Continuous circumference diffuser reaction canister

• US 5,480,182 A
• Filed: 07/08/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• 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: Smith, Bradley W., Lauritzen, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US08/272,407
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 R, 280/728 A, 280/732, 280/736, 280/739, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• 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

Featured for use in the reaction canister of an inflatable restraint system is a continuous circumference diffuser tube. The diffuser tube may be a one-piece, two-piece or clamshell type all of which functionally are the same although the clamshell type is more versatile. The diffuser tube provides for the attachment of brackets for installation of the reaction canister in the instrument panel of a vehicle, provides a secure reliable attachment for the inflatable bag or protective cushion, and a secure installation of the inflator. The diffuser tube completely encloses the inflator and allows a last operation of assembly thereof.

Claims

1. For use in an inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle, the combination comprising:

a reaction canister having a cover, a top panel and a bottom panel,

a diffuser tube having a diffuser portion and a cap portion, and an inflator having an elongated cylindrical shape and including a gas flow outlet arrangement that renders the inflator substantially thrust neutral,

said diffuser tube being arranged to permit installation therein of said inflator as a last operation of assembly,

with said diffuser and cap portions being formed in one piece with said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister, and

with said top and said bottom panels extending in one piece to said cover from said diffuser and cap portions, respectively, of said diffuser tube.

2. The combination, as defined by claim 1, including vehicle mounting means comprising bracket means attached to said diffuser tube.

3. The combination, as defined by claim 1, wherein said diffuser tube is a continuous circumference one-piece diffuser tube.

4. For use is an inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle, the combination comprising:

a reaction canister having a top panel and a bottom panel, and

a diffuser tube having a diffuser portion and a cap portion,

with one at least of said diffuser and cap portions being formed integrally with said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister,

wherein said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister each have a first edge and a second edge,

wherein said diffuser tube has a first end and a second end,

wherein said reaction canister further includes,

a first end plate and a second end plate positioned in contacting relation with said first and second edges, respectively, of said top panel and said bottom panel and with said first and second ends, respectively, of said diffuser tube, said top and bottom panels forming a cavity in said reaction canister,

an inflatable bag housed in said cavity in said reaction canister, said inflatable bag having an inlet opening for the flow of inflating gas therein positioned in cooperative relation with said diffuser tube and being attached thereto at a position closely adjacent said inlet opening,

an elongated inflator having a first end and a second end and adapted to be inserted in said diffuser tube and having support means provided at each end for the retention thereof in said diffuser tube, and

a portion of said second end plate adjacent the second end of said diffuser tube being cut out to allow said inflator to be inserted in said diffuser tube in cooperative relation therewith from outside the reaction canister and diffuser tube as a last operation of the assembly thereof with said inflatable bag housed in said cavity of said reaction canister.

5. The combination, as defined by claim 4:

wherein said diffuser tube includes a diffuser portion having axially spaced inflating gas exit slots therein disposed in communication with the inflating gas inlet opening in said inflatable bag, and

wherein said inflator is inserted in said diffuser tube in substantially concentric relation therewith and is provided on each of the opposite sides thereof with several longitudinal rows of axially spaced exhaust openings for the flow therefrom of inflating gas, said inflator being thrust neutral.

6. The combination, as defined by claim 5, further including means for predetermining the angular position of said inflator relatively to said axially spaced inflating gas exit slots in said diffuser portion of said diffuser tube.

7. The combination, as defined by claim 6, wherein the means for predetermining the relative angular position of said inflator relatively to said axially spaced inflating gas exit slots in said diffuser portion of said diffuser tube comprise a hole with a key slot formed therein in said first end plate adjacent the first end of said diffuser tube,

wherein the support means at a first end of said inflator is a flange that is operative to engage the outer surface of said second end plate,

wherein the support means at a second end of said inflator is a threaded keyed stud that is shaped to mate with the hole with a key slot formed therein in said first end plate,

a nut applied to and tightened on said threaded keyed stud on said end of said inflator, and

whereby said inflator is captured in said diffuser tube between said first and second end plates with the angular position of said inflator relatively to said diffuser tube and thereby the angular position of the longitudinal rows of exhaust holes in the inflator relatively to said spaced inflating gas exit slots in said diffuser portion being determined by the angular position of the key slot in the hole in said first end plate of said reaction canister.

8. The combination, as defined by claim 5, wherein the length of said diffuser tube is greater than that of said inflator,

wherein said diffuser portion of said diffuser tube further includes first and second spaced inflator retention slots formed therein,

with the support means for said inflator at both the first and second ends thereof being a flange the thickness of which corresponds to the thickness of said inflator retention slots in said diffuser portion, and

with the spacing between said inflator retention slots in said diffuser corresponding to the spacing between said flanges of said inflator.

