Pyrotechnic linear inflator with structural enhancement

• US 20050200103A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Stevens, Bruce A., Khandhadia, Paresh S., Burns, Sean P., Furusawa, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US11/067,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20050200103A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/205 inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26076 characterised by casing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/00 Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for having impact absorbing means B62D21/15; running-boards, steps, or the like as superstructure sub-unit B60R3/00

Abstract

An inflator (10) for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system. In one aspect of the invention, the inflator (10) includes a longitudinal enclosure (22) having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the enclosure, and a gas generant composition (24) positioned along the portion of the enclosure (22). The gas generant composition (24) is distributed substantially uniformly along the portion of the enclosure (22). A plurality of gas exit apertures (40) is formed along the portion of the enclosure (22) to enable fluid communication between the enclosure (22) and an exterior of the enclosure. The apertures (40) are spaced apart a distance proportional to a desired rate of propagation of a combustion reaction of gas generant positioned between the apertures (40). In another aspect of the invention, the total number of apertures (40) along the enclosure (22) is inversely proportional to a desired rate of propagation of a combustion reaction of gas generant positioned between the apertures (40). In yet another aspect of the invention, an airbag device is disclosed which includes an inflator having an inflator housing (12) configured as a structural member of a vehicle. The inflator housing may be employed stand-alone structural member in a vehicle or used to reinforce another structural member. The housing may comprise a cavity portion having a cylindrical cross-section. The cavity portion may serve as the structural member, or extensions (150) may be coupled to the cavity portion to provide a structural member having a desired configuration.

Claims

1. An airbag device for use in a vehicle occupant protection system, the airbag device comprising:

an inflator housing configured as a structural member of a vehicle, the housing comprising a cavity portion for receiving a gas generant composition therein, and a plurality of perforations formed along the cavity portion to enable fluid communication between an interior of the housing and an exterior of the housing.

2. The airbag device of claim 1 further comprising:

a longitudinal enclosure positioned within the inflator housing, the enclosure having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the enclosure, wherein said longitudinal enclosure comprises a first perforated section and a second perforated section, said first perforated section containing a first gas exit aperture area and said second perforated section containing a second gas exit aperture area, said second gas exit aperture area greater than said first gas exit aperture area;

a gas generant composition positioned within the at least a portion of the enclosure, the gas generant composition being distributed substantially uniformly along the at least a portion of the enclosure; and

an igniter operably fixed to said first perforated section for ignition of said gas generant composition upon inflator activation.

3. The airbag device of claim 2 wherein the first and second gas exit aperture areas are formed by a first plurality of gas exit apertures being formed along the at least a portion of the enclosure to enable fluid communication between the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure, the apertures of the first plurality of gas exit apertures being spaced apart a distance proportional to a desired rate of combustion propagation of gas generant positioned between the apertures, the enclosure including an inner diameter.

4. The airbag device of claim 2 wherein the gas generant is in the form of a plurality of adjacent gas generant tablets positioned along the at least a portion of the enclosure and the gas generant tablets are dome-shaped so as to provide a cavity between adjacent ones of the at least a portion of the gas generant tablets.

5. The airbag device of claim 1 wherein the inflator housing is configured as a vehicle cross-member coupled to roof pillars on opposites sides of the vehicle.

6. The airbag device of claim 1 wherein the inflator housing includes an extension portion extending from the cavity portion.

7. The airbag device of claim 6 further comprising coupling means to enable coupling of the extension portion to the cavity portion, and wherein the extension portion is coupled to the cavity portion using the coupling means.

8. The airbag device of claim 1 wherein the inflator housing is configured as a portion of a vehicle bumper.

9. The airbag device of claim 8 further comprising an inflatable element coupled to the inflator housing so as to enable fluid communication with the inflator housing upon activation of the airbag device, for providing inflation fluid to the inflatable element upon activation of the airbag device.

10. The airbag device of claim 1 wherein the inflator housing is configured as a portion of a vehicle door frame.

11. The airbag device of claim 10 further comprising an inflatable element coupled to the inflator housing so as to enable fluid communication with the inflator housing upon activation of the airbag device, for providing inflation fluid to the inflatable element upon activation of the airbag device.

12. The airbag device of claim 1 wherein the inflator housing is configured as a portion of a vehicle seat frame.

13. The airbag device of claim 12 further comprising an inflatable element coupled to the inflator housing so as to enable fluid communication with the inflator housing upon activation of the airbag device, for providing inflation fluid to the inflatable element upon activation of the airbag device.

14. The airbag device of claim 1 further comprising coupling means positioned along the inflator housing to enable coupling of the inflator housing to at least one other structural member of the vehicle, for reinforcing the at least one other structural member.

15. The airbag device of claim 11 wherein the coupling means enables detachable coupling of the inflator housing to the other structural member of the vehicle.

16. The airbag device of claim 11 wherein the coupling means is configured for coupling the inflator housing to at least one roof pillar of an automotive vehicle.

17. The airbag device of claim 1 further comprising another inflator housing coupled to the inflator housing.

18. The inflator assembly of claim 1 wherein the extension portion is substantially solid.

19. An airbag device for use in a vehicle occupant protection system, the airbag device comprising:

a vehicle structural member defining a longitudinal inflator housing comprising a cavity portion for receiving a gas generant composition therein, and a plurality of perforations formed along the cavity portion to enable fluid communication between an interior of the housing and an exterior of the housing.

20. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:

an airbag device having at least one airbag and an inflator coupled to the airbag so as to enable fluid communication with an interior of the airbag upon activation of the inflator, the inflator including;

an inflator housing comprising a cavity portion with a plurality of perforations formed therealong to enable fluid communication between an interior of the housing and an exterior of the housing, and an extension portion extending from the cavity portion;

a longitudinal enclosure having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the enclosure, wherein said longitudinal enclosure comprises a first perforated section and a second perforated section, said first perforated section containing a first gas exit aperture area and said second perforated section containing a second gas exit aperture area, said second gas exit aperture area greater than said first gas exit aperture area;

a gas generant composition positioned within the at least a portion of the enclosure, the gas generant composition being distributed substantially uniformly along the at least a portion of the enclosure; and

an igniter operably fixed to said first perforated section for ignition of said gas generant composition upon inflator activation.