GAS GENERATOR

• US 20170072901A1
• Filed: 09/14/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: SVENSSON, Soren, WANGROTH, Tobias, HANSSON, Mikael
• Granted Patent: US 10,118,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/048 using presses for radially crimping tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/146 Clip clamping hand tools
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26035 triggered by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2685 comprising a plurality of pressure chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/045 Hybrid systems with previously pressurised gas using blasting to increase the pressure, e.g. causing the gas to be released from its sealed container
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/195 Manufacture

Abstract

A gas generator includes at least two functional subassemblies and at least two retention parts. The functional subassemblies each have an axis defining an axial direction and at least one outer dimension in a plane normal to the axial direction. The retention parts are each radially crimped for retaining one of the at least two functional subassemblies on the gas generator. The at least two retention parts are formed on the same part of the gas generator and the at least two functional subassemblies are positioned on the gas generator with a centre distance of axes less than or equal to 1.5 times this outer dimension and that each retention part is radially crimped over at least 90% of its periphery.

Claims

1. Gas generator comprising:

at least two functional subassemblies, each with an axis;

at least two housings, each housing designed to receive a corresponding one of the at least two functional subassemblies;

at least two retention parts, each retention part crimped radially for retaining a corresponding one of these at least two functional subassemblies on the gas generator,

wherein each of the at least two housings comprises a section transversal to the axis of the functional subassembly received with a characteristic dimension such as an inside diameter, and

wherein the at least two functional subassemblies are positioned on the gas generator with a centre distance of axes lower than or equal to 4 times one half of the sum of the characteristic dimensions and that each retention part is crimped radially on at least 90% of its periphery.

2. The gas generator according to the claim 1, wherein the axes of each of the at least two functional subassemblies are coplanar.

3. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the axes of each of the at least two functional subassemblies are parallel.

4. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the functional subassemblies are ignition subassemblies.

5. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the retention parts are each formed by a collar and in which each of the functional subassemblies comprises a groove at the level of which each collar is radially clamped.

6. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the retention parts each comprise a radially crimped zone, which crimped zones are contained in the same plane.

7. The gas generator according to claim 1, in combination with a safety module.

8. The safety module according to claim 1.

9. A crimping tool radially designed to radially crimp at least two functional subassemblies of a gas generator according to claim 1, the crimping tool comprising a plurality of jaws and designed to crimp in a single crimping operation at least 90% of the periphery of each retention part.

10. The radial crimping tool according to claim 9, wherein at least one jaw comprises an impression part for crimping each of these at least two retention parts.

11. The radial crimping tool according to claim 9, wherein at least one jaw comprises an impression part for crimping each of these at least two retention parts and is designed to move in the plane normal to the axial direction of the functional subassemblies along a direction normal to a straight line passing through the axes ((aa′

), (bb′

)) of each of the functional subassemblies during the crimping operation.

12. The radial crimping tool according to claim 11, wherein the at least one jaw comprises a crimping impression part for each of these at least two retention parts and has in the plane normal to the axial direction of the functional subassemblies at least one axis of symmetry which passes between the axes ((aa′

), (bb′

)) of each of the functional subassemblies.

13. The radial crimping tool according to claim 9, wherein each of the jaws is designed to move during the course of the crimping operation along a direction comprised in the plane normal to the axial direction of the functional subassemblies.

14. The radial crimping tool according to claim 9, wherein a direction of movement of at least one part of the jaws does not pass through one of the axes of each of the functional subassemblies.

15. The radial crimping tool according to claim 9, wherein a direction of movement of each of the jaws passes through an axis arranged between the axes of each of these at least two functional subassemblies, and preferably arranged at the same distance from the axes of each of these at least two functional subassemblies.