Inflator assembly

• US 5,478,109 A
• Filed: 10/24/1994
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Thompson, Richard J., Faigle, Ernst M., Sparks, Tracy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/327,879
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/736
• 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 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a cylindrical inflator (800) containing an ignitable gas generating material (816) which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating the restraint (12). The inflator (800) has a tubular part (802) with a longitudinal central axis (808) and axially opposite ends (856) and (858). The tubular part (802) defines a combustion chamber (812) containing the gas generating material (816), and includes a cylindrical filter (842) for filtering the gas radially outward of the combustion chamber (812). The inflator (800) is free of a tubular outer body wall. The inflator (800) further includes a pair of end caps (804, 806) extending across the ends (856, 858) of the tubular part (802). Fasteners (860, 862) secure the end caps (804, 806) against movement from the tubular part (802) under the influence of the pressure of the gas, and directly engage the tubular part (802 ) to connect the end caps (804, 806) directly to the tubular part (802).

Claims

1. Apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:

an ignitable gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating the restraint; and

a cylindrical inflator having a tubular part with a longitudinal central axis and first and second axially opposite ends, said tubular part including means for defining a combustion chamber containing said gas generating material, said tubular part further including cylindrical filter means for filtering said gas radially outward of said combustion chamber;

said inflator being free of a tubular body wall defining gas flow openings at a location radially outward of said means for defining said combustion chamber;

said inflator further including first and second end caps extending across said first and second ends of said tubular part, respectively, said first and second end caps having fastener means for securing said end caps against movement from said tubular part under the influence of the pressure of said gas, said fastener means directly engaging said tubular part to connect said end caps directly to said tubular part.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular part has first and second surface portions which face axially inward of said first and second ends of said tubular part, respectively, said fastener means extending radially across said first surface portion of said tubular part to block movement of said first end cap axially outward from said first end of said tubular part, said fastener means extending radially across said second surface portion of said tubular part to block movement of said second end cap axially outward from said second end of said tubular part.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said filter means has a cylindrical outer surface portion extending axially between said end caps, said first and second surface portions of said tubular part being located radially inward of said cylindrical outer surface portion of said filter means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said end caps has a part which axially overlaps a respective end portion of said tubular part, said fastener means including fasteners extending radially from said overlapping parts of said end caps into said tubular part.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said fasteners comprise screws.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said tubular part further includes support means for surrounding said filter means to constraint said filter means from being deflected out of a cylindrical shape by the pressure of said gas, said support means including a wire structure extending circumferentially and axially over said filter means, said wire structure having axially opposite ends, said fasteners extending radially into said tubular part at locations axially outward of said opposite ends of said wire structure.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said end caps has a part which axially overlaps a respective end portion of said tubular part, said overlapping parts of said first and second end caps having deformed portions extending radially inward across said first and second surface portions of said tubular part, respectively.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said end caps has a cylindrical peripheral surface, said fastener means including a pair of clamps, each of said clamps applying a radially compressive clamping force to a respective one of said cylindrical peripheral surfaces at the deformed portion of the respective end cap.