US 6,981,718 B2
Projectile firing barrel
Jeffery S. Blackburn, Lake Orion, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Farmington Hills, Mich. (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/716,243.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/426894, filed on Nov. 15, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2004/0140656 A1, Jul. 22, 2004
Int. Cl. B60R 21/26 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 280—737 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas generator for an inflatable occupant protection system in a motor vehicle comprising:
a gas canister having a pressurized gas stored therein and a rupturable seal at an end;
an elongate projectile firing barrel having a touch hole formed in a side thereof;
a quantity of propellant positioned in said projectile firing barrel and ignitable via a flame front traversing said touch hole; and
a projectile positioned in said barrel and movable therein upon an ignition of said propellant,
wherein the ignition of said propellant drives said projectile into said rupturable seal, allowing said pressurized gas to exit said canister for inflation of an airbag.