Belt and side impact inflator

An inflator for an inflatable restraint system in a vehicle comprising:

• an inflator body having first and second ends and an inner peripheral wall;
• a booster cup extending in said body and having an outer peripheral wall and an end surface extending inwardly from said outer peripheral wall, said booster cup having a first propellant charge positioned therein;
• said inner peripheral wall and said outer peripheral wall are separated by a substantially annular space having a second propellant charge positioned therein;
• an initiator assembly disposed proximate said first end and operable to ignite said first propellant charge;
• a filter abutting said booster cup end surface;
• a perforated disc abutting said filter;
• the filter comprising a wire mesh material extending continuously from the booster cup end surface to the perforated disc;
• and
• a nozzle positioned at said second end of said body and abutting said perforated disc, said nozzle defining a nozzle outlet for supplying an inflation gas to the inflatable restraint system.

An inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising:

• an inflatable restraint device;
• an inflator operable to provide an inflation gas to said inflatable restraint device, said inflator comprising an elongate substantially cylindrical inflator body having first and second ends and an inner peripheral wall;
• an elongate booster cup mounted to said inflator body proximate said first end and extending substantially coaxially therewith, said booster cup having an outer peripheral wall separated from said inner peripheral wall by an annular space, and a plurality of apertures formed in said outer peripheral wall;
• a propellant charge positioned in said space;
• a filter positioned in said inflator body abutting an end portion of the booster cup, said filter securing said propellant charge in said space;
• a perforated disc abutting said filter;
• the filter comprising a wire mesh material extending continuously from the booster cup end surface to the perforated disc;
• and
• a nozzle member proximate said second end of said inflator body and abutting said perforated disc, said nozzle member constraining said filter against axial displacement.

An inflatable airbelt system for a motor vehicle comprising:

• an inflatable airbelt;
• an inflator operable to provide an inflation gas to said airbelt, said inflator comprising an inflator body and a booster cup extending in said body, said booster cup having an outer peripheral wall and an end surface extending radially inwardly from said wall;
• said booster cup includes a plurality of apertures formed in said outer peripheral wall;
• a first propellant charge positioned in said booster cup;
• a second propellant charge positioned in said inflator body;
• an initiator assembly operable to activate said first propellant charge, wherein a combustion thereof initiates a combustion of said second propellant charge via said apertures;
• a filter abutting said booster cup end surface;
• a perforated disc abutting said filter;
• the filter comprising a wire mesh material extending continuously from the booster cup end surface to the perforated disc;
• and
• a nozzle positioned at an end of said inflator and abutting said perforated disc for supplying an inflation gas to the inflatable restraint system.

An inflator module for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

• a module housing;
• an inflator positioned in said housing, said inflator comprising a booster cup mounted within said inflator and extending substantially coaxially therewith, said booster cup having an outer peripheral wall partially defining an annular space and a plurality of apertures formed in said outer peripheral wall;
• a propellant charge positioned in said space;
• a filter positioned in said inflator abutting an end portion of said booster cup for securing said propellant charge in said space;
• a perforated disc abutting said filter;
• the filter comprising a wire mesh material extending continuously from the booster cup end surface to the perforated disc;
• and
• a nozzle positioned at an end of said inflator and abutting said perforated disc for supplying an inflation gas.

A method of manufacturing a gas generator comprising the steps of:

• positioning a booster cup within an elongate substantially cylindrical inflator body;
• placing a propellant charge in a space extending between an outer peripheral wall of the booster cup and an inner peripheral wall of the inflator body;
• inserting a filter member comprising a wire mesh material into the inflator body up to a point at which the filter bears against an end surface of the booster cup;
• positioning a perforated disc abutting said filter member such that the wire mesh material extends continuously from the booster cup end surface to the perforated disc;
• and
• positioning a nozzle member in the inflator body at a selected axial position and abutting said perforated disc such that the filter is constrained from axial movement between the nozzle member and the booster cup, whereby the filter secures the propellant charge in the space.