said first propellant chamber;
- a second propellant located within said second propellant chamber;
- a first means for igniting said first propellant; and
- a second means for igniting said second propellant.
- 2. The inflator of claim 1 further comprising an inert heat insulator contained within said tube.
- 3. The inflator of claim 2 wherein said insulator comprises ceramic.
- 4. The inflator of claim 2 wherein said insulator comprises plastic.
- 5. The inflator of claim 2 wherein said insulator comprises carbon yarn.
- 6. An air bag inflator comprising:
- a first inflator subassembly further comprising:
- a first elongated and perforated cylindrical housing;
- a first elongated and perforated cylindrical filter disposed radially inwardly of an inner wall of said first housing;
- a first propellant chamber within said first filter;
- a first propellant located within said first propellant chamber; and
- a first means for igniting said first propellant;
- a second inflator subassembly axially aligned with said first inflator subassembly further comprising:
- a second elongated and perforated cylindrical housing;
- a second elongated and perforated cylindrical filter disposed radially inwardly of an inner wall of said second housing;
- a second propellant chamber within said second filter;
- a second propellant located within said second propellant chamber;
- a second means for igniting said second propellant; and,
- an inert heat insulator between said first and second subassemblies thereby preventing heat conduction between said first housing and said second housing.
- 7. The inflator of claim 6 wherein said insulator comprises air.
- 8. The inflator of claim 6 wherein said insulator comprises ceramic.
- 9. The inflator of claim 6 wherein said insulator comprises plastic.
- 10. The inflator of claim 6 wherein said insulator comprises carbon yarn.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/040,637, filed on Mar. 7, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (11)