US 2020/0316512 A1Published application

Expanded metal filters

AssigneeACS Industries, Inc.

InventorsGeorge Greenwood, Richard Pfefferle

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Abstract

Expanded metal sheets are used to produce tubular filters. The expanded metal sheet has a multiplicity of rows of openings arranged to reduce nesting when the sheet is rolled on itself. In particular, the pitch between the rows of openings, the sizes of the openings, or both the pitch between the rows of openings and the sizes of the openings are varied to reduce nesting when the expanded metal sheet is rolled on itself. The filters can include external circumferential grooves, rounded corners produced by a point loading process, textured surfaces between openings, and/or torturous internal paths produced by non-perforated areas of an expanded metal sheet. The expanded metal sheet can be composed of carbon steel coated with a material having a higher heat conductivity, e.g., tin. Among other things, the filters can be used in automobile airbag inflators to capture slag and absorb heat produced by the inflator's explosive charge.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A tubular filter for use with a housing for an explosive charge of an airbag inflator, said housing having (A) a chamber for receiving (i) the tubular filter and (ii) the explosive charge, and (B) a circumferential ring of apertures for allowing gases generated by detonation of the explosive charge to exit the chamber,

said tubular filter comprising expanded metal that has been rolled on itself to form a multi-layered tube having a substantially cylindrical outer surface wherein the expanded metal comprises a multiplicity of openings and the substantially cylindrical outer surface comprises a circumferential groove which does not cut the expanded metal, the tubular filter being receivable in the chamber with the circumferential groove aligned with the circumferential ring of apertures,
wherein:
(a) the circumferential groove allows the apertures of the housing to function as an exit for gases generated by detonation of the explosive charge when the circumferential groove is aligned with the circumferential ring of apertures of the housing, and
(b) the circumferential groove has a width such that when the circumferential groove is aligned with the circumferential ring of apertures of the housing, the circumferential groove is over the apertures even if all tolerances affecting the location of the circumferential groove are in one direction.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/906,211Filed 19 Jun 2020
Priority: 21 Sep 2006
Published: 8 Oct 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B01D 46/24
Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours: particle separators, e.g. dust…
B21D 31/04
Other methods for working sheet metal, metal tubes, metal profiles: expanding other than provided for in groups B21D1/00 - B21D28/00, e.g. for…
B01D 2279/10
Filters adapted for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours specially modified for specific uses: for air bags, e.g. inflators therefor
B60R 2021/26011
Characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow: using a filter through which the inflation gas passes

Family

Application60/846,381Us provisional application · filed 21 Sep 2006
Application60/851,719Us provisional application · filed 14 Oct 2006
Application12/407,204Continuation · filed 19 Mar 2009
Application16/906,211Continuation
Application12/407,204Continuation in part
US 10,717,032 B2Related patent
US 2009/0184504 A1Published application
US 2018/0304186 A2Published application
US 2020/0316512 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.