Paresh S Khandhadia

6341799, Jan 29, 2002

Aug 18, 2000

09/642168

Takasi Furusawa - Tokyo, JP
Josef Heinle - Ichenhausen, DE
Paresh S. Khandhadia - Troy MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

B60R 2126

280736, 280742

An airbag module ( ) contains a gas generating inflator ( ) containing a plurality of apertures ( ) in radially spaced relation to an external annular filter ( ) constrained by a retainer ( ). The plurality of apertures ( ) are each radially aligned with the filter ( ). Gases produced from inflator ( ) are thus cooled and dispersed with a minimum pressure drop, thereby providing a pressure sufficient to inflate an airbag ( ).

6475312, Nov 5, 2002

Apr 7, 2000

09/544694

Sean P. Burns - Almont MI
Paresh S. Khandhadia - Troy MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

D03D 2300

1491096, 149 46

Preferred gas generant compositions incorporate a combination of 5-aminotetrazole nitrate and an oxidizer. The oxidizer may be selected from a group including nonmetal and metal nitrates, nitrites, chlorates, chlorites, perchlorates, and oxides. 5-aminotetrazole nitrate is characterized as an oxygen-rich fuel and is therefore considered to be a self-deflagrating fuel. To tailor the oxygen balance in certain applications, however, the use of an oxidizer is preferred. Methods of formulating the compositions are also described. These compositions are especially suitable for inflating air bags and actuating seatbelt pretensioners in passenger-restraint devices.

6620266, Sep 16, 2003

Jun 30, 2000

09/608871

Graylon K. Williams - Warren MI
Sean P. Burns - Almont MI
Paresh S. Khandhadia - Troy MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

C06B 4518

149 3, 149 4, 149 45, 149 46, 1491096

Known gas generant compositions, absent elastomeric binders, are coated with silicone thereby providing a composition that exhibits enhanced moisture protection, ballistic performance, combustion properties, and gas production.

6685223, Feb 3, 2004

Feb 5, 2001

09/777389

Takasi Furusawa - Tokyo, JP
Paresh S. Khandhadia - Troy MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.

B60R 2126

280741, 554821

A solid propellant gas generator contains a bed of agglomerated or beaded hydrated gelatin. The gelatin/water bed is oriented such that at least substantially filtered combustion products are humidified by the water vapor as the filtered combustion products pass over the bed. Relative thereto, a method of improving the release and inflation of an airbag of a vehicle occupant protection system is also described. Humidification of at least substantially filtered combustion products results in a reduced pressure requirement to open and inflate a stored airbag in fluid communication with the gas generator.

6752421, Jun 22, 2004

Jan 2, 2003

10/335786

Paresh S. Khandhadia - Troy MI
Donald B. Patterson - New Hudson MI
Robert M. Krupp - Royal Oak MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

B60R 2126

280741, 280736, 102531

The present invention provides an inflator for an inflatable restraint system in an automobile. The inflator includes an elongate inflator body having a plurality of inflation apertures and defining a first combustion chamber wherein a first propellant charge is positioned. A partitioning assembly is nested within the inflator body , and positioned proximate the second end. The partitioning assembly defines a second combustion chamber wherein a second propellant charge is positioned. First and second initiators and are provided, and are selectively operable to ignite the propellant charges and respectively, thereby supplying an inflation gas via the first chamber to an inflatable restraint cushion.

6805377, Oct 19, 2004

Apr 30, 2001

09/846004

Robert M. Krupp - Royal Oak MI
Sean P. Burns - Almont MI
Graylon K. Williams - Warren MI
Donald B. Patterson - New Hudson MI
Chris A. Adamini - Shelby Township MI
Paresh S. Khandhadia - Troy MI
Indu B. Mishra - Columbia MD

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

B60R 2128

280741, 280736, 2807281

An inflator of a vehicle occupant protection system contains an elongated housing having a plurality of gas exit orifices spaced along the length thereof. An ignition body and propellant are provided in lengths substantially equivalent to the length of the housing wherein the ignition body is placed in physical contact with the propellant body for all or most of their respective lengths. Once the ignition body is ignited upon a crash event, resultant uniform ignition and combustion across the length of the propellant results in uniform gas generation and uniform inflation of an airbag , wherein the airbag is at least substantially coextensive with and in fluid communication with the housing. Preferred mixtures of propellant contain silicone, a perchlorate oxidizer, and a coolant.

6887326, May 3, 2005

Apr 4, 2003

10/407300

Graylon K. Williams - Warren MI, US
Sean P. Burns - Almont MI, US
Jeffrey W. Halpin - Harrison Township MI, US
Paresh S. Khandhadia - Troy MI, US

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

C06B031/28
D03D023/00

1491096, 149 46

High nitrogen nonazide gas compositions, useful in inflating passenger restraint gas inflator bags, contain a high energy substituted tetrazole or bitetrazole that forms a naturally occurring hydrate and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) as a primary oxidizer. The combination results in gas generants that are relatively more stable and less explosive, have improved ignitability and burn rates, and generate more gas and less solids at lower operating pressures than known gas generant compositions.

7134690, Nov 14, 2006

Jan 22, 2004

10/762709

Takasi Furusawa - Tokyo, JP
Paresh S. Khandhadia - Troy MI, US

Automotive Systems Laboratories, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

B60R 21/264

280736, 280741

A solid propellant gas generator contains a bed of agglomerated or beaded hydrated gelatin. The gelatin/water bed is oriented such that at least substantially filtered combustion products are humidified by the water vapor as the filtered combustion products pass over the bed. Relative thereto, a method of improving the release and inflation of an airbag of a vehicle occupant protection system is also described. Humidification of at least substantially filtered combustion products results in a reduced pressure requirement to open and inflate a stored airbag in fluid communication with the gas generator.