COMPACT MULTI-LEVEL OUTPUT HYBRID GAS GENERATOR

A multi-level gas inflator for an air bag or other safety device, comprising an elongated pressure vessel having a primary gas generant portion with a first open end and a secondary gas generant portion with a second open end. The primary gas generant portion has a primary ignition device and primary gas generating energetics disposed therein. The primary ignition device is mounted on and closes the pressure vessel at the first open end thereof. The secondary gas generant portion has a secondary ignition device and secondary gas generating energetics disposed therein. The secondary ignition device is mounted on and closes the pressure vessel at the second open end thereof. A suitable gas under a predetermined pressure is present in the primary and secondary gas generant portions. One or more dividers or divider walls are disposed within the midportion of the pressure vessel to separate the primary and secondary gas generant portions. The pressure vessel has a primary exit orifice in the midportion thereof that is in communication with the primary gas generant portion, and a secondary exit orifice in the midportion thereof that is in communication with the secondary gas generant portion. A primary rupture disk is disposed over the primary exit orifice, and a secondary rupture disk is disposed over the secondary exit orifice. A diffuser is mounted on and surrounds the pressure vessel midportion and the primary and secondary exit orifices. The diffuser is in communication with the air bag for the inflation thereof. The inflator can be easily converted to a single level output inflator by omitting the secondary ignition device and the secondary gas generating energetics.