Richard L Townsend

US Patent:

6629703, Oct 7, 2003

Filed:

Dec 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/017022

Inventors:

Mark Horton - Lakeland FL
Kimberly Ritter - Highland City FL
Michael Eugene Kelley - Valrico FL
Michael K. Dennis - Lakeland FL
Richard Mead Townsend - Valrico FL

Assignee:

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. - Lakeland FL

International Classification:

B60R 2126

US Classification:

280737, 137 6813

Abstract:

A cold gas inflator having an opening device for rupturing a burst disk. The cold gas inflator is filled with stored gas. The cold gas inflator has a burst disk, which prevents the stored gas from exiting the pressure vessel. In the event of a automobile accident, the opening device is actuated, which causes the ignition of pyrotechnic material. This ignition generates a shockwave of sufficient energy to rupture the burst disk. The stored gas flows into the diffuser and then exits the cold gas inflator in the radial direction. In another embodiment, the stored gas exits the cold gas inflator in the axial direction.

US Patent:

20070075534, Apr 5, 2007

Filed:

Aug 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/467628

Inventors:

Michael Kelley - Valrico FL, US
Richard Townsend - St. Petersburg FL, US
Michael Mulville - Bartow FL, US
Anthony Curtis - Palm Harbor FL, US
Samir Heric - Wiesbaden, DE
Marko Morhard - Mainaschaff, DE
Axel Wehrwein - Roßdor, DE
Guido Klettenheimer - Kelsterbach, DE

Assignee:

KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/26

US Classification:

280736000, 280737000

Abstract:

An airbag module assembly () has a module housing (). An airbag () and an airbag inflator () are positioned inside the module housing. The airbag inflator () has an exhaust port end () extending external of the module housing () for venting inflation gasses directly from the airbag inflator () externally of the module housing ().

US Patent:

20070075536, Apr 5, 2007

Filed:

Aug 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/467618

Inventors:

Michael Kelley - Valrico FL, US
Richard Townsend - St. Petersburg FL, US
Michael Mulville - Bartow FL, US
Anthony Curtis - Palm Harbor FL, US
Samir Heric - Wiesbaden, DE
Marko Morhard - Mainaschaff, DE
Axel Wehrwein - Roßdor, DE
Guido Klettenheimer - Kelsterbach, DE

Assignee:

KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

B60R 21/26

US Classification:

280737000, 280736000, 280741000

Abstract:

An airbag inflator () for inflating an airbag has a tubular inflator housing () having a first end (A) and a second end (B). A gas release mechanism () has an exhaust port end or housing () at the first end (A) for releasing gas directly from the tubular inflator housing () to ambient air, bypassing the airbag. A heater assembly () containing a gas generant is located and attached at the second end (B). An igniter () ignites the heater assembly (). A primary gas vent port () vents gas from the tubular inflator housing () into an airbag during normal deployment of the airbag. The gas release mechanism () has a passageway or opening () for exhausting gas from the tubular inflator housing () to an exhaust port (). A seal () seals the passageway or opening () of the gas release mechanism (). An igniter for opens the seal () thereby terminating or slowing deployment and normal inflation of the airbag through the primary vent port ().