Inflator for side impact air bag

• US 5,536,040 A
• Filed: 04/24/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Cuevas, Jess A., Zakula, Mitchell P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/427,409
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 280/737, 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators

Abstract

An air bag inflator (20, 220, 420) comprises first and second coaxial tubes (22, 24, 222, 224, 422, 424) which define respective first and second chambers (62, 64, 262, 264, 462, 464). The tubes (22, 24, 222, 224, 422, 424) have terminal ends (42, 44, 242, 244). A weld securement (46, 246, 446) fixes the terminal ends (42, 44, 242, 244) of the tubes (22, 24, 222, 224, 422, 424) together so the chambers (62, 64, 262, 264, 462, 464) extend in opposite directions from the securement (46, 246, 446). The first chamber (62, 262, 462) contains inflation fluid under pressure. The second tube (64, 264, 464) has passages (82, 282, 482) for directing inflation fluid from the first chamber (62, 262, 462) into an air bag. A rupturable wall (66, 266, 466) blocks fluid communication between the first and second chambers (62, 64, 262, 264, 462, 464). A canister (102, 302, 502) in the second chamber (64, 264, 464) has a section which moves to rupture the wall (66, 266, 466) to enable the inflation fluid to flow from the first chamber (62, 262, 462) into the second chamber (64, 264, 464). An energizable initiator (142, 342, 542) is located in the second chamber (64, 264, 464) to, when energized, move the movable section of the canister to rupture the wall (66, 266, 466).

Claims

1. An air bag inflator comprising:

first and second coaxial tubes defining respective first and second chambers, each of said first and second tubes having terminal ends, said first chamber containing inflation fluid under pressure, said second tube having a passage for directing inflation fluid from the second chamber into an air bag;

a weld securement fixing said terminal ends together with said first and second tubes extending in opposite directions from said securement;

a rupturable wall blocking fluid communication between said first and second chambers;

a canister in said second chamber having a movable section to rupture said wall upon moving a predetermined distance to enable inflation fluid to flow from said first chamber into said second chamber; and

energizable initiator means located in said canister for, when energized, causing said movable section to move the predetermined distance.

2. The inflator set forth in claim 1 further including ignitable material in said second chamber which, when ignited in response to energization of said initiator means, propels said movable section and heats the inflation fluid.

3. The inflator set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said terminal ends of said first and second tubes comprises an axially outermost end surface of the respective tube.

4. The inflator set forth in claim 3 wherein said terminal ends of said first and second tubes comprise at least one of said tubes having an end portion deformed radially inward to define one of said axially outermost end surfaces.

5. The inflator set forth in claim 4 wherein said terminal ends of said first and second tubes comprise each of said tubes having respective end portions deformed radially inward to define said axially outermost end surfaces.

6. The inflator set forth in claim 1 wherein said rupturable wall comprises a closure member fixed to and located between said terminal ends of said first and second tubes.

7. The inflator set forth in claim 1 wherein said rupturable wall comprises a closure member formed in one piece with said second tube.

8. The inflator set forth in claim 1 wherein said canister further includes a base section connected to a surface defining said second chamber, said movable section being attached to said base section.

9. The inflator set forth in claim 8 further including a frangible section connecting together said movable section and said base section, said frangible section breaking, in response to energization of said initiator means, to permit said movable section to move away from said base section.

10. The inflator set forth in claim 8 wherein said movable section comprises a cap in frictional engagement with said base section, said frictional engagement being overcome in response to energization of said initiator means to permit said movable section to move away from said base section.

11. The inflator set forth in claim 8 further including a flange of said initiator means closing an end of said second tube axially opposite said terminal end, and wherein said canister includes a tubular base section fixed to and located coaxially between said end of said second tube and at least a portion of said flange.

12. The inflator set forth in claim 8 wherein said movable section includes a tubular portion guided by one of said base section and said initiator means during initial movement.

