Arrangement for an airbag gas generator

• US 5,056,815 A
• Filed: 06/22/1990
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayern-Chemie Gesellschaft Fur Flugchemische Antriebe MbH
• Original Assignee: Bayern-Chemie Gesellschaft Fur Flugchemische Antriebe MbH
• Inventors: Geisreiter, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/542,002
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/740, 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature-dependent control of the gas press supplied by the gas generator.

Claims

1. An arrangement for a gas generator of a motor vehicle occupant protection system, the primary charge of which is arranged in a housing which has at least one opening leading to the housing of the gas-generating propulsion charge, wherein the throughput of a flame jet generated by the primary charge through the at least one opening is automatically adjusted by means of temperature-dependent control elements as a function of the ambient temperature T.

2. An arrangement for a gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the throughput of the flame jet is low at a low ambient temperature (T˜

-30°

C. ) and rises approximately linearly with an increasing ambient temperature (-30°

C.<

T<

+85°

C.).

3. An arrangement for a gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the control element is equipped with a screen which can be displaced in front of the at least one opening.

4. An arrangement for a gas generator according to claim 2, wherein the control element is equipped with a screen which can be displaced in front of the at least one opening.

5. An arrangement for a gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the control element is moved by a driving medium which changes one of:

its shape, length and volume, as a function of ambient temperature.

6. An arrangement for a gas generator according to claim 2, wherein the control element is moved by a driving medium which changes one of:

its shape, length and volume, as a function of ambient temperature.

7. An arrangement for a gas generator according to claim 3, wherein the control element is moved by a driving medium which changes one of:

its shape, length and volume, as a function of ambient temperature.

8. An arrangement for a gas generator according to claim 4, wherein the control element is moved by a driving medium which changes one of:

its shape, length and volume, as a function of ambient temperature.

9. An arrangement for a gas generator according to claim 3, wherein the screen includes a first part for controlling the at least one opening and a second part defining a variable volume chamber for the primary charge gas outlet.

10. An arrangement for a gas generator according to claim 9, wherein the control element operates to move the screen toward a position simultaneously decreasing the volume of the chamber and the size of the at least one opening in response to decreases in ambient temperature.

11. An arrangement for a gas generator of a motor vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

a primary charge arranged in a first housing;

a gas generating propulsion charge arranged in a second housing;

at least one opening between said first housing and said second housing whereby a flame jet generated by said primary charge may flow from said first housing to said second housing; and

a temperature dependent control element adapted to adjust a throughput of said flame jet generated by said primary charge through said opening, as a function of ambient temperature in the operating environment of said gas generator.