US 12,246,671 B2
Airbag inflator filter using expanded metal oriented rough side facing toward the inside diameter of the filter
Steven D. Huntsman, North Ogden, UT (US)
Assigned to ACS Industries, Inc., Lincoln, RI (US)
Appl. No. 18/549,961
Filed by ACS Industries, Inc., Lincoln, RI (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 21, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/017131
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 11, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/191981, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 15, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/160,053, filed on Mar. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0149825 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. B60R 21/264 (2006.01); B01D 39/12 (2006.01); B60R 21/26 (2011.01)
CPC B60R 21/2644 (2013.01) [B01D 39/12 (2013.01); B01D 2239/0695 (2013.01); B01D 2239/10 (2013.01); B01D 2239/1291 (2013.01); B01D 2279/10 (2013.01); B60R 2021/26011 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a filter for an airbag inflator comprising:
(I) providing a sheet of expanded metal which has a smooth side and a rough side;
(II) flattening the sheet of expanded metal, the flattening reducing the thickness of the sheet;
(III) forming a strip of flattened expanded metal from the flattened sheet of expanded metal; and
(IV) forming the filter by a method that comprises wrapping the strip of flattened expanded metal about an axis;
wherein:
(a) the filter has a cavity for receiving a solid propellant, said cavity having a surface that is capable of coming into contact with the solid propellant in an assembled airbag inflator;
(b) the flattened strip of expanded metal comprises a flattened rough side; and
(c) the flattened strip of expanded metal is wrapped so that at least a part of said surface of the cavity comprises a portion of the flattened rough side.