Gas generator having housing of double structure

• US 5,306,041 A
• Filed: 03/29/1993
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Inventors: Ogawa, Akihisa, Muramatsu, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US07/983,569
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/740, 280/736, 280/728 R, 102/530, 102/531, 422/164, 422/165, 422/166
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gas generator for an air bag, particularly to the improvement of a housing for a gas generator.

The gas generator according to the present invention is characterized having a combustion chamber formed with a housing having an annular top wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to a circumferential edge of a top wall of a central cylindrical holder, and an annular bottom wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to an edge portion of an opposite end of the holder. A diffuser is provided to cover the top wall of the central cylindrical holder and the annular top wall of the combustion chamber, whereby a double wall covering the combustion chamber is formed. An annular closure is provided so as to cover a bottom wall of the housing of the combustion chamber and is welded at an inner edge portion thereof to the edge portion of the lower end of the central cylindrical holder. An outer end of the closure is welded to an extended portion of the diffuser to form a filter/coolant chamber. Outlet ports for a gas from the filter/coolant chamber are provided in the extended portion of the diffuser.

Claims

1. A gas generator having a central cylindrical holder in which a squib/enhancer is housed, a combustion chamber surrounding said holder and holding gas generants therein, a filter/coolant chamber formed annularly so as to surround said combustion chamber, and adapted to allow the entry thereinto of a gas which has passed through openings thereof communicating with said combustion chamber, and gas outlet ports formed at said filter/coolant chamber and through which the gas which has passed through a filter and a coolant rushes into an air bag, characterized in that said combustion chamber (10) is formed with a housing (14) having an annular top wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to a circumferential edge of a top wall of said central cylindrical holder (4), and an annular bottom wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to an edge portion of an opposite end of said holder, a diffuser (12) being provided so as to cover said top wall of said central cylindrical holder and a top wall which is joined thereto of said housing of said combustion chamber, whereby a double wall of said combustion chamber is formed, an annular closure (17) being provided so as to cover a bottom wall of said housing of said combustion chamber and be welded at an inner edge portion thereof to the edge portion of the lower end of said central cylindrical holder, an outer end of said closure being welded to an extended portion of said diffuser to form said filter/coolant chamber, said outlet ports for a gas from said filter/coolant chamber being provided in said extended portion of said diffuser.

2. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein said housing (14) forming said combustion chamber is constructed so that said gas generants are placed therein after an inner circumferential edge portion of an annular top wall of a combustor cap has been welded to the circumference of said top wall of said central cylindrical holder, a cover which forms an annular bottom wall of said housing being then fixed to an edge portion of a lower end of said central cylindrical holder, a circumferential portion of said cover being crimped to an edge portion of a lower end of a side wall of said combustor cup to seal said gas generants.

3. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein said housing (14) forming said combustion chamber is constructed so that said gas generants are placed therein after an annular bottom wall of said combustor cup has been welded to an edge portion of a lower end of said central cylindrical holder, an upper end portion of said combustor cup being then bent by a press and fixed by riveting to a circumferential edge of said top wall of said central cylindrical holder to seal said gas generants.

4. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said second fastening means is a weld and said first fastening means is riveting to seal said combustion means in said second housing.

5. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said second top and bottom walls, and said third top and bottom walls are annular.

6. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said third top wall is laminated onto said first and second top walls.

7. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said third top wall is a disc-type diffuser.

8. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said igniting means is a squib or enhancer.

9. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said combustion means is disc-type gas generants.

10. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said second passage means is a plurality of communication ports.

11. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said third passage means is a plurality of communication ports.

12. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said third top and bottom walls, and said third side wall defined a filter and coolant chamber in said third housing.

13. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said third housing includes means for directing gasses, said directing means disposed in said filter and coolant chamber to direct said gasses to impinge on said coolant and then pass through said filter.

14. The gas generator according to claim 2, wherein said third housing surrounds said second housing and said second housing surrounds said first housing.

17. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein said housing (14) forming said combustion chamber is constructed so that said gas generants are placed therein after an inner circumferential edge portion of an annular top wall of a combustor cap has been welded to the circumference of said top wall of said central cylindrical holder, a cover which forms an annular bottom wall of said housing being then fixed to an edge portion of a lower end of said central cylindrical holder, a circumferential portion of said cover being crimped to an edge portion of a lower end of a side wall of said combustor cup to seal said gas generants.

18. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein said housing (14) forming said combustion chamber is constructed so that said gas generants are placed therein after an annular bottom wall of said combustor cup has been welded to an edge portion of a lower end of said central cylindrical holder, an upper end portion of said combustor cup being then bent by a press and fixed by riveting to a circumferential edge of said top wall of said central cylindrical holder to seal said gas generants.

15. A gas generator for inflating an air bag comprising:

a first housing having;

a first top wall,

a first bottom wall,

a continuous first side wall connecting first top and bottom walls,

passage means through said first side wall, and

igniting means disposed in said first housing;

a second housing having;

a second top wall,

a second bottom wall,

said second top and bottom walls extending to, form a continuous second side wall, and

passage means through said continuous second side wall, and

combustion means disposed in said second housing,

a third housing having;

a third top wall,

a third bottom wall,

said third top and bottom walls extending to form a continuous third side wall, and

passage means through said continuous third side wall;

wherein;

said third top wall overlying said first and second top walls,

said third top wall overlying said second bottom wall;

first means fastening said second top wall to said first housing;

second means fastening said second bottom wall to said first housing;

third means fastening said third top wall to said third bottom wall; and

fourth means fastening said third bottom wall to said first housing;

said first passage means in said first side wall coacting with said second passage means in said second side wall and said third passage means in said third side wall to enable gasses from said combustion means ignited by said igniting means in said first housing to ignite said combustion means in said second housing and pass said gasses through said third passage means in said third side wall to said air bag.

16. A gas generator having a central cylindrical holder in which a squib or enhancer is housed, a combustion chamber surrounding said holder and holding gas generants therein, a filter and coolant chamber formed annularly so as to surround said combustion chamber, and adapted to allow the entry thereinto of a gas which has passed through openings thereof communicating with said combustion chamber, and gas outlet ports formed at said filter and coolant chamber and through which the gas which has passed through a filter and a coolant rushes into an air bag, characterized in that said combustion chamber (10) is formed with a housing 14 having an annular top wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to a circumferential edge of a top wall of said central cylindrical holder (4), and an annular bottom wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to an edge portion of an opposite end of said holder, a diffuser(12) being provided so as to cover said top wall of said central cylindrical holder and a top wall which is joined thereto of said housing of said combustion chamber, whereby a double wall of said combustion chamber is formed, an annular closure (17) being provided so as to cover a bottom wall of said housing of said combustion chamber and be welded at an inner edge portion thereof to the edge portion of the lower end of said central cylindrical holder, an outer end of said closure being welded to an extended portion of said diffuser to form said filter and coolant chamber, said outlet ports for a gas from said filter and coolant chamber being provided in said extended portion of said diffuser.