US 7,448,649 B2
Gas generator
Steven M-G Dunham, Mt. Clemens, Mich. (US); and Bruce A. Stevens, Oakland, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Armada, Mich. (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/282,063.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/628573, filed on Nov. 17, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0163864 A1, Jul. 27, 2006
Int. Cl. B60R 22/46 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 280—806  [280/801.1; 297/480] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas generating system comprising:
a gas generant container;
an initiator positioned separate from and external of the gas generant container so as to enable fluid communication with the container upon activation of the initiator, the position of the container being fixed with respect to the position of the initiator during combustion of the gas generant; and
a gas generant charge in an interior of the container, for combusting to provide gas generant combustion products for actuating a device operatively coupled to the gas generating system, the gas generant container being penetrable by initiator combustion products,
wherein, after activation of the initiator, initiator combustion products penetrate the container and initiate combustion of the gas generant charge, wherein the gas generant is hermetically sealed in a packet positioned within the container, and wherein the packet is penetrable by the initiator combustion products to initiate combustion of the gas generant charge.