Special geometry generant bodies for automotive gas bag inflators.

摘要

A gas generant body (1), preferably in the form of a circular, washer-shaped disc, having a plurality of similar, flat-surfaced projections (2) equally spaced and radially equidistant about the periphery of one or both sides of the body. The spaced projections are defined by curved or arcuate walls (3) emanating from the center of the generant body which flare outwardly to the body's perimeter, each having an angular arc length (d5-d10) greater than the space (5) therebetween. The outer edge of each projection is preferably contiguous with the perimeter (7) of the body. When the projections are on both sides as is preferred, the projections on one side are preferably in a staggered or offset relationship to those on the other side. A stack or assembly of the multiprojection generant wafers may be formed into an array for use in a gas generator for an automobile gas bag inflator. Each generant wafer acts as its own spacer, can be assembled independent of orientation, will not mesh or interlock with adjacent wafers and does not need extra inflator hardware. <IMAGE>