GAS GENERATOR FOR AIRBAG DEVICE

• US 20120037030A1
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tasaki, Yoji, Chen, Jianlin, Nakamura, Mitsuharu, Shiraishi, Ryutaro, Saiki, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 9,016,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/530
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26

Abstract

A small, lightweight, and inexpensive gas generator for an airbag device. The gas generator for an airbag device according to the present invention includes: a deployment activating initiator that accommodates a predetermined amount of ignition powder and is activated by an impact on a vehicle; a main gas generating agent that generates a main gas for inflating an airbag when burned; a main gas generation chamber that accommodates the main gas generating agent; a secondary gas generation chamber that is provided in an interior of the main gas generation chamber and accommodates the initiator; and a secondary gas generating agent accommodated in the secondary gas generation chamber.

Claims

1. A gas generator for inflating an airbag of an airbag device of in a vehicle, comprising:

a deployment activating initiator having a predetermined amount of ignition powder therein and configured to be activated by an impact on the vehicle;

a main gas generating agent that generates a main gas for inflating the airbag when burned;

wall portions defining a main gas generation chamber and within which the main gas generating agent is located;

additional wall portions defining a secondary gas generation chamber that is provided in an interior of the main gas generation chamber and within which the initiator is located; and

a secondary gas generating agent located within the secondary gas generation chamber about the initiator.

2. The gas generator for an airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the initiator is configured such that when the initiator is activated, a shockwave is generated and the secondary gas generating agent is pulverized and burned by the shockwave, whereupon the main gas generating agent is ignited by the burning of the secondary gas generating agent.

3. The gas generator for an airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the ignition powder is at least one of ZPP and/or THPP.

4. The gas generator for an airbag device according to claim 1, the main gas generating agent and the secondary gas generating agent are formed of the same material.

5. The gas generator for an airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a nitrate-based gas generating agent is used as the main gas generating agent and the secondary gas generating agent.

6. The gas generator for an airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio between the ignition powder in the initiator and the secondary gas generating agent is between 1:

5 and 1;

27.5.

7. The gas generator for an airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio between the secondary gas generating agent and the main gas generating agent is between 1:

5.5 and 1;

13.5.

8. The gas generator for an airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a hole through which a combustion gas escapes is provided in the wall portions defining the secondary gas generation chamber.

9. The gas generator for an airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate lid that unitarily covers the upper portion of the main gas generation chamber and the secondary gas generation chamber.