Inflator having an improved closure cap

• US 7,401,808 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rossbach, Thomas, Klettenheimer, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US11/357,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20070138776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 280/737, 280/741, 280/742, 280/736, 137/69, 137/68.23, 137/68.19, 137/68.25, 137/68.27, 137/68.29, 137/68.3, 102/530, 102/531
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/274 characterised by means to rupture or open the fluid source
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0181 Airbags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1744 Specific weakening point
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1767 Movable knife or cutter

Abstract

An inflator has a sealed vessel for containing compressed gas. The inflator has an axis. The vessel has a gas outlet passageway. The inflator has an elongated sealing cap closure with an internal chamber portion open to the compressed gas and sealed vessel to seal the opening of the gas outlet passageway. The elongated sealing cap is coaxial with the inflator. When a triggering device is activated it exerts a force against the elongated sealing cap closure in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the inflator that causes the elongated sealing cap closure to fail and allows gas to escape from the vessel.

Claims

1. An inflator comprising a vessel containing compressed gas, the vessel having a gas outlet passageway defined by an annular abutment wall with a central opening, the inflator having a sealing cap closure having a sealing flange sealed to the annular abutment wall to seal the opening of the gas outlet passageway;

the interior of the sealing closure cap being a chamber that is open to the compressed gas in the vessel with the chamber comprising a large diameter chamber portion adjacent the sealing flange with the large diameter chamber portion being flared down to a smaller diameter closed end chamber portion with a thin walled frangible seam disposed in a side wall of the sealing closure cap between the two chamber portions; and

a triggering device that when activated generates gas that drives a piston in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the inflator such that the piston impacts the side wall of the sealing cap closure and breaks the side wall of the sealing cap closure at the thin walled frangible seam thereby allowing gas to escape from the vessel.

2. The inflator according to claim 1 further comprising an exhaust port housing having one or more exhaust ports for allowing the gas to pass therethrough to inflate an airbag.

3. The inflator according to claim 2 further comprising a filter located between the sealing cap closure and the one or more exhaust ports.

4. The inflator according to claim 1 wherein the sealing flange is secured to a surface on the annular abutment wall on a compressed gas containing portion of the vessel.

5. The inflator according to claim 4 wherein the sealing flange is welded to the annular abutment wall.

6. The inflator according to claim 1 wherein the sealing cap closure is formed as a drawn metal part.