Air bag gas generator and air bag system

• US 20010042298A1
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Inventors: Katsuda, Nobuyuki, Tomiyama, Shogo
• Granted Patent: US 6,520,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/463
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49893 Peripheral joining of opposed mirror image parts to form a hollow body

Abstract

An air bag gas generator, which ensures that a lead wire has a sufficient length when installing the generator in a module, is provided even when a connector in the air bag gas generator has a predetermined length. The air bag gas generator includes, in a housing having gas discharge ports and igniting means storage opening: igniting means activated by an impact; gas generating means ignited by the igniting means and burns and generates a combustion gas; and a filter means, which cools the combustion gas and/or collects combustion residues. Also, the igniting means includes an initiator, which is activated by an electrical signal, and an enhancer, which is ignited by the activation of the initiator and burns. The initiator is positioned and then installed in the housing.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an air bag gas generator, comprising:

providing a housing with a storage opening and an attachment portion having a first attachment opening and a second attachment opening for attaching the housing to a vehicle;

providing an initiator to be engaged with a connector having a lead wire provided on a side of the vehicle, and having a first electric terminal and a second electric terminal; and

installing the initiator into the storage opening such that a first imaginary line connecting said first and second attachment openings has a predetermined orientation with respect to a second imaginary line connecting said first and second electric terminals.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said initiator providing step further includes,

providing the initiator with a positioning portion at a collar portion formed at a lower end of the initiator, and at a predetermined position with respect to the first and second electric terminals, wherein said installing step further includes,

installing the initiator such that the positioning portion is oriented at the predetermined position with respect to the first and second attachment openings.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein initiator providing step further includes,

providing the initiator with a collar portion having a positioning portion formed on a side face of the collar portion at a predetermined position with respect to the first and second electric terminals, wherein said housing providing step further includes,

preparing the storage opening having, in an inner face thereof, an engagement position formed at a predetermined position with respect to the first and second attachment openings, wherein installing step further includes,

installing the initiator into the storage opening while the engagement portion engages with the positioning portion.

4. The method of

claim 2

, wherein said installing step further includes,

engaging an engaging portion of an insertion jig with the positioning portion of the initiator, positioning the insertion jig with respect to the first and second attachment openings, and installing the initiator into the storage opening by the insertion jig such that the engaging portion of the insertion jig engages the positioning portion of the initiator.

5. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said step of providing a housing includes the step of providing the first attachment opening and the second attachment opening in a flange portion of said housing.

6. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising:

providing gas generating agents ignited by said igniter in said housing, said gas generating agents generating combustion gas; and

providing a coolant/filter for at least one of cooling the combustion gas and collecting combustion residues therein.

7. The method of

claim 1

, further comprising:

attaching a connector having a lead wire to said first electric terminal and said second electric terminal such that the lead wire extends in a predetermined direction with respect to said first attachment opening and said second attachment opening.

8. A method of manufacturing an air bag gas generator, comprising:

providing a housing with a storage opening, and an attachment portion having a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion for attaching the housing to a vehicle;

providing an initiator having a positioning portion at a predetermined portion thereof;

providing an insertion jig having a first attaching portion that engages the first receiving portion, a second attaching portion that engages the second receiving portion, and an engaging portion that engages the positioning portion of the initiator;

attaching the initiator to the insertion jig while engaging the engaging portion with the positioning portion;

engaging the first attaching portion with the first receiving portion and the second attaching portion with the second receiving portion;

inserting the initiator to the storage opening; and

removing the insertion jig from the housing by disengaging the engaging portion from the positioning portion, the first attaching portion from the first receiving portion, and the second attaching portion from the second receiving portion.

9. The method of

claim 8

, wherein said housing providing step includes the steps of,

providing a flange as the attachment portion,

providing a first attachment hole, for attaching the housing to the vehicle, as the first receiving portion, and

providing a second attachment hole, for attaching the housing to the vehicle, as the second receiving portion.

10. The method of

claim 9

, wherein said insertion jig providing step includes the steps of,

providing a first insertion pin, that engages the first attachment hole, as the first attaching portion, and

providing a second insertion pin, that engages the second attachment hole, as the second attaching portion.

11. The method of

claim 8

, wherein said initiator providing step includes the step of,

providing a positioning groove as the positioning portion, and

said insertion jig providing step includes the step of,

providing a protrusion that engages the positioning groove.

12. The method of

claim 8

, wherein said initiator providing step includes the step of,

providing a positioning groove as the positioning portion by cutting a portion of a lower end face of a collar portion of the initiator in a radial direction while retaining an edge portion thereof, and

said insertion jig providing step includes the step of,

providing a protrusion that engages the positioning groove.

13. The method of

claim 8

, wherein said initiator providing step includes the steps of,

providing a first electric terminal and a second electric terminal, and

providing the positioning portion at a predetermined position with respect to the first electric terminal and the second electric terminal.

14. The method of

claim 13

, further comprising:

providing a connector having a third electric terminal that engages the first electric terminal, a fourth electric terminal that engages the second electric terminal, and a lead wire extending in a first predetermined direction with respect to the third electric terminal and the fourth electric terminal; and

attaching the connector to the initiator such that the lead wire extends in a second predetermined direction with respect to the housing.