Inflator device having modular construction and radial inflation gas flow

• US 20070273131A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Bradley W., Cox, Matthew A., Parkinson, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,568,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26011 using a filter through which the inflation gas passes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A modular inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system. The inflator device has an elongated cylindrical configuration and includes a supply of gas generant material to produce inflation gas upon reaction initiation. The inflator device includes a reaction housing defining a reaction chamber containing the supply of gas generant material. An initiator device is connected to the reaction housing and in reaction initiating communication with the supply of gas generant material. The reaction housing includes a plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings. Upon reaction initiation of the supply of gas generant material, the inflation gas discharges from the reaction chamber through the discharge openings. An initiator diffuser is disposed between the initiator device and the supply of gas generant material. The initiator diffuser includes a plurality of radially oriented diffuser discharge openings disposed in discharge orientation toward the reaction housing side wall. The reaction housing is connected to a filter housing, and a filter element is disposed within the filter housing and external of the reaction chamber.

Claims

1. In an inflator device for inflating an inflatable cushion of an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device having an elongated cylindrical configuration and including a supply of gas generant material to produce inflation gas upon reaction initiation, the improvement comprising:

a reaction housing including a reaction housing side wall, a reaction housing first end wall adjacent the side wall, and a reaction housing second end wall adjacent the side wall and opposite the reaction housing first end wall, the reaction housing defining a reaction chamber containing the supply of gas generant material;

an initiator device connected to reaction housing first end wall, the initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the supply of gas generant material;

the reaction housing side wall including a plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings, wherein upon reaction initiation of the supply of gas generant material, the inflation gas discharges from the reaction chamber through the discharge openings;

an initiator diffuser disposed between the initiator device and the supply of gas generant material, the initiator diffuser including a plurality of radially oriented diffuser discharge openings disposed in discharge orientation toward the reaction housing side wall.

2. The inflator device according to claim 1 wherein the supply of gas generant material comprises a form selected from the group consisting of tablets, wafers, granules, and combinations thereof.

3. The inflator device according to claim 1 additionally comprising:

a filter housing at least in part defining a filter chamber, at least a portion of the reaction housing and the chamber discharge openings disposed within the filter chamber; and

a filter element disposed in the filter chamber and external of the reaction housing.

4. The inflator device according to claim 3 wherein the reaction housing is a first reaction housing, and the inflator device additionally comprises:

a second reaction housing including a second reaction housing side wall, a second reaction housing first end wall adjacent the second reaction housing side wall, and a second reaction housing second end wall adjacent the second reaction housing side wall and opposite the second reaction housing first end wall, the second reaction housing defining a second reaction chamber containing a second supply of gas generant material;

a second initiator device connected to the second reaction housing first end wall, the second initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the second supply of gas generant material;

the second reaction housing side wall including a plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings, wherein upon reaction initiation of the second supply of gas generant material, the inflation gas discharges from the second reaction chamber through the discharge openings;

a second initiator diffuser disposed between the second initiator device and the second supply of gas generant material, the second initiator diffuser including a plurality of radially oriented diffuser discharge openings disposed in discharge orientation toward the second reaction housing side wall;

at least a portion of the second reaction housing and the chamber discharge openings disposed within the filter chamber and at an end of the filter chamber opposite the first reaction housing, wherein the filter element is external of the second reaction housing.

5. The inflator device according to claim 3 wherein the filter element comprises:

a tubular filter body including a central passageway; and

a plurality of spacer protuberances at an end of the tubular filter body, at least one of the plurality of spacer protuberances disposed adjacent the second reaction housing end wall.

6. The inflator device according to claim 5 wherein the tubular filter body comprises a wall disposed across the central passageway and dividing the central passageway.

7. The inflator device according to claim 3 wherein the filter housing is attached to the reaction housing by a circumferential crimp in the filter housing.

8. The inflator device according to claim 7 wherein the reaction housing side wall comprises a shoulder, and the crimp is disposed adjacent the shoulder.

9. The inflator device according to claim 1 additionally comprising a strainer element disposed within the reaction housing and between the supply of gas generant material and the plurality of radially oriented chamber discharge openings, the strainer element comprising a strainer side wall aligned with the reaction housing side wall and including a plurality of strainer discharge openings.

10. The inflator device according to claim 9 wherein the strainer element additionally comprises a strainer end wall at an end of the strainer side wall and adjacent the second reaction housing end wall, and additionally comprising a damper pad disposed between the strainer end wall and the supply of gas generant material.

11. The inflator device according to claim 9 additionally comprising a sealing member disposed between the strainer element and the reaction housing side wall.

12. An inflator device for an inflatable cushion restraint system, the inflator device comprising:

a filter housing including a filter housing side wall, a filter housing first end, and a filter housing second end opposite the filter housing first end, the filter housing at least in part defining a filter chamber;

a first reaction housing defining a first reaction chamber containing a first supply of gas generant material, the first reaction housing disposed at the filter housing first end and at least a portion of the first reaction housing disposed in the filter chamber at the filter housing first end;

a first initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the first supply of gas generant material;

a second reaction housing defining a second reaction chamber containing a second supply of gas generant material, the second reaction housing disposed at the filter housing second end and at least a portion of the second reaction housing disposed in the filter chamber at the filter housing second end;

a second initiator device in reaction initiating communication with the second supply of gas generant material;

a filter element disposed in the filter chamber and external and between the first and second reaction housings;

the first reaction housing including a portion of a first reaction housing side wall aligned with and spaced apart from a portion of the filter housing side wall to form an inflation gas passage therebetween, the portion of the first reaction housing side wall including a plurality of radially oriented discharge openings connecting the first reaction chamber and the inflation gas passage, wherein upon reaction initiation of the first supply of gas generant material to produce inflation gas, the inflation gas exits the first reaction chamber through the discharge openings, enters the inflation gas passage, and passes through the filter element.

13. The inflator device according to claim 12 wherein the filter element comprises:

a tubular filter body including a central passageway; and

a first plurality of spacer protuberances at a first end of the tubular filter body, at least one of the first plurality of spacer protuberances disposed adjacent a housing end wall of the first reaction housing; and

a second plurality of spacer protuberances at a second end of the tubular filter body opposite the first end, at least one of the second plurality of spacer protuberances disposed adjacent a housing end wall of the second reaction housing.

14. The inflator device according to claim 13 wherein the tubular filter comprises a wall disposed across the central passageway and dividing the central passageway.

15. The inflator device according to claim 12 wherein the filter housing is attached to each if the first and second reaction housings by a circumferential crimp in the filter housing.

16. The inflator device according to claim 15 wherein the first reaction housing side wall comprises a circumferential shoulder, and the crimp is disposed adjacent the shoulder.

17. The inflator device according to claim 12 additionally comprising a strainer element within the first reaction chamber and between the first supply of gas generant material and the plurality of radially oriented discharge openings, the strainer element comprising a strainer side wall aligned with the first reaction housing side wall and including a plurality of strainer discharge openings.

18. The inflator device according to claim 17 wherein the strainer element additionally comprises a strainer end wall at an end of the strainer side wall and adjacent the second reaction housing end wall, and additionally comprising a damper pad disposed between the strainer end wall and the supply of gas generant material.

19. The inflator device according to claim 17 additionally comprising a sealing member disposed between the strainer element and the reaction housing side wall.