Initiator assembly for air bag inflator
First Claim
1. An initiator assembly comprising:
- (a) a retainer comprising an opening;
(b) an igniter having a longitudinal axis and comprising a pyrotechnic material on said axis which on ignition exerts an axial force; and
(c) a preformed plastic coupler plug received within said retainer opening, said plug comprising(i) locking surfaces engaging said igniter and said retainer and holding said igniter in a spaced relationship with respect to said retainer;
(ii) a sealing portion integral with said locking surfaces providing a seal in the space between said retainer and said igniter, said sealing portion increasing in seal tightness when exposed to said axial force;
said igniter longitudinal axis being aligned with said retainer opening and said axial force being exerted in the direction of said opening;
said igniter and said retainer comprising opposed spaced-apart surfaces and said coupler plug sealing portion being a compressible annular continuous web between said opposed spaced-apart surfaces;
said coupler plug comprising an annular skirt integral with said compressible web and said locking surfaces being on said skirt;
said retainer and said igniter each comprising an annular detent and said skirt locking surfaces engaging said detents.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An initiator assembly (140) comprises a retainer (46), which can be the cover for an inflator housing (10), and an igniter (142). An opening (85) is formed in the retainer (46). The igniter (142) has a longitudinal axis (143) and comprises a pyrotechnic material (152, 156) on the axis. The pyrotechnic material (152, 156) on ignition exerts a force along the axis (143). The assembly further comprises a preformed compressible plastic coupler plug (148) which includes a plug portion (170) received within the retainer opening (85). The coupler plug (148) comprises locking surfaces (184, 188) which engage the igniter (142) and the retainer (46) and hold the igniter in a spaced relationship with respect to the retainer. The plastic coupler plug (148) further comprises an inwardly extending compressible web (174) integral with the locking surfaces (184, 188). The compressible web (174) provides a seal in the space between the igniter (142) and the retainer (46). On ignition of the igniter pyrotechnic material (152, 156), the resulting axial force in the igniter (142) causes the web (174) to be compressed between opposed surfaces (194, 196) of the igniter and the retainer, respectively, increasing the seal tightness of the compressible web (174).
54 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An initiator assembly comprising:
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(a) a retainer comprising an opening; (b) an igniter having a longitudinal axis and comprising a pyrotechnic material on said axis which on ignition exerts an axial force; and (c) a preformed plastic coupler plug received within said retainer opening, said plug comprising (i) locking surfaces engaging said igniter and said retainer and holding said igniter in a spaced relationship with respect to said retainer; (ii) a sealing portion integral with said locking surfaces providing a seal in the space between said retainer and said igniter, said sealing portion increasing in seal tightness when exposed to said axial force; said igniter longitudinal axis being aligned with said retainer opening and said axial force being exerted in the direction of said opening; said igniter and said retainer comprising opposed spaced-apart surfaces and said coupler plug sealing portion being a compressible annular continuous web between said opposed spaced-apart surfaces; said coupler plug comprising an annular skirt integral with said compressible web and said locking surfaces being on said skirt; said retainer and said igniter each comprising an annular detent and said skirt locking surfaces engaging said detents.
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2. An initiator assembly comprising:
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(a) a retainer comprising an opening; (b) an igniter having a longitudinal axis and comprising a pyrotechnic material on said axis which on ignition exerts an axial force; and (c) a preformed plastic coupler plug received within said retainer opening, said plug comprising (i) locking surfaces engaging said igniter and said retainer and holding said igniter in a spaced relationship with respect to said retainer; (ii) a sealing portion integral with said locking surfaces providing a seal in the space between said retainer and said igniter, said sealing portion increasing in seal tightness when exposed to said axial force; said igniter longitudinal axis being aligned with said retainer opening and said axial force being exerted in the direction of said opening; said igniter and said retainer comprising opposed spaced-apart surfaces and said coupler plug sealing portion being a compressible annular continuous web between said opposed spaced-apart surfaces; said compressible web having a shore A hardness in the range of about 20 to about 100 in a temperature range between about -40°
C. to about 150°
C.
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3. An assembly comprising:
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(a) a retainer comprising an annular sleeve which defines an opening; (b) an igniter having a longitudinal axis and an annular flange, said igniter comprising pyrotechnic material centered about said axis and which on ignition exerts an axial force; said igniter flange and said retainer sleeve comprising respective first and second surfaces which are spaced apart along said longitudinal axis, said first surface on said igniter flange being acted on by said axial force and being moved towards said second surface on said retainer sleeve when acted upon by said axial force; and (c) a plastic coupler plug received within said retainer opening and for holding said igniter in a spaced relationship with respect to said retainer, said coupler plug comprising (i) first means for locking said coupler plug to said igniter, said first means comprising a first locking surface means which non-adheringly engages said first surface of said igniter flange; (ii) second means for locking said coupler plug to said retainer, said second means comprising a second locking surface means which non-adheringly engages said second surface of said retainer sleeve; and (iii) a sealing portion integral with said first and second means and said first and second locking surface means sealing the space between said first and second surfaces of said igniter flange and said retainer sleeve, respectively, said sealing portion being acted on by said axial force and being compressed between said first and second surfaces of said igniter flange and said retainer sleeve, respectively, to increase the seal tightness when acted on by said axial force. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An initiator assembly comprising:
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(a) a retainer comprising an annular detent; (b) an igniter axially aligned with and spaced from said retainer, said igniter comprising an annular detent; and (c) a preformed plastic coupler plug connecting the igniter to the retainer, the coupler plug comprising (i) an annular skirt partially encompassing the retainer and igniter and comprising conformed locking surfaces engaging said detents, and (ii) a compressible continuous annular web integral with said skirt extending radially inwardly from said skirt, the retainer and igniter comprising facing surfaces seated against opposite sides of said coupler plug web, said web sealing the space between said retainer and igniter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification