Universal squib connector

• US 5,200,574 A
• Filed: 02/24/1992
• Issued: 04/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Bradley W., Monk, David B., Cunningham, Donald J., Chandler, Virginia E., Allard, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US07/837,080
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 102/202.2, 102/202.3, 102/202.9, 102/530, 102/531, 280/735, 280/741, 439/483, 439/484, 439/552, 439/555, 439/557, 439/559, 439/607, 439/608, 439/620, 439/677, 439/680
• US Class Current: 102/530
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/103 Mounting initiator heads in initiators; Sealing-plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/188 having radio-frequency filters , e.g. containing ferrite cores or inductances F42B3/185 takes precedence

Abstract

A universal squib connector for automobile driver and passenger air bag collision protection systems includes a ferrite bead having two holes in spaced relation with an electric terminal positioned in each hole for making electrical contact with an associated one of the protruding pins of a pin type electric squib. The arrangement enables the use of a single configuration of gas generator and a single configuration of electric initiator or squib for the igniter system of the gas generator while providing EMI/RFI protection and the advantages realizable from both pin type and pig tail type connection of the collision sensor to the input conductors or lead wires to the squib and also the electrical system of the vehicle according to the preferences of individual automobile manufacturers.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

a housing having a wall provided with outer orifices, in which wall a socket is formed, and including,

a pin type squib having electrically conducting pins protruding from a protion thereof,

an inner central chamber in which is placed said squib for ignition, said squib being positioned such that said pins thereof extend into said socket,

an intermediate chamber containing a gas generant pyrotechnic composition,

an outer chamber containing means for filtering and for communicating externally of the housing by way of said outer orifices, with at least said intermediate and outer chambers communicating through intermediate orifices,

a universal squib connector for connecting said squid to a source of electrical current for initiating ignition, said universal squib connector being positioned in said socket and including holes therein into which said pins from said squib are received, said universal squib connector providing a permanent pig tail connection to said squib and comprising,

connecting terminals,

a ferrite bead having said holes therethrough in a spaced relationship, each of said holes having a first end and a second end, with one of said terminals positioned in one of said holes and another of said terminals positioned in another of said holes, the spacing of said holes being such as to allow each of the protruding pins of said squib to enter the first end of an individually associated one of said holes to make electrical contact with an individually associated one of said terminals, said ferrite bead providing EMI/RFI protection in a region surrounding said terminals,

a plurality of elecrical input conductors providing a pig tail connection for connecting an electrical circuit to said squib with each of said input conductors having an end positioned in the second end of an associated one of said holes in said ferrite bead and connected to the terminal positioned therein, and

further including means to permanently retain said universal squib connector in said socket and thereby to permanently retain each of said terminals in electric contact with an individually associated one of the protruding pins of said squib,

wherein said ferrite bead and said terminals are encapsulated in a plastic molding with the holes in said ferrite bead extending through the plastic molding to allow entry of each of the protruding pins of said squib to enter the associated first end thereof and an end of each of said pair of electrical input conductors to enter the associated second end thereof,

wherein said means to permanently retain said universal squib connector in said socket comprises flexible latch means attached to said plastic molding and extending outwardly and downwardly from a side wall portion thereof, said latch means being compressed inwardly against said side wall portion of said plastic molding of said universal squib connector in said socket, said socket having a groove in the side wall thereof into which said latch means moves and is captured,

wherein said plastic molding includes first and second portions that extend at substantially a right angle to each other with said first portion extending in the direction of said electrical input conductors and contacting said wall of said housing of said generator in which said socket is formed, said first portion guiding and allowing said electrical input conductors to run parallel to said wall of said housing,

further including anti-rotation means provided in cooperative relation with said universal squib connector and said gas generator to predetermine the angular orientation of said universal squib connector with respect to that of said gas generator and to prevent relative angular movement between said universal squib connector and said squib,

wherein two sets of ribs of different length provided on said second portion of said universal squib connector provides a tight fit with an inner wall of said socket, with the ribs having the shorter length being positioned adjacent said first portion of said plastic molding and the axial positions of all of said ribs being such that all of the ribs engage the wall of said socket at the same time,

wherein said anti-rotation means comprises a cavity adjoining said holes in said universal squib connector and a projection on said squib with said projection on said squib matching the configuration of said cavity,

wherein said cavity is "T" shaped whereby there is only one angular position at which said cavity is arranged to receive said projection on said squib, and

wherein said first portion of said plastic molding includes opposed triangular surfaces that extend parallel to said first portion and parallel to said electrical input conductors and are spaced from said wall of said housing, said triangular surfaces of said first portion of said plastic molding together with said second portion thereof facilitating gripping of said universal squib connector.

2. A gas generator as defined by claim 1 wherein said latch means are formed integrally with said plastic molding, and

wherein each of said ribs of different length have a knife edge.

3. A universal squib connector for providing a permanent pig tail connection to a pin type electric initiator or squib comprising,

connecting terminals,

a ferrite bead having holes therethrough in spaced relation, each of said holes having a first end and a second end, with one of said terminals positioned in one of said holes and another of said terminals positioned in another of said holes, the spacing of said holes being such as to allow each of the protruding pins of a pin type electric initiator or squib to enter the first end of an individually associated one of said holes to make electrical contact with an individually associated one of said terminals, said ferrite bead providing EMI/RFI protection in a region surrounding said terminals, and

a plurality of electrical input conductors for connecting an electrical circuit to the electric initiator or squib with each of said input conductors having an end positioned in the second end of an individually associated one of said holes in said ferrite bead and connected to the terminal positioned therein,

wherein said ferrite bead and said terminals are encapsulated in a plastic molding with the holes in said ferrite bead extending through the plastic molding to allow entry of each of the protruding pins of an electric initiator or squib to enter the associated first end thereof and an end of each of said electrical conductors to enter the associated second end thereof,

wherein said universal squib connector includes flexible latch means attached to said plastic molding and extending outwardly and downwardly from a side wall portion thereof, said latch means being compressed inwardly against said side wall portion upon insertion of said universal squib connector in a socket having a matching shape and arranged to be captured by groove means in the socket upon being fully inserted therein,

wherein said plastic molding includes adjacent the second ends of the holes in said ferrite bead first and second portions, which first and second portions extend in opposed directions at substantially a right angle to each other, with said electrical input conductors being guided into said universal squib connector through said first portion,

wherein the shape of said second portion of said universal squib connector is substantially cylindrical,

wherein a plurality of uniformly spaced axially extending ribs integral with said plastic molding are provided on said second portion,

said plurality of ribs comprising two sets of ribs of different length and enabling a tight fit in a socket of matching shape into which said universal switch connector is inserted, with said ribs having the shorter length being positioned adjacent said first portion of said plastic molding and the axial positions of all of said ribs being such that all of them engage the wall of the socket at the same time to allow said universal squib connector to be inserted in the socket in concentric relation therewith,

further including anti-rotation means provided in cooperative relation with said universal squib connector and a squib to which said universal squib connector is connected to predetermine the angular orientation thereof and to prevent angular movement therebetween,

wherein said anti-rotation means comprises a cavity adjoining the first ends of said holes in said ferrite beads and a projection on the squib that matches the configuration of said cavity and is arranged to fit therein when said universal squib connector is positioned in operable relation with the squib,

wherein said cavity is "T" shaped whereby there is only one angular position at which the cavity is arranged to receive the projection on the squib,

wherein said first portion of said plastic molding includes opposed triangular surfaces, said triangular, surfaces extending parallel to said first portion and parallel to said electrical conductors as guided by said first portion into said universal squib connector, said triangular surfaces and said second portion of said plastic molding facilitating gripping of said universal squib connector to pull thereon when fully inserted in the socket in operable relation with the squib and captured therein by said latch means.

4. A universal squib connector as defined by claim 3,

wherein each of said ribs of different length have a knife edge.