Pyrotechnic gas generator with two separate combustion chambers

• US 5,799,973 A
• Filed: 04/01/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TEMIC Bayern-Chemie Airbag GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TEMIC Bayern-Chemie Airbag GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Bauer, Hermann, Furst, Franz, Winterhalder, Marc, Vetter, Bernhard, Zeuner, Siegfried, Bender, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/625,325
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/742, 280/736
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26064 characterised by auto-ignition means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

The invention concerns a tubular gas generator for the filling of an airbag in a retention system for occupants of motor vehicles, whereby two separate combustion chamber units have a common connector and each combustion chamber unit has an ignitor unit with respective filters.

Claims

1. A gas generator for filling an airbag in a retention system for occupants of a motor vehicle, the gas generator comprising:

a first combustion chamber unit having a first ignitor, a first filter means and a first tubular combustion chamber;

a second combustion chamber unit having a second ignitor, a second filter means, and

a second tubular combustion chamber, said first and said second combustion chamber units being axially arranged with respect to each other;

at least one means for housing said first and said second combustion chamber units; and

a means for connecting said first and said second combustion chamber units, said connecting means having at least one rounded opening at an outer periphery for forming a beaded connection with at least one housing means.

2. The gas generator of claim 1, wherein said at least one means for housing said first and said second combustion chamber units commonly houses said first and said second combustion chamber units.

3. The gas generator of claim 2, wherein said common housing means has a first flange at a first free end for interlocking connection to said first combustion chamber unit and a second flange at a second free end for interlocking connection to said second combustion chamber unit.

4. The gas generator of claim 2, wherein said first filter means has a first filter chamber having a first fine filter radially arranged around said first tubular combustion chamber and said second filter means has a second filter chamber radially arranged around said second tubular combustion chamber.

5. The gas generator of claim 1, wherein said at least one means for housing said first and said second combustion chamber unit comprises a first means for housing said first combustion chamber unit and a second means for housing said second combustion chamber unit.

6. The gas generator of claim 5, wherein said connecting means has a first rounded opening at an outer periphery for forming a first beaded connection with said first unit housing means and a second rounded opening at an outer periphery for forming a second beaded connection with said second unit housing means.

7. The gas generator of claim 5, wherein said first unit housing means has a flange at a free end thereof for interlocking connection to said first combustion chamber unit and said second unit housing means has a flange at a free end thereof for interlocking connection to said second combustion chamber unit.

8. The gas generator of claim 5, wherein said first filter means has a first filter chamber having a first fine filter radially arranged around said first tubular combustion chamber and said second filter means has a second filter chamber radially arranged around said second tubular combustion chamber.

9. The gas generator of claim 1, wherein said first filter means has a first filter chamber having a first fine filter radially arranged around said first tubular combustion chamber and said second filter means has a second filter chamber radially arranged around said second tubular combustion chamber.

10. The gas generator of claim 1, wherein said first ignitor is arranged at a first end of said first combustion chamber unit and said second ignitor is arranged at a second end of said second combustion chamber unit, said first end facing away from said second end.

11. The gas generator of claim 1, further comprising a first amplification charge axially adjacent to said first ignitor and a second amplification charge axially adjacent to said second ignitor.

12. The gas generator of claim 1, wherein said first and said second combustion chamber units each contain solid fuel tablets.

13. The gas generator of claim 1, wherein said first filter means comprise a first prefilter arranged in front of first flow openings and said second filter means comprises a second prefilter arranged in front of second flow openings.

14. The gas generator of claim 13, wherein said first flow openings are closed at an inside by a first sealing foil and said second flow openings are closed at an inside by a second sealing foil.

15. The gas generator of claim 14, wherein the sealing foil comprises aluminum.