Gas bag inflators

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective solution to the foregoing problem.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement for a pyrotechnic gas generator wherein the gas generant pellets are maintained under a substantially constant pressure to prevent movement and abrasion thereof regardless of the extent to which they continue to settle relative to one another.
In accomplishing these and other objectives of the invention, there is provided a pyrotechnic gas generator having an annular chamber in which the gas generant pellets are contained.
An annular disc or plate having a thin layer of cerafiber on the side adjacent the pellets is pressed against the pellets to hold them in place.
The plate is not press fitted in the annular chamber but is sufficiently loose therein so that it may be moved by suitable spring means in response to any slack in the pellets.
Thus, the plate exerts a constant pressure on the pellets to prevent movement and abrasion thereof.
The spring means are selected to provide the necessary amount of travel for the plate, while exerting a constant pressure sufficient to maintain the pellets in snug fit but not great enough to crush them.
The spring means which may be made of a suitable metal such as spring steel will not deteriorate with age, nor will they contribute gases to the gaseous output of the gas generating pellets.
Also, the initial shock of expanding gases caused by ignition of the gas generant pellets will be partially spent in forcing the plate against the spring action of the spring means to temporarily enlarge the volume of the annular chamber.
This will result in a somewhat gentler initial discharge of gas from the gas generator into the inflatable crash protection bag.