Variable inflation force airbag inflator

• US 6,796,581 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Appy Risk Technologies Limited (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Axakov, Dmitri, Basir, Otman, Karray, Fakhri, Haramina, Viktor
• Primary Examiner(s): BERONA, KIMBERLY SUE
• Application Number:
  US10/192,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 422/165, 422/166, 280/741, 102/530, 102/531, 102/469
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2685 comprising a plurality of pressure chambers
• 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

Abstract

An inflator for an airbag includes a container defining and outer surface and an inner compartment. A plurality of igniters are disposed within the inner compartment and are operably associated with a gas-generating unit. Each gas-generating unit is formed by a pair of matched stamped housings. Bushing separate and secure the gas-generating units in place along the outer surface of the container. Each gas-generating unit defines an annular chamber filled with gas generating material. Each of the igniters within the container are independently ignitable and are mechanically isolated from each other to prevent actuation of one igniter in response to the actuation of an adjacent igniter. The igniters are independently actuated to control the magnitude of inflation force of the airbag.

Claims

1. An airbag igniter assembly comprising;

a container defining an inner chamber containing a plurality of igniters spaced apart along a longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of gas generating units supported on an outer surface of said container and spaced apart from one another along said longitudinal axis and in communication with at least one of said igniters.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said gas generating units extends circumferentially about said outer surface of said container.

3. An airbag assembly comprising:

a cylindrical container disposed longitudinally about an axis, said container comprising an outer surface and an inner chamber;

a plurality of gas generating units attachable to said container, said gas generating units surrounding said container and disposed at discrete intervals along said axis; and

a plurality of igniters disposed within said chamber, wherein each of said igniters are separately actuatable relative to each of the other igniters.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said gas generating units comprise a two piece metal housing defining an interior space for gas generating material.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 4, comprising a hardenable material disposed within said container and separating each of said plurality of igniters each of the other igniters.

6. An airbag assembly comprising;

a container defining an inner chamber and an outer surface having a plurality of igniter openings;

a plurality of independently actuatable igniters disposed within said inner chamber; and

a plurality of gas generating units supported about said container and spaced axially apart from each other, said gas generating units containing a gas-producing material associated with at least one of said igniters, wherein said plurality of igniters are substantially isolated from each other such that actuation of one of said plurality of igniters docs not cause actuation of any other of said plurality of igniters.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said plurality of gas generating units are mounted to said outer surface of said container and include an inlet in communication with at least one of said plurality of igniter openings and a plurality of gas output openings on an end distal from said inlets.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said gas generating units define an annular compartment including a gas filter covering said gas output openings.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said annular compartment of said gas generating unit is disposed about said axis centered within said container and includes a width generally transverse to said axis of rotation and a length generally perpendicular to said axis, said width decreasing with increasing perpendicular distance from said axis of rotation.

10. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said igniters are mechanically isolated by inner walls disposed within said container to prevent actuation of one igniter in response to actuation of an adjacent igniter.

11. The assembly of claim 6, wherein each of said igniters is disposed within an igniter housing mounted within said container.

12. The assembly of claim 6, wherein each of said gas generating units includes a specific gas generating ability relative to the other gas generating units according to a predetermined relationship.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said igniter housing is replaceably mounted within said container.

14. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said igniter includes at least one flange portion for mounting within a motor vehicle.

15. An airbag assembly comprising:

a container defining an inner chamber and an outer surface having a plurality of igniter openings;

a plurality of independently actuated igniters disposed within said inner chamber, said plurality of igniters are substantially isolated from each other such that actuation of one of said plurality of igniters does not cause actuation of any other of said plurality of igniter; and

a plurality of gas generating units supported about said container and containing a gas-producing material associated with at least one of said igniters, wherein said gas generating units are secured in place along said container by a plurality of bushings disposed therebetween.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said bushings and said gas generating units are trapped in position along said container between a flange on one end of the container and a fastener secured to a second end.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said container includes a plurality of diameters defining a plurality of shoulders and each of said gas generating units trapped between one of said shoulders and a fastener installed on an opposite side of said gas generating unit.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein each of said gas generating units comprises a metal housing, wherein each of said metal housing includes a first portion transverse to said axis, and a second portion substantially parallel to said axis.

19. An airbag assembly comprising:

a container defining an inner chamber and an outer surface having a plurality of igniter openings;

a plurality of independently actuated igniters disposed within said inner chamber, said plurality of igniters are substantially isolated from each other such that actuation of one of said plurality of igniters does not cause actuation of any other of said plurality of igniters; and

a plurality of separable gas generating units supported about said container and containing a gas-producing material associated with at least one of said igniters wherein each of said gas generating units includes first and second metal housings placed adjacent to each other.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein said inlets are formed by corresponding notches defined by each of said first and second metal housings.

21. An airbag assembly comprising:

a container defining an inner chamber and an outer surface having a plurality of igniter openings;

a plurality of independently actuated igniters disposed within said inner chamber;

wherein said igniters me mechanically isolated by a self hardening compound filling said interval between igniters within said container, such that one of said igniters is not actuated by actuation of an adjacent igniter; and

a plurality of separable gas generating units supported about said container and containing a gas-producing material associated with at least one of said igniters, wherein said plurality of igniters are substantially isolated from each other such that actuation of one of said plurality of igniters does not cause actuation of any other of said plurality of igniters.

22. An airbag assembly comprising:

a container defining an inner chamber and an outer surface having a plurality igniter openings;

a plurality of independently actuated igniters disposed within said inner chamber;

a plurality of separable gas generating units supported about said container and containing a gas-producing material associated with at least one of said igniters, wherein said plurality of igniters are substantially isolated from each other such that actuation of one of said plurality of igniters does not cause actuation of any other of said plurality of igniters; and

a thermal screen disposed about said outer surface of said container and between said gas generating units to prevent ignition of said gas producing material by heat generated from an adjacent gas generating unit.

23. An airbag assembly comprising:

a container defining an inner chamber and an outer surface having a plurality of igniter openings;

a plurality of independently actuated igniters disposed within said inner chamber, said plurality of igniters are substantially isolated from each other such that actuation of one of said plurality of igniters does not cause actuation of any other of said plurality of igniters; and

a plurality of separable gas generating units supported about said container and containing a gas-producing material associated with at least one of said igniters, wherein each of said gas generating units includes a specific gas generating ability relative to the other gas generating units according to a predetermined relationship, wherein there are three gas generating units and said predetermined relationship is 1;

2;

4.

24. An airbag assembly comprising:

a container defining an inner chamber and an outer surface having a plurality of igniter openings;

a plurality of independently actuated igniters disposed within said inner chamber, said plurality of igniters are substantially isolated from each other such that actuation of one of said plurality of igniters does not cause actuation of any other of said plurality of igniters; and

a plurality of separable gas generating units supported about said container and containing a gas-producing material associated with at least one of said igniters, wherein said each of said gas generating units forms a generally parabolic shape about said an axis.

25. An airbag assembly comprising:

a container defining an inner chamber and an outer surface having a plurality of igniter openings;

a plurality of independently actuated igniters disposed within said inner chamber, said plurality of igniters are substantially isolated from each other such that actuation of one of said plurality of igniters does not cause actuation of any other of said plurality of igniters; and

a plurality of separable gas generating units supported about said container and containing a gas-producing material associated with at least one of said igniters, wherein each of said gas generating units forms a generally hyperbolic shape about an axis of.