Gas generator

• US 10,549,714 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Prima, Gerald, Cornec, Sebastien
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US16/063,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20190001917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/12 the heat being generated by friction; Friction welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/129 specially adapted for particular articles or workpieces
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26076 characterised by casing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26

Abstract

A gas generator includes at least one pyrotechnic substance, at least one subassembly formed at least of a first component and a second component, and at least one third component fixed to at least one of the first component and of the second component. The this component and one of the first component and of the second component each comprise an indexing interface arranged to temporarily block at least two degrees of freedom between the third component of the one of the first component and of the second component.

Claims

1. Gas generator comprising:

at least one pyrotechnic substance arranged to produce gases,

at least one subassembly formed at least of a first component and a second component fixed together by friction welding,

at least one third component fixed to at least one of the first component and of the second component by friction welding,

wherein the third component and one of the first component and of the second component each comprise an indexing interface arranged so as temporarily to block at least two degrees of freedom between the third component of the one of the first component and of the second component, so as to enable simultaneous inertia welding of the third component and the one of the first component and of the second component onto the other of the first component and of the second component.

2. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are fixed together along a friction-welded area, and wherein the third component is fixed to at least one of the first component and of the second component by the friction welding of the first and second components, at the friction-welded area.

3. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component have walls of predetermined thicknesses, and wherein the third component has a wall of a thickness less than half the thickness of the first and/or of the second component.

4. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein friction welding is performed by a welding operation using a rotational inertia tool, and wherein the indexing interface is arranged in order to guarantee a rotational entrainment of the third component by the one of the first component and of the second component, during the welding operation, with no contact between the rotational inertia tool and the third component.

5. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the indexing interface comprises specific deformed areas of a side wall of the third component and/or the one of the first component and of the second component.

6. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the deformed areas are recesses facing towards the inside of the generator.

7. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the indexing interface forms an anchoring area for a fourth component crimped onto the subassembly.

8. The gas generator according to claim 7, wherein the fourth component comprises a collar arranged to serve as a fixing interface of the gas generator in a motor vehicle safety module.

9. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the subassembly forms a combustion chamber of the gas generator and comprises at least one pipe arranged to control a pressurized combustion of the at least one pyrotechnic substance, and the third component is arranged between the at least one pipe and the at least one pyrotechnic substance.

10. The gas generator according to claim 9, further comprising at least one filter, arranged between the third component and the at least one pipe.

11. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the third component is a setting screen.

12. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the third component is an operculum.

13. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein:

the first component comprises a bottom and a side wall arranged between the bottom and an opening arranged to receive the at least one pyrotechnic substance during the manufacture of the gas generator; and

the third component is contained in the first component, and arranged between the opening and the at least one pyrotechnic substance.

14. The gas generator of claim 1 in combination with a motor vehicle safety module.

15. The gas generator of claim 1 in combination with a motor vehicle.