Vehicle occupant safety device inflation system, especially for airbag, has electric initiator which produces molten metal to assist opening of tear portion in pressurized inflation medium container

摘要

The vehicle occupant safety device inflation system comprises an electric initiator which produces molten metal to assist opening of a tear portion in a pressurized inflation medium container. An inflation system, for an inflatable vehicle occupant safety device, comprises a container filled with a pressurized inflation medium and having a portion which can be torn by an electric initiator to form an opening. The initiator has a primary charge ignited by a electric fuse to produce pressurized combustion products for detonating a secondary charge comprising a solid metal which melts on primary charge ignition and then contacts the tear portion to assist opening formation. Preferred Features: The secondary charge is a mixture of aluminum and iron oxide powders, especially a thermite charge.