Gas generator

• US 20020135172A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Koga, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 7,007,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A gas generator is provided in which partitions for forming a plurality of gas-generation chambers are easily mounted. A detonator disposed in a booster tube is ignited by an initiator for the booster tube. A gas-generating agent disposed above or below a partition plate reacts to the reaction gas from the detonator, and a gas passes through a filter and is ejected through gas outlets. Booster tubes include larger diameter portions at the upper portions of the booster tubes, and smaller diameter portions at the lower portions of the booster tubes. The larger diameter portions are formed in a diameter-enlarging process. During formation of the gas generator, the booster tubes are individually inserted into holes of the partition plate from the smaller diameter portions of the booster tubes.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

a container;

a gas-generating agent disposed in the container;

a detonator for igniting the gas-generating agent;

a cylindrical first partition member provided in the container, the detonator being disposed in the first partition member;

a second partition member for forming a plurality of chambers for containing the gas-generating agent outside the at least one first partition member;

wherein the second partition member is provided with at least one through-hole coupled with the at least one first partition member; and

wherein the first partition member includes two portions, the first portion located at one end of the first partition member having a diameter larger than the second portion, and wherein the through-hole of the second partition member is coupled with the first portion of the first partition member.

2. The gas generator of claim 1, further comprising an initiator for igniting the detonator.

3. The gas generator of claim 1, wherein the coupling between the through hole in the second partition member and the first partition member is an interference fit.

4. The gas generator of claim 1, wherein the container includes a top section and a bottom section, the one end of the first partition member being connected to the top section.

5. A multi-stage gas generator including a container containing a gas-generating agent, a booster tube containing a detonator and a partition plate dividing the container into first and second chambers;

wherein the booster tube includes an enlarged section press fitted into a hole in the partition plate.

6. The gas generator of claim 5, further comprising a second booster tube containing a detonator, the booster tube having an enlarged section press fitted into a second hole in the partition plate.

7. The gas generator of claim 5, wherein the partition plate is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the booster tube.

8. The gas generator of claim 6, wherein the partition plate is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the booster tube.

9. The gas generator of claim 6, wherein the first booster tube includes outlets into the first chamber and the second booster tube includes outlets into the second chamber.

10. A method of manufacturing a gas generator comprising the steps of:

providing a container having top and bottom sections;

connecting one end of a cylindrical first partition member to the top section of the container, the first partition member including two portions, the first portion located at the other end of the first partition member and having a diameter larger than the second portion,;

placing a gas-generating agent in the container;

providing a detonator for igniting the gas-generating agent in the first partition member;

connecting an initiator to the first partition member for igniting the detonator;

coupling a second partition member having a through hole with the first partition member by placing the first partition member into the through hole to thereby form a plurality of chambers for containing the gas-generating agent outside the at least one first partition member; and

coupling the top and bottom sections of the container to thereby form the gas generator.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of increasing the diameter of the first portion of the first partition member during a diameter-enlarging process

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the diameter enlarging process includes using a die.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of coupling the second partition member includes forcing the first portion of the first partition member into the through hole of the second partition member to thereby form an interference fit.