Inflator device for an airbag module

• US 20100230943A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Windhausen, Björn, Kimmich, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US12/659,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20100230943A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26011 using a filter through which the inflation gas passes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26076 characterised by casing
• 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 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

An inflator device for an airbag module of a motor vehicle is provided. The inflator device comprising a combustion chamber for accommodating a gas charge from which as gas for inflating a gas bag can be generated, and a combustion chamber housing which surrounds an interior space of the combustion chamber, in which space the gas charge is housed. The combustion chamber housing is enclosed by a housing receptacle such that the combustion chamber housing can be supported on the housing receptacle in order to prevent a deformation or a break-up of the combustion chamber housing upon generation of gas according to its intended purposes in the combustion chamber. The housing receptacle is part of a module housing for receiving at least one gas bag of the airbag module.

Claims

1. An inflator device for an airbag module of a motor vehicle with

a combustion chamber for receiving a gas charge, from which a gas for inflating a gasbag can be generated, and

a combustion chamber housing, which encloses an internal space of the combustion chamber, in which the gas charge is housed,

wherein the combustion chamber housing is designed such, that it cannot withstand the pressure that develops in the combustion chamber upon generation of gas according to its intended purpose, and that the combustion chamber housing is enclosed by a housing receptacle such, that the combustion chamber housing can be supported on the housing receptacle in order to prevent a deformation or a break-up of the combustion chamber housing upon generation of gas in the combustion chamber according to its intended purpose and that the housing receptacle is part of a module housing for receiving at least one gas bag of the airbag module and wherein the housing receptacle is formed on the module housing in one-piece.

2. The inflator device according to claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber housing is designed so thin-walled that it cannot withstand the pressure that develops in the combustion chamber upon generation of gas according to its intended purpose.

3. The inflator device according to claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber housing encloses the internal space of the combustion chamber in gas-tight manner.

4. The inflator device according to claim 3, wherein the combustion chamber housing encloses the internal space of the combustion chamber together with a igniter housing of an igniter device in a gas tightly manner.

5. The inflator device according to claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber comprises at least one outlet area in order to may let out generated in the combustion chamber from the combustion chamber.

6. The inflator device according to claim 1, wherein at least one outlet opening is formed in an outlet area of the combustion chamber housing under the influence of the gas pressure that develops in the combustion chamber, upon generation of gas in the combustion chamber according to its intended purpose.

7. The inflator device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one outlet opening is formed by a locally limited break-up of the combustion chamber housing under the influence of the pressure that develops in the combustion chamber upon generation of gas in the combustion chamber according to its intended purpose.

8. The inflator device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one outlet opening is intentionally formed at an outlet area of the combustion chamber housing which is not supported on the housing receptacle.

9. The inflator device according to claim 1, wherein the housing receptacle has at least one through opening through which gas that has been generated in the combustion chamber can pass into a gas bag to be inflated.

10. The inflator device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one outlet opening is formed by a locally limited break-up of the combustion chamber housing in a outlet area which adjoins a through opening of the housing receptacle.

11. The inflator device according to claim 1, wherein the housing receptacle is part of a motor vehicle body or interior lining of a motor vehicle, in particular of an instrument panel or an interior lining of a door.

12. The inflator device according to claim 1, wherein a filter device for filtering the gas generated in the combustion chamber is provided outside the combustion chamber.

13. The inflator device according to claims 12, wherein the filter device is combined with a diffuser to form a unit, wherein the diffuser serves for introducing the gas that is generated in the combustion chamber into a gas bag to inflated.

14. The Inflator device according to claim 1, wherein a throttle device is provided outside the combustion chamber for controlling the combustion of the gas charge upon generation of gas according to its intended purposes.

15. The inflator device according to claim 14, wherein the throttle device is provided at the housing receptacle.

16. The inflator device according to claim 1, wherein a igniter device, which forms a unit separate from the combustion chamber, for igniting a gas charge provided in the combustion chamber is assigned to the combustion chamber.

17. The inflator device according to claim 16, wherein the igniter device is connected to the combustion chamber housing.

18. The inflator device according to claim 17, wherein the igniter device is arranged together with the combustion chamber in the housing receptacle.

19. The inflator device according to claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber housing is supported over a large area on the housing receptacle upon generation of a gas according to its intended purpose.

20. The inflator device according to 6, wherein the combustion chamber housing is not support in merely such portions, on which outlet openings of the combustion chamber shall be formed under the influence of a gas generated in the combustion chamber according to its intended purpose.