Airbag inflator

An airbag inflator comprising:

• a tubular inflator housing having a longitudinally tubular center portion positioned between a first end and a second end of the tubular inflator housing;
• a primary gas vent port located on the tubular center portion that is spaced apart from both ends of the tubular inflator housing for venting gas from the tubular inflator housing into an airbag, the primary gas port being sealed by a rupturable member that will rupture or burst when subjected to a predetermined pressure provided by gas inside the tubular inflator housing;
• a gas release mechanism having a passageway or opening at the first end of the tubular inflator housing, the passageway or opening being sealed by a rupturable member that will rupture or burst when subjected to a predetermined pressure that is greater than the predetermined pressure at which the rupturable member of the primary gas vent port sealing means will rupture, the rupturable member of the gas release mechanism being rupturable by a pyrotechnic device for releasing gas directly from the tubular inflator housing to ambient air thus bypassing the airbag;
• and
• a gas flow manifold encircling the tubular inflator housing and primary vent port in a depression or reduced diameter portion of the tubular inflator housing.

A hybrid airbag inflator comprising:

• a tubular inflator housing having a longitudinally tubular center portion positioned between a first end and a second end of the tubular inflator housing;
• a heater assembly containing a gas generant located and attached at the second end of the tubular inflator housing;
• inert gas contained in the tubular inflator housing;
• a primary gas vent port on the tubular center portion that is spaced apart from both ends of the tubular inflator housing for venting gas from the tubular inflator housing into an airbag, the primary gas port being sealed by a rupturable member that will rupture or burst when subjected to a predetermined pressure provided by gas inside the tubular inflator housing;
• and
• a gas release mechanism having an exhaust port at the first end of the tubular inflator housing, the exhaust port being sealed by a rupturable member that will rupture or burst when subjected to a predetermined pressure that is greater than the predetermined pressure at which the rupturable member of the primary gas vent port sealing means will rupture, the rupturable member of the gas release mechanism being rupturable by a pyrotechnic device for releasing gas directly from the tubular inflator housing to ambient air thus bypassing the airbag;
• wherein the heater assembly comprises an outer shell formed by a generant tube having a plurality of holes therethrough;
• a gas generant combustion chamber in which the gas generant is stored, the gas generant combustion chamber and the tubular inflator housing being in communication with each other through the plurality of holes in the generant tube;
• an ignition means connected to the heater assembly and located at the second end of the tubular inflator housing;
• an enhancer combustion chamber in which an ignition enhancer composition is stored, the enhancer combustion chamber being located between the gas generant combustion chamber and the ignition means, and separated from the gas generant combustion chamber by a bulkhead, the bulkhead having one or more first openings therethrough;
• and wherein the ignition enhancer composition when ignited by the ignition means produces products of combustion that will both ignite the gas generant in the gas generant combustion chamber and heat the inert gas stored in the tubular inflator housing to achieve the predetermined pressure required to rupture the rupturable member sealing the primary gas vent port.