Inflator mounting structure

• US 5,582,422 A
• Filed: 03/29/1995
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1995
• 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: Edwards, Timothy P., Al-Amin, Ahmad K., Smydra, Andrew J., Wallner, John P., Fischer, Craig M., Kelley, Scott A., Hocking, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/412,957
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/736, 280/740, 280/741, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) includes an inflator (20), a reaction canister (22), and first and second brackets (150,152) for mounting the inflator (20) in the reaction canister (22). The inflator has an axis (82) and first and second axially opposite end portions (96,92). The reaction canister (22) has first and second canister walls (68,70) spaced from each other along the axis (82). The first and second brackets (150,152) are contained in the reaction canister (22) between the canister walls (68,70). The first bracket (150) is fixed to the first end portion (96) of the inflator (20) and to the first canister wall (68). The second bracket (152) is fixed to the second end portion (92) of the inflator (20) and to the second canister wall (70).

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an inflator comprising a source of inflation fluid, said inflator having an axis and first and second axially opposite end portions;

a canister having first and second canister walls spaced from each other along said axis;

mounting means for mounting said inflator in said canister between said canister walls, said mounting means comprising first and second brackets contained in said canister between said canister walls;

said first bracket being fixed to said first end portion of said inflator and to said first canister wall, said second bracket being fixed to said second end portion of said inflator and to said second canister wall;

said second bracket and said second end portion of said inflator comprising cooperating means for establishing a mechanical interlock which prevents removal of said second bracket from said second end portion of said inflator; and

said second bracket including separate bracket parts which engage said second end portion of said inflator in positions adjoining each other, said bracket parts being fixed to each other in said adjoining positions.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second end portion of said inflator has means for defining a groove, said bracket parts having adjoining portions which are fixed to each other, said bracket parts further having non-adjoining portions which extend within said groove between said adjoining portions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said adjoining portions of said bracket parts are fixed to each other by welds.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said second bracket is fixed to said second canister wall by fasteners.

5. Apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint;

an inflator containing inflation fluid under pressure, said inflator having an axis and first and second axially opposite end portions, said first end portion of said inflator including initiator means for causing said inflator to emit said inflation fluid, said second end portion of said inflator including sensor means for sensing said pressure;

canister means for containing and supporting said restraint and said inflator in a vehicle, said canister means having first and second canister walls spaced from each other along said axis, each of said first and second canister walls having a closed portion extending diametrically across said axis;

first electrical connector means for connecting said initiator means in an electrical circuit, said first electrical connector means comprising a first terminal connector located in a first space between said first end portion of said inflator and said first canister wall;

second electrical connector means for connecting said sensor means in an electrical circuit, said second electrical connector means comprising a second terminal connector located in a second space between said second end portion of said inflator and said second canister wall; and

mounting means including first and second brackets contained entirely inside said canister between said canister walls, said first and second brackets for mounting said first and second end portions of said inflator on said first and second canister walls, respectively;

said first bracket extending axially from said first end portion of said inflator to said first canister wall to define said first space, said second bracket extending axially from said second end portion of said inflator means to said second canister wall to define said second space.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first electrical connector means extends radially past said first bracket between said inflator and said first canister wall, said second electrical connector means extending radially past said second bracket between said inflator and said second canister wall.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second canister walls have first and second inner side surfaces, respectively, said first and second inner side surfaces facing each other along said axis, said first bracket having a first outer side surface abutting said first inner side surface, said second bracket having a second outer side surface abutting said second inner side surface.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said mechanical interlock blocks movement of said second bracket axially, radially, and circumferentially relative to said inflator.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said second bracket and said second end portion of said inflator comprise cooperating means for establishing a mechanical interlock which prevents removal of said second bracket from said second end portion of said inflator, said cooperating means comprising axially opposed surfaces which abut each other so as to block movement of said second bracket axially relative to said inflator.

10. Apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint;

an inflator containing inflation fluid under pressure, said inflator having an axis and first and second axially opposite end portions, said first end portion of said inflator including initiator means for causing said inflator to emit said inflation fluid, said second end portion of said inflator including sensor means for sensing said pressure;

canister means for containing and supporting said restraint and said inflator in a vehicle, said canister means having first and second canister walls spaced from each other along said axis;

first electrical connector means for connecting said initiator means in an electrical circuit, said first electrical connector means comprising a first terminal connector located in a first space between said first end portion of said inflator and said first canister wall;

second electrical connector means for connecting said sensor means in an electrical circuit, said second electrical connector means comprising a second terminal connector located in a second space between said second end portion of said inflator and said second canister wall;

mounting means including first and second brackets for mounting said first and second end portions of said inflator on said first and second canister walls, respectively;

said first bracket extending axially from said first end portion of said inflator to said first canister wall to define said first space, said second bracket extending axially from said second end portion of said inflator means to said second canister wall to define said second space;

said second bracket and said second end portion of said inflator comprising cooperating means for establishing a mechanical interlock which prevents removal of said second bracket from said second end portion of said inflator; and

said second bracket including separate bracket parts which engage said second end portion of said inflator in positions adjoining each other, said bracket parts being fixed to each other in said adjoining positions.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said second end portion of said inflator has means for defining a groove, said bracket parts having adjoining portions which are fixed to each other, said bracket parts further having non-adjoining portions which extend within said groove between said adjoining portions.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said adjoining portions of said bracket parts are fixed to each other by welds, said second bracket being fixed to said second canister wall by fasteners.

13. Apparatus comprising:

an inflator comprising a source of inflation fluid, said inflator having an axis and first and second axially opposite end portions;

a canister having first and second canister walls spaced from each other along said axis;

mounting means for mounting said inflator in said canister between said canister walls, said mounting means comprising first and second brackets contained in said canister between said canister walls;

said first bracket being fixed to said first end portion of said inflator and to said first canister wall, said second bracket being fixed to said second end portion of said inflator and to said second canister wall;

said first bracket defining a space extending axially between said first end portion of said inflator and said first canister wall, said inflator including initiator means for causing said inflator to emit said inflation fluid, said apparatus further comprising electrical connector means for connecting said initiator means in an electrical circuit, said electrical connector means comprising a terminal connector located in said space defined by said first bracket, said first bracket providing clearance for said electrical connector means to extend radially past said first bracket between said inflator and said first canister wall.

14. Apparatus comprising:

an inflator comprising a source of inflation fluid, said inflator having an axis and first and second axially opposite end portions;

a canister having first and second canister walls spaced from each other along said axis;

mounting means for mounting said inflator in said canister between said canister walls, said mounting means comprising first and second brackets contained in said canister between said canister walls;

said first bracket being fixed to said first end portion of said inflator and to said first canister wall, said second bracket being fixed to said second end portion of said inflator and to said second canister wall;

said second bracket defining a space extending axially between said second end portion of said inflator and said second canister wall, said inflator containing inflation fluid under pressure and including sensor means for sensing said pressure, said apparatus further comprising electrical connector means for connecting said sensor means in an electrical circuit, said electrical connector means comprising a terminal connector located in said space defined by said second bracket, wherein said second bracket provides clearance for said electrical connector means to extend radially past said second bracket between said inflator and said second canister wall.

15. Apparatus comprising:

an inflator comprising a source of inflation fluid, said inflator having an axis and first and second axially opposite end portions;

a canister having first and second canister walls spaced from each other along said axis;

mounting means for mounting said inflator in said canister between said canister walls, said mounting means comprising first and second brackets contained in said canister between said canister walls;

said first bracket being fixed to said first end portion of said inflator and to said first canister wall, said second bracket being fixed to said second end portion of said inflator and to said second canister wall;

said first canister wall having a closed portion extending diametrically across said axis and across said first end portion of said inflator, said first bracket defining a space extending axially between said first end portion of said inflator and said first canister wall, said inflator including initiator means for causing said inflator to emit said inflation fluid, said apparatus further comprising electrical connector means for connecting said initiator means in an electrical circuit, said electrical connector means comprising a terminal connector located in said space defined by said first bracket.