Inflator for air bag

• US 20050067814A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation), Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation), Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ochiai, Yasuo, Yamamoto, Tadashi, Sasaki, Takashi, Hayashi, Kazutoshi, Gotoh, Yuzo, Tokuda, Masakazu, Ito, Michiyasu
• Granted Patent: US 7,467,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

An inflator, in which a mounting work to a vehicle is improved, is provided.

One or more first fixing members 21 which is a mounting means to a vehicle are fixed by welding to a circumferential surface of the housing 11 of an inflator 10. As to the first fixing member 21, part of a surface 25 is fixed along the circumferential surface of the tubular housing 11, the remaining surface 26 is radially extended, not contacting with the circumferential surface of the tubular housing 11, and the radial length a₁ of the remaining surface is 0.5 to 1.5 times the diameter 2r of the housing 11.

Claims

1. An inflator for an air bag, comprising:

a tubular housing including a gas discharge portion;

inflation means accommodated in the tubular housing for inflating the air bag;

mounting means provided in an outer circumferential surface of the tubular housing for fixing the inflator to a vehicle, the mounting means including a first fixing member that has a surface fixed to the outer circumferential surface, and a remaining surface radially extending from the outer circumferential surface, however, not contacting the same, the remaining surface having a radial length of 0.5 to 1.5 times a diameter of the tubular housing and being attached to the vehicle directly or indirectly.

2. The inflator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second fixing member in a shape which can form a surface at a different angle from that of the remaining surface of the first fixing member is further connected to the remaining surface, and the inflator is mounted to the vehicle at the surface of a different angle of the second fixing member.

3. The inflator for an air bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein a side shape of the second fixing member is generally L-shaped, with one surface being connected to the remaining surface of the first fixing member, and another surface, which becomes a surface at a different angle from the first fixing member, being connected to the vehicle.

4. The inflator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflation means for an air bag is a combination of at least one of pressurized gas charged in the tubular housing and a gas generating agent generating gas in combustion loaded in the tubular housing, and ignition means.

5. The inflator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, which is mounted to a ceiling of a vehicle.

6. A method of assembling an inflator for an air bag, comprising:

fixing a first fixing member, including a remaining surface, to an outer circumferential surface of a tubular housing of the inflator by welding such that the remaining surface extends radially whose length is 0.5 to 1.5 times a diameter of the tubular housing;

keeping an inside of the tubular housing sealed air-tightly;

conducting a pressure proof test of the tubular housing.

7. The method of assembling an inflator according to claim 6, further comprising:

fixing a second fixing member to the remaining surface,

wherein the second fixing member has a shape which can form a surface at a different angle from that of the remaining surface of the first fixing member.