Airbag gas producer

• US 6,848,713 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Inventors: Katsuda, Nobuyuki, Nakashima, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/275,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/735, 280/736, 280/742, 102/202, 102/202.1, 102/202.2, 102/202.3, 102/202.5
• 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 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/12 Bridge initiators F42B3/103, F42B3/11, F42B3/195 take precedence; electric ignitors in propellant charges F42C19/12

Abstract

A gas generator for an air bag comprises: a housing having a gas discharging port; an initiator assembly provided with a first igniter and a second igniter mounted to the housing via a holder, each of the first igniter and the second igniter including a priming activated upon an impact, the second igniter having, a center pin connected to an external power supply to constitute a positive electrode, a grounding pin connected to a metal portion of a motor vehicle to constitute a negative electrode, and an opening-shutting device of current provided between the center pin and the external power supply; and gas generating material ignited and burnt by the initiator assembly.

Claims

1. A gas generator for an air bag, comprising:

a housing having a gas discharging port;

an initiator assembly provided with a first igniter and a second igniter mounted to the housing via a holder, each of the first igniter and the second igniter including a priming activated upon an impact, the second igniter having,

a center pin connected to an external power supply to constitute a positive electrode,

a grounding pin connected to a metal portion of a motor vehicle to constitute a negative electrode, and

switch means of current provided between the center pin and the external power supply; and

gas generating means ignited and burnt by the initiator assembly to generate a combustion gas.

2. A gas generator for an air bag according to claim 1, wherein the initiator assembly further includes,

a transfer charge,

wherein the holder is joined to the insulating material.

3. A gas generator for an air bag according to claim 2, wherein, at least one of the first igniter and the second igniter includes,

a metallic eyelet having a hole through which one of the center pin and the grounding, and

an electrical insulating body for insulating the one of the center pin and the grounding pin passing through the hole from the metallic eyelet,

wherein an end surface of the one of the center pin and the grounding pin, a surface of the metallic eyelet, and a surface of the electrical insulating body form a common plane.

4. A gas generator for an air bag according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the gas generator inflates an airbag solely by a combustion gas generated by combustion of the gas generating means.

5. A gas generator for an air bag according to claim 1, wherein the second igniter is activated simultaneously with the first igniter or after an activation of the first igniter is activated.

6. A gas generator for an air bag according to claim 1, wherein the grounding pin is electrically connected to a metal portion constituting an outer shell vessel of the igniter, and the center pin is electrically connected to the grounding pin via only an electric resistance wire.

7. An air bag system, comprising:

a gas generator for an air bag according to claim 1;

an impact sensor for detecting an impact to activate the gas generator;

an air bag having introduced therein a gas generated by the gas generator to inflate the air bag; and

a module case accommodating the air bag.

8. An air bag system, comprising:

an air bag apparatus including,

a gas generator for an air bag having a housing provided with a gas discharge port, and ignition means attached to the housing, and

an activation-signal outputting device for outputting an electrical activation-signal to the gas generator,

wherein,

the ignition means is provided with a first igniter and a second igniter activated by an electrical activation-signal, and the first igniter and the second igniter are mounted to the housing via a holder,

each of the first igniter and the second igniter includes a grounding pin electrically connected to a metal portion of an outer shell vessel of the igniter, and a center pin electrically connected to the grounding pin only via an electric resistance wire and the metal portion,

the activation-signal outputting device is provided with a switch means for controlling the output of the activation-signal to each igniter, and

in the second igniter, the center pin is connected to the activation-signal outputting means to serve as a positive electrode.

9. A method of receiving an activation-signal in a gas generator for an air bag activated by receiving an electrical activation-signal, comprising:

providing the gas generator having a gas discharging port formed in a housing thereof;

providing ignition means including first and second igniters activated by an electrical activation-signal;

providing each of the first and second igniters with a grounding pin electrically connected to a metal portion of the igniter and a center pin electrically connected to the grounding pin only via an electric resistance wire and the metal portion,

the center pin of the second igniter serving as a positive electrode to receive the signal; and

providing the ignition means in the gas generator.