Abstract
TRW has developed a new technology for automotive air bag inflators that involves no solid propellants. The Heated Gas Inflator (HGI) is comprised of a lean, but combustible mixture of hydrogen in air that is compressed in a sealed pressure vessels. When ignited with a standard pyrotechnic squib, this stable gas mixture fills the bag with warm, clean air that is slightly depleted in oxygen and a small amount of water vapor. Manufacturing techniques have been verified and initial ballistic and environmental testing has been completed successfully for prototype designs in several sizes. The results demonstrate that the HGI provides significant advantages over both solid propellant- and augmented-type inflators in terms of cost, simplicity, tailorability, cleanliness, and recyclability. TRW engineering believes that the HGI truly represents a new paradigm in inflatable restraint systems.