13. The inflator set forth in claim 1 further including a hardened end portion on said movable section.

14. The inflator set forth in claim 1 further including a force concentrator portion formed on said movable section.

15. An air bag inflator comprising:

first and second tubes defining respective first and second chambers, said tubes having terminal ends, said first chamber being a closed chamber containing inflation fluid under pressure, said second tube having passages for directing the inflation fluid into an air bag;

a weld securement fixing said terminal ends together with said chambers extending in opposite directions from said securement;

movable means in said second chamber for opening said first chamber, upon moving a predetermined distance, to enable the inflation fluid to flow from said first chamber into said second chamber; and

energizable initiator means located in said second chamber for, when energized, effecting movement of said movable means.

16. The inflator set forth in claim 15 wherein said first and second tubes extend coaxially from said weld securement.

17. The inflator set forth in claim 15 wherein each of said terminal ends of said first and second tubes comprises an axially outermost end surface of a respective tube.

18. The inflator set forth in claim 17 wherein said terminal ends of said first and second tubes comprise at least one of said tubes having an end portion deformed radially inward to define one of said axially outermost end surfaces.

19. The inflator set forth in claim 18 wherein said terminal ends of said first and second tubes comprise each of said tubes having respective end portions deformed radially inward to define said axially outermost end surfaces.

20. The inflator set forth in claim 15 further including ignitable material in said second chamber which, when ignited in response to energization of said initiator means, propels said movable means and heats the inflation fluid.

21. The inflator set forth in claim 15 wherein said closed first chamber is defined by a rupturable wall located between said terminal ends of said first and second tubes.

22. The inflator set forth in claim 15 wherein said closed first chamber is defined by a closure member formed in one piece with said second tube.

23. The inflator set forth in claim 15 further including a flange of said initiator means closing an axial end of said second tube opposite said terminal end, said movable means comprising a canister with a tubular base section fixed to and located coaxially between said axial end of said second tube and at least a portion of said flange.

24. The inflator set forth in claim 15 wherein said canister further includes a base section connected to a surface defining said second chamber, said movable section being attached to said base section.

25. The inflator set forth in claim 24 further including a frangible section connecting together said movable section and said base section, said frangible section breaking, in response to energization of said initiator means, to permit said movable section to move away from said base section.

26. The inflator set forth in claim 24 wherein said movable section comprises a cap in frictional engagement with said base section, said frictional engagement being overcome in response to energization of said initiator means to permit said movable section to move away from said base section.

27. The inflator set forth in claim 24 wherein said movable section includes a tubular portion guided by one of said base section and said initiator means during initial movement.

28. The inflator set forth in claim 15 further including a hardened end portion on said movable section.

29. The inflator set forth in claim 15 further including a force concentrator portion formed on said movable section.

30. An air bag inflator comprising:

first and second coaxial tubes defining respective first and second chambers, said tubes having terminal ends, said terminal ends being fixed together, and said first and second tubes extending in opposite directions from their respective terminal ends;

said first chamber being a closed chamber containing inflation fluid under pressure;

said second tube having openings for directing inflation fluid from said second chamber into an air bag;

actuatable means in said second chamber for, when actuated, effecting the opening of said first chamber to enable the inflation fluid to flow from said first chamber to said second chamber; and

energizable initiator means located in said second chamber for, when energized, actuating said actuatable means.

31. An air bag inflator comprising:

first and second tubes defining respective first and second chambers, said tubes having terminal ends, said first chamber being a closed chamber containing inflation fluid under pressure, said second tube having passages for directing the inflation fluid into an air bag;

a weld securement fixing said terminal ends together with said chambers extending in opposite directions from said securement;

movable means in said second chamber for opening said first chamber, upon movement, to enable the inflation fluid to flow from said first chamber into said second chamber;

ignitable material in said second chamber which, when ignited, effects movement of said movable means and heats the inflation fluid; and

energizable initiator means located in said second chamber for, when energized, igniting said ignitable material.