Air bag inflator and method of making the same
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising an air bag inflator structure adapted to direct gas generated under pressure into an air bag, said inflator structure comprising:
- a container having a tubular housing wall with an exterior surface forming part of the exterior of said container and an interior surface defining an internal cavity, said tubular housing wall having gas dispensing nozzles extending therethrough, each of said dispensing nozzles having an inlet formed in said interior surface of said tubular housing wall and an outlet formed in said exterior surface of said tubular housing wall,a tubular lining disposed inside said internal cavity defined by said tubular housing wall, said tubular lining being located immediately adjacent said interior surface of said tubular housing wall so as to cover the inlets of said gas dispensing nozzles,a gas generating composition disposed within said tubular lining, said gas generating composition being ignitable to generate gas within said tubular lining, andan end closure coupled with an end of said tubular housing wall, said end closure capturing an end portion of said tubular lining between said end closure and said end of said tubular housing wall to simultaneously close the end of said tubular housing wall and said end portion of said tubular lining,said tubular lining being adapted to burst at locations adjacent the inlets of said gas dispensing nozzles when gas pressure within said tubular lining exceeds a predetermined amount, to permit gas generated within said tubular lining to be directed through said gas dispensing nozzles and from said container.
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Abstract
An air bag inflator structure comprises a container with gas dispensing nozzles, a lining disposed inside the container adjacent the nozzles, a gas generating assembly disposed within the lining, and means for closing the container to the gas generating assembly within the lining. The air bag inflator is formed by inserting the lining into the container, inserting the gas generating assembly into the lining, and coupling a closure to the container in a manner which closes the container and seals the gas generating assembly within the lining.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising an air bag inflator structure adapted to direct gas generated under pressure into an air bag, said inflator structure comprising:
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a container having a tubular housing wall with an exterior surface forming part of the exterior of said container and an interior surface defining an internal cavity, said tubular housing wall having gas dispensing nozzles extending therethrough, each of said dispensing nozzles having an inlet formed in said interior surface of said tubular housing wall and an outlet formed in said exterior surface of said tubular housing wall, a tubular lining disposed inside said internal cavity defined by said tubular housing wall, said tubular lining being located immediately adjacent said interior surface of said tubular housing wall so as to cover the inlets of said gas dispensing nozzles, a gas generating composition disposed within said tubular lining, said gas generating composition being ignitable to generate gas within said tubular lining, and an end closure coupled with an end of said tubular housing wall, said end closure capturing an end portion of said tubular lining between said end closure and said end of said tubular housing wall to simultaneously close the end of said tubular housing wall and said end portion of said tubular lining, said tubular lining being adapted to burst at locations adjacent the inlets of said gas dispensing nozzles when gas pressure within said tubular lining exceeds a predetermined amount, to permit gas generated within said tubular lining to be directed through said gas dispensing nozzles and from said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An air bag inflator structure comprising:
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a container containing a gas generating means and adapted to direct gas generated by said gas generating means from the container, said container having a cylindrical wall with an exterior surface forming part of the exterior of said container and an interior surface defining an internal cavity within which said gas generating means is disposed, said wall having gas dispensing nozzles extending therethrough, each of said dispensing nozzles having an inlet formed in said interior surface of said wall and an outlet formed in said exterior surface of said wall, a lining disposed in said container, said lining being located immediately adjacent said interior surface of said wall so as to cover the inlets of said gas dispensing nozzles, and having an open end with an outwardly flared funnel shaped configuration, a solid gas generating composition disposed within said lining, said solid gas generating composition being ignitable to generate gas within said container, closure means for closing said container, said closure means comprising an end cap having an exterior configuration matching the internal configuration of said cylindrical wall of said container, and said open end of said lining being captured between the open end of said cylindrical wall of said container and said end cap to close and seal said lining, and said lining being adapted to burst at locations adjacent the inlets of said gas dispensing nozzles when gas pressure within said container exceeds a predetermined amount, to permit gas generated within said container to be directed through said gas dispensing nozzles and from said container.
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26. A method of forming an air bag inflator structure comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a container having a cylindrical wall with gas dispensing nozzles extending through said cylindrical wall, the cylindrical wall having an interior surface defining a cavity, the cylindrical wall having a closed end and an open end, (b) providing a tubular lining adapted when inserted into said cavity to lie adjacent to said interior surface of said cylindrical wall and to cover the gas dispensing nozzles extending through said cylindrical wall, (c) inserting said tubular lining into said cavity, said tubular lining having an open end adjacent to the open end of the cylindrical wall, (d) thereafter inserting gas generating means into said tubular lining, and (e) coupling an end closure with said cylindrical wall in a manner which simultaneously (i) captures a portion of said tubular lining between said end closure and said cylindrical wall, (ii) closes the open end of the cylindrical wall, and (iii) closes the open end of the lining. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An air bag inflator structure comprising:
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a container having a tubular housing wall with an exterior surface forming part of the exterior of said container and an interior surface defining an internal cavity, said tubular housing wall having gas dispensing nozzles extending therethrough, each of said dispensing nozzles having an inlet formed in said interior surface of said tubular housing wall and an outlet formed in said exterior surface of said tubular housing wall, a tubular lining disposed inside said internal cavity defined by said tubular housing wall, said tubular lining being located immediately adjacent said interior surface of said tubular housing wall so as to cover the inlets of said gas dispensing nozzles, a gas generating composition disposed within said tubular lining, said gas generating composition being ignitable to generate gas within said tubular lining, gas filtering means disposed between said gas generating composition and said tubular lining, an end closure coupled with an end of said tubular housing wall, said end closure capturing an end portion of said tubular lining between said end closure and said end of said tubular housing wall to simultaneously close the end of said tubular housing wall and said end portion of said tubular lining, said tubular lining being adapted to burst at locations adjacent the inlets of said gas dispensing nozzles when gas pressure within said tubular lining exceeds a predetermined amount, to permit gas generated within said tubular lining to be directed through said gas dispensing nozzles and from said container.
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Specification