Inflation fluid container and initiator with press-fit fluid seal

• US 5,609,361 A
• Filed: 08/24/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1995
• 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: Stonich, Ivan L., Bergerson, Lee D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/518,825
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 280/737, 280/740, 280/741, 280/736, 280/742, 102/202.5, 102/205
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence

Abstract

An air bag inflator (22) includes a container (40) and an initiator (42). The container (40) defines a storage chamber (50) containing inflation fluid at an elevated pressure. A container wall (46) has a frusto-conical surface (154) defining a passage (156) extending outward from the storage chamber (50) through the container wall (46). The initiator (42) extends into the storage chamber (50) through the passage (156) in the container wall (46), and has a frusto-conical peripheral surface (88). The frusto-conical surfaces (88,154) are pressed tightly against each other in sealing contact so as to block the inflation fluid from leaking outward through the passage in the container wall (46).

Claims

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

container means for defining a storage chamber, said container means including a container wall having a frusto-conical surface defining a passage extending outward from said storage chamber through said container wall;

inflation fluid contained under pressure in said storage chamber; and

initiator means for initiating a flow of said inflation fluid from said storage chamber to the restraint to inflate the restraint, said initiator means including pyrotechnic material and conductor means for igniting said pyrotechnic material upon the passage of electric current through said conductor means;

said initiator means further including a tubular part containing said pyrotechnic material and said conductor means, said tubular part extending into said storage chamber through said passage in said container wall and having a frusto-conical peripheral surface;

said frusto-conical surfaces having a condition of being pressed tightly against each other in sealing contact so as to comprise first sealing means for blocking said inflation fluid from exiting said storage chamber through said passage between said tubular part and said container wall;

said tubular part defining a conduit extending along an axis, said conduit containing a glass part which comprises second sealing means for isolating said pyrotechnic material from the ambient atmosphere, said first sealing means applying a radially compressive sealing force to said tubular part, said glass part being spaced from said first sealing means along said axis.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular part has an outer portion located in said passage and has an inner portion projecting from said outer portion into said storage chamber, said first sealing means applying said radially compressive sealing force directly to said outer portion of said tubular part, said glass part being contained in said inner portion of said tubular part.

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

container means for defining a storage chamber, said container means including a container wall having a frusto-conical surface defining a passage extending outward from said storage chamber through said container wall;

inflation fluid contained under pressure in said storage chamber;

initiator means for initiating a flow of said inflation fluid from said storage chamber to the restraint to inflate the restraint, said initiator means including a tubular part extending into said storage chamber through said passage in said container wall, said tubular part having a frusto-conical peripheral surface; and

sealing means for blocking said inflation fluid from leaking outward from said container means through said passage between said tubular part and said container wall, said sealing means consisting of adjoining portions of said frusto-conical surfaces which engage each other in a press fit tightly enough to block said inflation fluid from leaking outward from said container means between said adjoining portions of said frusto-conical surfaces.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said container wall further has an inner side surface subjected to said pressure of said inflation fluid and an oppositely facing outer side surface subjected to ambient atmospheric pressure, said frusto-conical surfaces being tapered to extend radially inward and axially outward from said inner side surface toward said outer side surface, whereby said pressure of said inflation fluid urges said frusto-conical surface of said tubular part axially outward against said frusto-conical surface of said container wall.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said tubular part further has a cylindrical inner surface and contains a glass seal with a cylindrical outer surface adjoining said cylindrical inner surface, said glass seal being spaced axially from said first sealing means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said frusto-conical surface of said container wall has a length extending fully between said inner and outer side surfaces, said press fit extending fully along said length.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said tubular part further has an annular shoulder surface facing inward of said storage chamber, said shoulder surface comprising means for receiving an axially directed driving force which moves said tubular part through said passage in a direction extending axially outward from said inner side surface toward said outer side surface so as to press said frusto-conical surfaces forcefully together upon placement of said frusto-conical surfaces in said press fit.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said container means is free of a weld interconnecting said tubular part and said container wall.

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

container means for defining a storage chamber, said container means including a container wall having a frusto-conical surface defining a passage extending outward from said storage chamber through said container wall;

inflation fluid contained under pressure in said storage chamber; and

initiator means for initiating a flow of said inflation fluid from said storage chamber to the restraint to inflate the restraint, said initiator means including a tubular part extending into said storage chamber through said passage in said container wall, said tubular part having a frusto-conical peripheral surface;

said frusto-conical surfaces engaging each other in a press fit tightly enough to comprise sealing means for blocking said inflation fluid from leaking outward from said container means through said passage between said tubular part and said container wall;

said container wall further having an inner side surface subjected to said pressure of said inflation fluid and an oppositely facing outer side surface subjected to ambient atmospheric pressure, said frusto-conical surfaces being tapered to extend radially inward and axially outward from said inner side surface toward said outer side surface, whereby said pressure of said inflation fluid urges said frusto-conical surface of said tubular part axially outward against said frusto-conical surface of said container wall.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said tubular part further has a cylindrical inner surface and contains a glass seal with a cylindrical outer surface adjoining said cylindrical inner surface, said initiator means further including a pair of electrodes extending through said glass seal.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said frusto-conical surface of said container wall has a length extending fully between said inner and outer side surfaces, said press fit extending fully along said length.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said tubular part further has an annular shoulder surface facing inward of said storage chamber, said shoulder surface comprising means for receiving an axially directed driving force which moves said tubular part through said passage in a direction extending axially outward from said inner side surface toward said outer side surface so as to press said frusto-conical surfaces forcefully together upon placement of said frusto-conical surfaces in said press fit.

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

container means for defining a storage chamber, said container means including a container wall having a frusto-conical surface defining a passage extending outward from said storage chamber through said container wall;

inflation fluid contained under pressure in said storage chamber; and

initiator means for initiating a flow of said inflation fluid from said storage chamber to the restraint to inflate the restraint, said initiator means including a tubular part extending into said storage chamber through said passage in said container wall, said tubular part having a frusto-conical peripheral surface;

said frusto-conical surfaces engaging each other in a press fit tightly enough to comprise sealing means for blocking said inflation fluid from leaking outward from said container means through said passage between said tubular part and said container wall;

said container means being free of a weld interconnecting said tubular part and said container wall.