Gas generator formed with electron beam welding
First Claim
1. A gas generator for an air bag comprising:
- a housing comprising;
a diffuser shell comprising;
a first annular portion having a first peripheral edge,a center cylindrical wall extending from the first annular portion to define a center chamber, the center cylindrical wall comprising;
an end portion,a caulking portion constructed and arranged at the end portion for sealing the center chamber,a step portion formed on the center cylindrical wall,an intermediate cylindrical wall extending from the first annular portion to define an intermediate closed chamber arranged concentrically about the center cylindrical wall;
a closure shell comprising;
a second annular portion extending to a sidewall terminating in a second peripheral edge,an aperture extending through the second annular portion for receiving the step portion of the center cylindrical wall,at least one gas discharge port extending through the sidewall,a first weld to join the diffuser shell with the closure shell, the first weld formed to extend from an exterior surface of the second annular portion of the closure shell to the center cylindrical wall of the diffuser shell along a first line where the second annular portion and the center cylindrical wall are in perpendicular abutment at a junction of the step portion and the second annular portion adjacent to the aperture,a second weld formed to extend from the exterior surface of the second annular portion of the closure shell to the intermediate cylindrical wall of the diffuser shell,a third weld formed to extend from an exterior surface Of the first peripheral edge of the first annular portion of the diffuser shell to the second peripheral edge of the sidewall; and
a coolant and filter chamber disposed between the sidewall and the intermediate cylindrical wall, the coolant and filter chamber comprising;
a retainer disposed within the coolant and filter chamber to separate the chamber into a first stage for a filter and a second stage for a coolant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a small, light-weight gas generator for a passenger air bag. The gas generator includes a housing having a diffuser shell and a closure shell. The diffuser shell includes a round portion, a center cylindrical portion extending concentrically from inside a peripheral portion of the round portion, and an inner cylindrical portion. The center cylindrical portion is disposed at the center of the round portion for storing therein a squib-enhancer. The inner cylindrical portion is disposed outside the center cylindrical portion to provide a combustion chamber. The closure shell includes an annular portion equipped with a center hole for receiving the center cylindrical portion, and a peripheral wall portion extending from the peripheral portion of the annular portion to the peripheral portion of the round portion of the diffuser shell. This peripheral wall portion defines a coolant-filter chamber and includes a gas discharge port and a flange portion extending in a radial direction. Welding bonds the closure and diffuser shells together at the outer peripheral portion of the center cylindrical portion and the peripheral portion of the center hole; at the tip of the inner cylindrical portion and the region of the annular portion coming into contact with the tip; and at the peripheral portion of the round portion and the tip portion of the peripheral wall portion.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A gas generator for an air bag comprising:
a housing comprising; a diffuser shell comprising; a first annular portion having a first peripheral edge, a center cylindrical wall extending from the first annular portion to define a center chamber, the center cylindrical wall comprising; an end portion, a caulking portion constructed and arranged at the end portion for sealing the center chamber, a step portion formed on the center cylindrical wall, an intermediate cylindrical wall extending from the first annular portion to define an intermediate closed chamber arranged concentrically about the center cylindrical wall; a closure shell comprising; a second annular portion extending to a sidewall terminating in a second peripheral edge, an aperture extending through the second annular portion for receiving the step portion of the center cylindrical wall, at least one gas discharge port extending through the sidewall, a first weld to join the diffuser shell with the closure shell, the first weld formed to extend from an exterior surface of the second annular portion of the closure shell to the center cylindrical wall of the diffuser shell along a first line where the second annular portion and the center cylindrical wall are in perpendicular abutment at a junction of the step portion and the second annular portion adjacent to the aperture, a second weld formed to extend from the exterior surface of the second annular portion of the closure shell to the intermediate cylindrical wall of the diffuser shell, a third weld formed to extend from an exterior surface Of the first peripheral edge of the first annular portion of the diffuser shell to the second peripheral edge of the sidewall; and a coolant and filter chamber disposed between the sidewall and the intermediate cylindrical wall, the coolant and filter chamber comprising; a retainer disposed within the coolant and filter chamber to separate the chamber into a first stage for a filter and a second stage for a coolant.
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2. A gas generator for an air bag, comprising:
a housing comprising; a diffuser shell comprising; a first annular portion having a first peripheral edge, a center cylindrical wall extending from the first annular portion to define a center chamber, a step portion formed on the center cylindrical wall, an intermediate cylindrical wall extending from the first annular portion to define an intermediate closed chamber arranged concentrically about the center cylindrical wall; and a closure shell comprising; a second annular portion extending to a sidewall terminating in a second peripheral edge, an aperture extending through the second annular portion for receiving the step portion of the center cylindrical wall, at least one gas discharge port extending through the sidewall, a first weld to join the diffuser shell with the closure shell, the first weld formed to extend from an exterior surface of the second annular portion of the closure shell to the center cylindrical wall of the diffuser shell along a first line where the second annular portion and the center cylindrical wall are in perpendicular abutment at a junction of the step portion and the second annular portion adjacent to the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A housing for a gas generator, comprising:
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a diffuser shell, and a closure shell the diffuser shell comprising; a flat diffuser plate, inner and outer concentric cylindrical sections extending perpendicular from the flat diffuser plate; the closure shell comprising; a flat closure plate extending beyond the outer concentric cylindrical section of the flat diffuser plate and having a central aperture therethrough, the flat closure plate abutting the inner and outer concentric cylindrical sections; the flat closure plate in perpendicular abutment to the inner and outer concentric cylindrical sections to coact with the inner and outer concentric cylindrical sections and the flat diffuser plate to form an annular closed chamber; the flat closure plate joined to a perpendicular abutting surface of the inner and outer concentrics cylindrical sections along the surface of the perpendicular abutment; and a weld extending from an exterior surface of the flat closure plate to the perpendicular abutting surface of each of the inner and outer concentric cylindrical sections at the surface of the perpendicular abutment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification