Gas producer for air bag

• US 6,273,464 B2
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Inventors: Ogawa, Akihisa, Tokuda, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANCHEZ, GLENDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/284,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/740, 280/742, 280/736, 280/737, 280/743.1, 102/530, 102/531, 102/740
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26064 characterised by auto-ignition means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A gas generator for an airbag has a reduced number of components and in which an automatic ignition material can ignite at an appropriate time. This gas generator includes a housing, an ignition unit accommodating chamber in the housing, an ignition unit installed in the ignition unit accommodating chamber, a gas generating material, and a cooling and purifying unit. The ignition unit includes a transfer charge container and an igniter. The transfer charge container has a cup containing a transfer charge and a cover hermetically sealing the cup. The igniter is activated by a signal to ignite the transfer charge, and a generated gas is introduced into an airbag to protect an occupant against an impact. The transfer charge container includes a cup part and a cover part, either the bottom of the cup part or the cover part are outwardly curved to form an outwardly convex surface. The container is resiliently held between a top wall portion of the ignition unit accommodating chamber and the igniter.

Claims

1. A gas generator for an airbag, comprising:

a housing;

an ignition unit accommodating chamber formed in said housing, said chamber being defined at least by a wall;

an igniter provided in said ignition unit accommodating chamber, a head portion of said igniter opposing said wall; and

a transfer charge container provided in said ignition unit accommodating chamber, said container making a direct contact with said wall at a first portion thereof and making contact with the head portion of said igniter at a second portion thereof, said second portion being formed with a resilient convex portion convexed from an inside to an outside of said transfer charge cup, said convex portion resiliently deflecting from the force of the igniter.

2. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein

said transfer charge container includes a cup portion for accommodating a transfer charge therein, and a cover portion for hermetically closing said cup portion, wherein said resilient convex portion is formed in one of a end face of said cup portion and said cover portion.

3. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein said wall is an inner surface of said housing.

4. The gas generator according to claim 3, wherein said ignition unit accommodating chamber is defined by the inner surface of the housing and a cylindrical member provided in said housing.

5. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein said cup portion makes contact with said wall, and said cover portion makes contact with the head portion of said igniter.

6. The gas generator according to claim 5, wherein a diameter of the head portion of said igniter is smaller than a diameter of said cover portion.

7. A gas generator for an airbag, comprising:

a housing;

an ignition unit accommodating chamber formed in said housing, said chamber being defined at least by a wall;

an igniter provided in said ignition unit accommodating chamber, a head portion of said igniter opposing said wall;

a transfer charge container provided in said ignition unit accommodating chamber, said container making a direct contact with said wall at a first portion thereof and making contact with the head portion of said igniter at a second portion thereof, said container having a resilient convex portion formed in one of said first portion and said second portion, said convex portion resiliently deflecting from the force of the igniter; and

an automatic ignition material accommodated in said transfer charge container adjacent said first portion.