Pressure relief in airbag module reaction canisters
First Claim
1. In an inflatable restraint system reaction canister which forms a housing for an airbag inflator, the improvement comprising:
- first and second reaction canister body portions secured together by means of at least one thermally degradable joining member which degrades at a temperature greater than the ambient temperature to which the reaction canister is normally subjected and less than the temperature at which the inflator autoignites, to permit separation of said first and second reaction canister body portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Featured for use as a part of an inflator-containing inflatable restraint system is a multipiece reaction canister wherein pieces of the canister are normally secured together by thermally degradable joining members which degrade at a temperature greater than the ambient temperature to which the reaction canister is normally subjected and less than the temperature at which the inflator autoignites, to permit separation of the reaction canister pieces and provide venting of pressure that can build-up within the reaction canister. As a result of alleviating concerns such as of material fragmentation when exposed to extreme heat conditions, e.g., a fire, the invention allows the more widespread use of light weight, temperature sensitive materials in reaction canister constructions.
33 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In an inflatable restraint system reaction canister which forms a housing for an airbag inflator, the improvement comprising:
first and second reaction canister body portions secured together by means of at least one thermally degradable joining member which degrades at a temperature greater than the ambient temperature to which the reaction canister is normally subjected and less than the temperature at which the inflator autoignites, to permit separation of said first and second reaction canister body portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In an airbag module subassembly comprising:
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an inflatable restraint system reaction canister which includes a trough shaped body section having first and second opposite side walls spaced apart to form an air bag retaining cavity and a bridging portion joining said first and second opposite side walls forming an inflator holder having a generally circular cross section extending less than 360°
; andan elongated inflator having an inflator chamber tube within the inflator holder; the improvement comprising; the trough shaped body section including first and second conventionally extruded reaction canister body portions, each of said first and second reaction canister body portions includes a first mating surface, the first mating surface of said first reaction canister body portion having a male form and the first mating surface of said second reaction canister body portion having a female form adapted for mating joinder with the male form mating surface of said first reaction canister body portion, with the first mating surfaces held in abutting relationship by means of a thermally degradable joining member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification