Inflatable restraint system reaction canister with integral inflator chamber

• US 5,407,227 A
• Filed: 04/12/1993
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rose, Larry D., Lauritzen, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/046,692
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 R, 280/728 A, 280/728 B, 280/732, 280/736, 280/738, 280/739, 280/740, 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

A reaction canister body part having an integral inflator chamber and an inflatable restraint system using reaction canister assemblies with such a body part are provided.

Claims

1. A trough-shaped body part for an inflatable passive restraint system reaction canister, said body part being a one-piece structure formed by extrusion comprising:

first and second opposite side walls defining an air bag retaining cavity therebetween and a continuous circumference tubular chamber portion of an inflator, said chamber portion capable of withstanding a pressure of about 1500 psi and having gas exit vents along at least one side thereof, said body part also having first and second opposite ends with a plurality of end closure attachment preparations at each said opposite end.

2. The reaction canister body part of claim 1 wherein the fabrication of the body part is of continuous aluminum extrusion.

3. The reaction canister body part of claim 1 wherein at least one of said side walls is continuously formed with said inflator chamber portion via a side wall connecting portion and wherein said side wall connecting portion includes at least one vent hole permitting venting of gas from an assembly incorporating the reaction canister body part.

4. The reaction canister body part of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one gas cooling cavity.

5. The reaction canister body part of claim 4 wherein said cooling cavity contains a thermal conductive material.

6. The reaction canister body part of claim 5 wherein said thermal conductive material comprises aluminum wool.

7. The reaction canister body part of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one integrally formed attachment sleeve preparation adapted for the attachment to said body part of at least one device selected from the group consisting of an air bag retainer, a diffuser, and an air bag retainer and diffuser.

8. The reaction canister body part of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one integrally formed mounting portion of an external type for mounting of said reaction canister body part into a vehicle.

9. The reaction canister body part of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one integrally formed mounting portion forming a shielded cavity within said reaction canister body part.

10. The reaction canister body part of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one integrally formed protective cover retaining preparation.

11. A reaction canister for an inflatable passive restraint system comprising:

a one-piece extruded trough-shaped body part having first and second opposite side walls defining an air bag cavity therebetween and a continuous circumference tubular chamber portion of an inflator, said chamber portion capable of withstanding a pressure of about 1500 psi and having gas exit vents along at least one side thereof, said body part also having first and second opposite ends with a plurality of end closure attachment preparations at each said opposite end; and

first and second end closures attached to a respectively associated opposite end of said body part by means positioned in cooperative relation with the respective end closure attachment preparations, each of said first and second end closures further having an inflator chamber base portion positioned to receive an associated one of the ends of the inflator chamber portion of said body part.

12. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein at least one of said end closures comprises an end plate and an end base.

13. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein at least one of said end closures comprises an end plate with an integral end base.

14. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein the fabrication of the body part is of continuous aluminum extrusion.

15. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein at least one of said side walls is continuously formed with said inflator chamber portion via a side wall connecting portion forming at least one gas cooling cavity, wherein said side wall connecting portion includes at least one vent hole permitting venting of gas from an assembly incorporating the reaction canister body part and wherein said cooling cavity contains a thermal conductive material.

16. The reaction canister of claim 15 wherein said thermal conductive material comprises aluminum wool.

17. The reaction canister of claim 11 additionally comprising an air bag retainer and diffuser and wherein said body part additionally comprises at least one integrally formed attachment sleeve preparation adapted for the attachment of said air bag retainer and diffuser to said body part.

18. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein said body part additionally comprises at least one integrally formed mounting portion of an external type for mounting of said reaction canister body part into a vehicle.

19. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein said body part additionally comprises at least one integrally formed mounting portion forming a shielded cavity within said reaction canister body part.

20. A reaction canister for an inflatable passive restraint system comprising:

a one-piece trough-shaped body part having first and second opposite side walls and a continuous circumference tubular chamber portion of an inflator, said chamber portion capable of withstanding a pressure of about 1500 psi and having gas exit vents along at least one side thereof, said body part having at least one integrally formed mounting portion of an external type for mounting of said reaction canister body part into a vehicle, said body part also having first and second opposite ends with a plurality of end closure attachment preparations at each said opposite end, the fabrication of said body part being of continuous aluminum extrusion, at least one of said side walls being continuously formed with said inflator chamber portion via a side wall connecting portion forming at least one gas cooling cavity, said side wall connecting portion of said body part including at least one vent hole to permit venting of gas from said reaction canister and with said gas cooling cavity containing a thermal conductive material comprising aluminum wool to facilitate cooling of vented gas, said reaction canister body part additionally comprising at least one attachment sleeve preparation adapted for the attachment to said body part of an air bag retainer and diffuser;

an air bag retainer and diffuser attached to said reaction canister body part by insert means positioned in cooperative relation with said attachment sleeve preparation; and

first and second end closures attached to a respectively associated opposite end of said body part by screw means positioned in cooperative relation with the respective end closure attachment preparations, each of said first and second end closures further having an inflator chamber base portion positioned to receive an associated one of the ends of the inflator chamber portion of said body part, wherein at least one of said end closures comprises an end plate and an end base.