9. The combination, as defined by claim 8, further including means for predetermining the relative angular position of said inflator relatively to said axially spaced inflating gas exit slots in said diffuser portion of said diffuser tube comprising:

a niche provided on one at least of said inflator retention slots in said diffuser portion of said diffuser tube, and

a mating projection on a peripheral edge of at least one of said flanges of said inflator.

10. The combination, as defined by claims 4, wherein said diffuser and cap portions of said diffuser tube are formed in one piece with said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister.

11. A reaction canister, inflator and diffuser combination for a motor vehicle inflatable restraint system characterized in that said reaction canister has a cover, a top panel and a bottom panel, said inflator is substantially thrust neutral, and said diffuser comprises a diffuser tube having a diffuser portion and a cap portion and is arranged to permit installation of said inflator as a last operation of assembly, and characterized in that said diffuser and cap portions are formed in one piece with said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister, and further characterized in that said top and said bottom panels extend in one piece to said cover from said diffuser and cap portions, respectively, of said diffuser tube.

12. A reaction canister and diffuser combination for a motor vehicle inflatable restraint system characterized in that said reaction canister has a top panel and a bottom panel and said diffuser comprises a diffuser tube having a diffuser portion and a cap portion and is arranged to permit installation of an inflator as a last operation of assembly, and characterized in that said diffuser and cap portions are formed in one piece with said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister,

said reaction canister and diffuser combination being further characterized in that said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister each have a first edge and a second edge,

wherein said diffuser tube has a first end and a second end,

wherein said reaction canister further includes a first end plate and a second end plate positioned in contacting relation with said first and second edges, respectively, of said top panel and said bottom panel and with said first and second ends, respectively, of said diffuser tube, said top and bottom panels forming a cavity in said reaction canister,

an inflatable bag housed in said cavity in said reaction canister, said inflatable bag having an inlet opening for the flow of inflating gas therein positioned in cooperative relation with said diffuser tube and being attached thereto at a position closely adjacent said inlet opening,

an elongated inflator having a first end and a second end and adapted to be inserted in said diffuser tube and having support means provided at each end for the retention thereof in said diffuser tube, and

a portion of said second end plate adjacent the second end of said diffuser tube being cut out to allow said inflator to be inserted in said diffuser tube in cooperative relation therewith from outside the reaction canister and diffuser tube as a last operation of the assembly thereof with said inflatable bag housed in said cavity of said reaction canister.

13. For use in an inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle, the combination comprising,

a reaction canister having a cover, a top panel and a bottom panel, and

a diffuser tube having a diffuser portion and a cap portion,

with said diffuser and cap portions being formed in one piece with said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister, and

with said top and said bottom panels extending in one piece to said cover from said diffuser and cap portions, respectively, of said diffuser tube,

wherein said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister each have a first edge and a second edge,

wherein said diffuser tube has a first end and a second end, and

wherein said reaction canister further includes a first end plate and a second end plate positioned in contacting relation with said first and second edges, respectively, of said top panel and said bottom panel and with said first and second ends, respectively, of said diffuser tube with said diffuser portion of said diffuser tube, said first and second end plates, and said top and bottom panels forming a cavity in said reaction canister.

14. A reaction canister and diffuser combination comprising,

a reaction canister and diffuser combination for a motor vehicle inflatable restraint system characterized in that said reaction canister has a cover, a top panel and a bottom panel and said diffuser comprises a diffuser tube having a diffuser portion and a cap portion and is arranged to permit installation of an inflator as a last operation of assembly, and characterized in that said diffuser and cap portions are formed in one piece with said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister, and further characterized in that said top and said bottom panels extend in one piece to said cover from said diffuser and cap portions, respectively, of said diffuser tube,

wherein said top panel and said bottom panel of said reaction canister each have a first edge and a second edge,

wherein said diffuser tube has a first end and a second end,

wherein said reaction canister further includes a first end plate and a second end plate positioned in contacting relation with said first and second edges, respectively, of said top panel and said bottom panel and with said first and second ends, respectively, of said diffuser tube,

with said diffuser portion of said diffuser tube, said first and second end plates, and said top and bottom panels forming a cavity in said reaction canister, and

with a portion of said second end plate adjacent the second end of said diffuser tube being cut out to allow an inflator to be inserted in said diffuser tube in cooperative relation therewith from outside the reaction canister and diffuser tube as a last operation of the assembly thereof.