Gas generator

• US 10,106,118 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Bierwirth, Sebastian, Cristoforetti, Fabien, Sptizenberger, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Drew J
• Application Number:
  US15/265,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20170001593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2172 the cover being connected to the surrounding part and to the module, e.g. floating mounts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2642 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/263 using a variable source, e.g. plural stage or controlled output hybrid inflators B60R21/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A gas generator (10) comprises an outer housing, which has at (east two housing parts (12), which are connected to each other, in the form of a diffuser bowl (14) with outflow openings (16) towards the outside and a cover (20) directly connected to the diffuser bowl (14). Inside the gas generator (10), at least one first and one second combustion chamber (30, 36) are provided, wherein the first combustion chamber (30) is delimited by an inner wall (32) and the second combustion chamber (36) is located within the space delimited by the diffuser bowl (14) and the cover (20). The diffuser bowl (14) and/or the cover (20) comprise a section (24) that is shaped, in particular deep-drawn, into an indentation, forming at least partially a circumferential section of the inner wall (32).

Claims

1. An inflator, comprising:

a diffuser bowl including an outer surface presented outside the inflator and an opposite inner surface;

a cover directly connected to the diffuser bowl; and

a closing member directly connected to the outer surface of the diffuser bowl, wherein;

the outer surface of the diffuser bowl and the closing member define a first combustion chamber,

the inner surface of the diffuser bowl and the cover define a second combustion chamber,

the closing member comprises outflow openings for discharging inflation fluid out of the first combustion chamber; and

the diffuser bowl comprises outflow openings for discharging inflation fluid out of the second combustion chamber.

2. The inflator according to claim 1, further comprising at least one actuatable igniting device mounted to the diffuser bowl by a plastic injection molding that extends through the diffuser bowl to an exterior of the inflator.

3. The inflator according to claim 2, wherein the plastic injection molding extends through overlying portions of the diffuser bowl and the cover.

4. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein a first igniting device is supported in the first combustion chamber by a first plastic injection molding that extends through the diffuser bowl to an exterior of the inflator, and a second igniting device is supported in the second combustion chamber by a second plastic injection molding that extends through the cover to an exterior of the inflator.

5. The inflator according to claim 4, wherein the first plastic injection molding extends through overlying portions of the diffuser bowl and the cover.

6. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser bowl comprises a section that is shaped into an indentation, the indentation being covered by the closing member to define the first combustion chamber within the indentation.

7. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the first combustion chamber is surrounded circumferentially by the second combustion chamber.

8. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser bowl and the cover are configured so that they are connected to each other along an outer closed curve and along an inner closed curve, wherein the second combustion chamber is formed between the outer and inner closed curves.

9. The inflator according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the closed curves has a circular shape.

10. The inflator according to claim 8, wherein the cover is connected to the diffuser bowl along a bottom of the indentation.

11. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the inflator has a central axis and the outflow openings of the first combustion chamber are located more closely to the central axis by at least the factor of two than the outlet openings of second combustion chamber.

12. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein all of the outflow openings of the closing member are arranged such that they are located on one side of a first plane including an axial central axis of the inflator.

13. The inflator according to claim 12, wherein the outflow openings arranged in the outer housing of the first combustion chamber are located in a sector which is formed by the first plane and a further second plane including the axial central axis of the inflator, the sector having an angle of less than or equal to 90°

.

14. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the outflow openings of the first combustion chamber are arranged in a first plane that extends perpendicular to a central axis of the inflator, and the outflow openings of the second combustion chamber are arranged in a second plane that is spaced from the first plane and extends parallel to the first plane.

15. The inflator according to claim 14, wherein the distance between the first plane and the second plane is between 11 and 21 mm.

16. A module comprising an inflator, an airbag inflatable by the inflator and a mounting means for attaching the module, especially in the interior of a vehicle, wherein the inflator is formed in accordance with claim 1.

17. An inflator comprising:

an outer housing;

a first combustion chamber defined by the outer housing and including one or more outflow openings, the one or more outflow openings being in direct fluid communication with an exterior of the inflator for directing inflation fluid from the first combustion chamber outside the inflator,

wherein all outflow openings of the first combustion chamber are arranged in the outer housing such that they are located on one side of a first plane including a central axis of the outer housing.

18. The inflator according to claim 17, further comprising a second combustion chamber defined by the outer housing and including a plurality of outflow openings for directing out of the inflator inflation fluid from the second combustion chamber, wherein the second combustion chamber surrounds the first combustion chamber circumferentially, and wherein the outflow openings of the second combustion chamber are spaced circumferentially about the central axis of the inflator.

19. The inflator according to claim 18, wherein the outer housing comprises a diffuser bowl including an outer surface presented outside the inflator and an opposite inner surface;

a cover directly connected to the diffuser bowl; and

a closing member directly connected to the outer surface of the diffuser bowl, wherein;

the outer surface of the diffuser bowl and the closing member define the first combustion chamber,

the inner surface of the diffuser bowl and the cover define the second combustion chamber,

the closing member comprises the outflow openings for directing out of the inflator inflation fluid from the first combustion chamber; and

the diffuser bowl comprises outflow openings for directing out of the inflator inflation fluid from the second combustion chamber.

20. The inflator according to claim 19, further comprising at least one actuatable igniting device mounted to the diffuser bowl by a plastic injection molding that extends through the diffuser bowl to an exterior of the inflator.