Gas producer for filling a gas cushion restraining device

• US 4,886,293 A
• Filed: 12/28/1988
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Weiler, Werner, Patzelt, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/291,173
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/742, 280/736
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/00 Apparatus for generating gases production of inert gas mixtures B01J19/14; for generating specific gases, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. C01B, C10J ; in "air bags" on vehicles B60R21/26; for starter gas F02C7/26; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure F42B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A gas producer is disclosed for filling a gas cushion restraining device for occupants of vehicles. The gas producer includes a combustion chamber filled with fuel and surrounded by a wall which exhibits apertures for the discharge of the gas produced, said apertures being sealed hermetically by a destructible cover at the start of the burning process of the fuel up to a specific pressure rise in the combustion chamber. In order to obtain a planned pressure rise irrespective of the initial temperature of the gas producer, it is provided according to the invention that the total cross-sectional area of the discharge apertures is automatically enlargeable as a function of the rising combustion chamber pressure.

Claims

1. Gas producer for filling a gas cushion restraining device for occupants of vehicles, having a combustion chamber filled with fuel and surrounded by a wall which exhibits apertures for the discharge of the gas produced, said apertures being sealed hermetically by a destructible cover at the start of the burning process of the fuel up to a specific pressure rise in the combustion chamber, wherein the total cross-sectional area of the discharge apertures is automatically enlargeable as a function of the rising combustion chamber pressure.

2. Gas producer according to claim 1, wherein the wall of the combustion chamber exhibits apertures of different diameters, and wherein, in the design state of the producer, said apertures are sealed by a tear-open foil cover arranged on the inside of the wall.

3. Gas producer according to claim 2, wherein the cover is formed by a sheet metal strip placed against the wall.

4. Gas producer according to claim 1, wherein the apertures in the wall exhibit equal diameters and wherein annular fuses are inserted into said apertures.

5. Gas producer according to claim 1, wherein a tear-open cover arranged on the inside of the wall of the combustion chamber exhibits a central region destructible at relatively low pressure and of smaller size than the associated wall aperture, and wherein radial breaking lines destructible at higher pressure start from this central region.

6. Gas producer according to claim 1, wherein a tear-open cover arranged on the inside of the wall of the combustion chamber exhibits a central punched hole region of smaller size than the associated wall aperture, wherein radial breaking lines or punched parting lines destructible at higher pressure start from said central hole region, and wherein the hole region is covered by a separate foil in the initial state.

7. Gas producer according to claim 1, wherein the apertures are covered on the outside of the wall by a bimetallic spring which clears the passage progressively with rising temperature.

8. Gas producer according to claim 1, wherein the tear-open cover exhibits different wall thicknesses in the region of different apertures.