Flexible airbag inflator

An airbag inflator, comprising:

• a flexible housing having a first and second end, said housing comprising corrugated steel and defining distal peak portions and proximal valley portions, the distal peak portions being perforated with exit ports, thereby allowing inflation fluid to escape from the housing at a predetermined rate;
• a first end cap attached to a first end of said housing;
• a second end cap attached to a second end of said housing, the housing, first end cap, and second end cap forming a pressure vessel;
• a membrane positioned within, and detached from, the housing, said membrane defining a combustion chamber;
• combustible material positioned within the membrane, said material capable of generating inflation fluid upon ignition;
• a wire mesh covering positioned about the housing, said covering having a first end attached to the first cap and a second end attached to a second cap and
• an initiator in communication with the combustible material, for initiating a combustible reaction within the housing.

An airbag inflator, comprising:

• a flexible housing having a first and second end, said housing comprising corrugated metal, the corrugated housing being perforated with exit ports, thereby allowing inflation fluid within the housing to escape from the housing at a predetermined rate;
• a first end cap attached to a first end of said housing;
• a second end cap attached to a second end of said housing;
• a membrane positioned within the housing, said membrane defining a combustion chamber;
• combustible material positioned within the membrane, said material capable of generating inflation fluid upon ignition;
• a covering positioned about the housing, said covering having a first end attached to the first cap and a second end attached to a second cap and
• an initiator in communication with the combustible material, for initiating a combustible reaction within the housing.