Inflator

A gas generator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

• an elongated housing having a predetermined length and a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along said length, said housing having a first end and a second end;
• a propellant body contained within said housing, said propellant body having a length substantially coextensive with said housing, said propellant comprising a mixture of silicone as a fuel at about 10-25% by weight and an oxidizer at about 75-90% by weight, said percentages stated by weight of said propellant body;
• and
• an ignition body substantially coextensive with said propellant, wherein said ignition body in physical contact with said propellant for substantially the length of said propellant,
• wherein ignition of said ignition body provides essentially uniform ignition and combustion of said propellant body along the entire length thereof.

A gas generator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

• an elongated housing having a predetermined length and a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along said length, said housing having a first end and a second end;
• a propellant body contained within said housing, said propellant body having a length at least substantially coextensive with said housing, said propellant comprising a mixture of silicone as a fuel at about 10-25% by weight, a perchlorate oxidizer at about 75-90% by weight, and a coolant selected from the group consisting of metal hydroxides, metal carbonates, inorganic oxalates, and mixtures thereof at about 1-30% by weight, said percentages stated by weight of said propellant body;
• and
• an ignition body at least substantially coextensive with said propellant, wherein said ignition body is in physical contact with said propellant for at least substantially the length of said propellant,
• wherein ignition of said ignition body provides essentially uniform ignition and combustion of said propellant body along the entire length thereof.

A gas generator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

• an elongated housing having a predetermined length and a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along said length, said housing having a first end and a second end;
• a propellant chamber centrally disposed of said housing;
• a propellant body contained within said chamber, said propellant body having a length at least substantially coextensive with said housing, and said propellant comprising a mixture of silicone as a fuel at about 10-25% by weight and an oxidizer at about 75-90% by weight, said percentages stated by weight of said propellant body;
• and
• an ignition body at least substantially coextensive with said propellant, wherein said ignition body is in physical contact with said propellant for at least substantially the length of said propellant,
• wherein ignition of said ignition body provides essentially uniform ignition and combustion of said propellant body along the entire length thereof.

A gas generator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

• an elongated housing having a predetermined length and having a first end and a second end;
• a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along the length of said housing;
• a solid unitary propellant body contained within said housing, said propellant body having a length substantially coextensive with said housing;
• and
• an ignition body substantially coextensive with said propellant, said ignition body in physical contact with said propellant for substantially the length of said propellant and said ignition body having a burn rate at least twice that of said propellant body;
• and
• a plurality of filters wherein each filter corresponds to and is fixed over at least one gas exit orifice in said plurality of gas exit orifices thereby filtering gases exiting the gas generator,
• wherein ignition of said ignition body essentially provides uniform ignition and combustion of said propellant body along the entire length thereof.

A gas generator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

• an elongated housing having a predetermined length and having a first end and a second end;
• a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along the length of said housing;
• a propellant body contained within said housing, said propellant body having a length substantially coextensive with said housing;
• and
• an ignition body substantially coextensive with said propellant, said ignition body in physical contact with said propellant for substantially the length of said propellant and said ignition body having a burn rate at least twice that of said propellant body;
• and
• an insulator wrapped about said housing wherein said insulator has a plurality of gas exit apertures corresponding to said plurality of gas exit orifices,
• wherein ignition of said ignition body essentially provides uniform ignition and combustion of said propellant body along the entire length thereof.

A gas generator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

• an elongated housing having a predetermined length and having a first end and a second end;
• a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along the length of said housing;
• a solid unitary propellant body contained within said housing, said propellant body having a length substantially coextensive with said housing;
• and
• an ignition body substantially coextensive with said propellant, said ignition body in physical contact with said propellant for substantially the length of said propellant and said ignition body having a burn rate at least twice that of said propellant body,
• wherein ignition of said ignition body essentially provides uniform ignition and combustion of said propellant body along the entire length thereof.

A gas generator for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

• an elongated housing having a predetermined length and a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along said length, said housing having a first end and a second end;
• a solid unitary propellant body contained within said housing, said propellant body having a length substantially coextensive with said housing, said propellant comprising a mixture of silicone as a fuel at about 10-25% by weight and an oxidizer at about 75-90% by weight, said percentages stated by weight of said propellant body;
• and
• an ignition body substantially coextensive with said propellant, wherein said ignition body in physical contact with said propellant for substantially the length of said propellant,
• wherein ignition of said ignition body provides essentially uniform ignition and combustion of said propellant body along the entire length thereof.