Gas generator for air bag

• US 6,283,505 B1
• Filed: 05/12/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schmidt, Nippon Kayaku Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Klaus Schmidt, Nippon Kayaku Company Limited
• Inventors: Tanaka, Koji, Kuroiwa, Akihiko, Saso, Takashi, Miyamoto, Norihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/284,990
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/736, 280/741, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A gas generator for air bags for use in an air bag system for safely protecting a driver and riders in a vehicle from shock from collisions. The system includes a housing (3) formed by a side cylinder (1b) with a plurality of gas exhaust openings (8) the housing being closed at its ends by an upper cap (1a) and a lower cap (2a); an igniting device (16), provided in the housing (3) at a center portion thereof; gas generating agents (6), provided in the housing (3) at a location radially outside of the igniting device (16), to be burnt to generate gas; a cooling/filtering member (7) provided in the housing (3) at a location radially outside of the gas generating agents (6) to enclose the gas generating agents and extending from the side of the upper cap (1a) to the side of the lower cap (2a); and an annular projection (50) for preventing the gas generated by the burning of the gas generating agents (6) from flowing toward an end portion of the cooling/filtering member (7). The annular projection (50) is integrally formed on at least one of the upper cap (1a) and the lower cap (2a) so as to abut with an inner peripheral surface of the cooling/filtering member (7).

Claims

1. A gas generator for air bags comprising:

a housing formed by a cylinder with a plurality of gas exhaust openings, said housing being closed at its ends by an upper cap and a lower cap;

an ignitor provided in said housing at a center portion thereof;

a gas generating agent, provided in said housing at a location radially outside of said ignitor;

a cooling/filtering member provided in said housing at a location radially outside of said gas generating agent to enclose said gas generating agent, and extending from the side of said upper cap to the side of said lower cap; and

an annular projection integrally formed on each of said upper cap and said lower cap, said annular projection leaving an annular space between the upper cap and the lower cap, and at a radial position so as to abut with an inner peripheral surface of said cooling/filtering member adjacent a respective one of said upper cap and said lower cap.

2. A gas generator for air bags as set forth in claim 1, wherein said side cylinder and said upper cap are integrally formed and said side cylinder and said lower cap are joined to each other by friction welding to form said housing.

3. A gas generator for air bags as set forth in claim 1, wherein said side cylinder and said upper cap are integrally formed and said side cylinder of thin-plate and said lower cap are joined to each other by welding to form said housing.

4. A gas generator for air bags as set forth in claim 1, wherein a space is formed between said cooling/filtering member and said side cylinder.

5. A gas generator for air bags as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is provided, around said ignitor, with a center cylinder for joining said upper cap and said lower cap.

6. A gas generator for air bags as set forth in claim 4, wherein said housing is provided, around said ignitor, with a center cylinder for joining said upper cap and said lower cap.

7. A gas generator for air bags as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cooling/filtering member has a wall thickness portion to abut with an inner wall surface of said side cylinder.

8. A gas generator for air bags as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gas exhaust openings are hermetically sealed with aluminum foil.