Electrical igniter of a pyrotechnical gas generator

• US 5,936,186 A
• Filed: 05/06/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Wier, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MONTGOMERY, CHRISTOPHER KEITH
• Application Number:
  US08/851,787
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 102/202, 102/202.5, 102/202.7, 102/202.9, 102/202.11, 102/202.12, 102/202.14, 102/217, 102/275.11, 102/318, 102/275.6, 280/806, 280/735, 280/801.1, 280/736, 280/741, 180/282, 180/268
• US Class Current: 102/202.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1955 Linear actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/26 Arrangements for mounting initiators; Accessories therefor, e.g. tools

Abstract

An electrical igniter of a pyrotechnical gas generator including a propelling charge has a housing of its own in which pyrotechnical ignition material including an electrical ignition element and a cable end connected thereto are enclosed so that electrical plug contacts may be avoided.

Claims

1. A belt pretensioner comprising a piston, a cylinder with a radial opening and a pyrotechnical gas generator having a propelling charge arranged within said cylinder, said pretensioner further comprising an electrical igniter having an igniter housing of its own, said igniter and said cylinder with said propelling charge defining separate units to allow separate shipping of said units before final assembly of said units, said igniter housing containing pyrotechnical ignition material, an electrical ignition element and a cable end connected to said ignition element, said igniter housing being secured to said cylinder to radially extend therefrom, said igniter housing having an opening adjacent to said radial opening in said cylinder, wherein said propellant is ignitable through said openings in said igniter housing and in said cylinder.

2. The belt pretensioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said propelling charge is ring shaped and wherein said cylinder has a wall.

3. The belt pretensioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said igniter housing has a rearward opening in which said end of said cable is polled out.

4. The belt pretensioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said igniter is releasably securable to said cylinder.

5. The belt pretensioner as set forth in claim 4, wherein a connector is provided having at least one part molded to said igniter housing, said connector defining a fastener means for attaching said igniter to said cylinder.

6. The belt pretensioner as set forth in claim 5, wherein said connector comprises a fastener ring molded on said igniter housing, said fastener ring being mountable on said cylinder.

7. The belt pretensioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of a sensor and a Switch is electrically connected to said cable, wherein at least one electrical plug contact connected to said cable is molded on said igniter housing, and wherein a mating connector latchable to said plug is connected with one of said sensor and said switch.

8. The belt pretensioner as set forth in claim 7, wherein said cable is configured as a multi-core cable, of which cores are branched off prior to said igniter housing to one of said sensor and said switch.

9. The belt pretensioner as set forth in claim 8, wherein connectors are attached at the end of said branched-off cores.

10. A belt pretensioner comprising:

a piston;

a cylinder having a radial opening;

a propelling charge arranged within said cylinder;

an electrical igniter for igniting said propelling charge releasably connected to said cylinder, said igniter having an igniter housing, said igniter housing containing pyrotechnical ignition material, an electrical ignition element and a cable end connected to said ignition element, said igniter housing extending radially from said cylinder, said igniter housing having an opening adjacent to said radial opening in said cylinder, said propelling charge being ignitable through said opening in said igniter housing and said radial opening in said cylinder upon ignition of said ignition material.