Gas generator for air bag, deflecting member, coolant/filter means supporting member, coolant and housing

• US 7,441,803 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Masayuki, Iwai, Yasunori, Nakashima, Yoshihiro, Miyaji, Katsuhito, Hatomoto, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/342,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20060151978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/742, 280/740, 280/739, 280/736
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

Gas generator for air bag having any of the following members: deflecting member formed as tube portion capable of shielding gas discharge port formed on circumferential wall of housing from inside; coolant/filter means supporting member comprising annular portion arranged to face end surface of housing and wall portion contacting with inner periphery of coolant/filter means; coolant/filter means formed in cylindrical shape obtained by laminating wire mesh; housing securely fixing igniter included in ignition means, having opening portion for inserting and fixing igniter or igniter supporting member, wherein the opening portion is provided with connecting portion for fixing inserted igniter or igniter supporting member, and connecting portion is provided in inner side of housing rather than end surface having the opening portion.

Claims

1. A gas generator for an air bag comprising:

a cylindrical housing formed by

a diffuser shell that is provided with a gas discharge port and including a top wall, a first circumferential wall, and a first bent portion connecting the top wall and the first circumferential wall, and

a closure shell including a bottom wall, a second circumferential wall, and a second bent portion connecting the bottom wall and the second circumferential wall,

at least one of the first circumferential wall and the second circumferential wall being inclined from the first bent portion and the second bent portion, respectively, to spread radially and outwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing;

a gas generating means, provided within the cylindrical housing, to generate an operating gas for inflating an air bag; and

a cylindrical coolant means to carry out at least one of cooling and purifying the operating gas and being provided within the housing such that at least one of an upper outer periphery and a lower outer periphery thereof is in attachment to the first bent portion and the second bent portion, respectively; and

a gap forming a flow-path of the operating gas secured between an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical coolant means and inner surfaces of the first circumferential wall and the second circumferential wall.

2. A gas generator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper outer periphery and the lower outer periphery is in attachment to the first bent portion and the second bent portion, respectively, at a time of at least one of assembling the gas generator and activating the gas generator.

3. A gas generator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the second circumferential wall spreads from the second bent portion radially in an outward direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing.

4. A gas generator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the second circumferential wall is formed in an inverted conical trapezoidal shape.

5. A gas generator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the cylindrical housing, an interior angle between an inner surface of the first circumferential. wall and an inner surface of the top wall and/or an inner surface of the second circumferential wall and an inner surface of the bottom wall are 90 to 150 degrees.

6. A gas generator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical coolant means is formed to have a strength capable of preventing the coolant means from being expanded radially and outwardly at a time of cooling and/or purifying the operating gas.

7. A gas generator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical coolant means is formed to have at least a tensile strength in the radial direction between 2450 and 19600 N.

8. A gas generator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical coolant means is formed to expand radially and outwardly at a time of cooling and/or purifying the operating gas, and the upper outer periphery and the lower outer periphery of the cylindrical coolant means are in attachment to the first bent portion and the second bent portion, respectively.

10. An air bag apparatus comprising:

a gas generator for an air bag;

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

an air bag to introduce a gas generated in the gas generator for inflating; and

a module case accommodating the air bag,

wherein the gas generator for the air bag is the gas generator for the air bag as claimed in claim 1.

11. A gas generator for an air bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a deflector member including a tubular portion and an annular portion formed integrally and being provided within the cylindrical housing such that the tubular portion opposes the gas discharge port and the annular portion is between the top wall and a top end of the cylindrical coolant means.

12. A gas generator of an air bag as claimed in claim 11, wherein the deflector member is provided such that a connecting portion of the tubular portion and the annular portion is in attachment to the first bent portion.

9. A housing of a gas generator for an air bag, which is a cylindrical housing used in a gas generator for an air bag generating an operating gas for inflating the air bag upon impact, comprising:

a diffuser shell including a gas discharge port and an igniter supporting member connected to the diffuser shell;

a closure shell including an opening for accommodating therein the igniter supporting member, the closure shell further having

a bottom wail,

a cylindrical wall extending into an inner space of the housing and being in contact with an outer surface of the igniter supporting member, and

an inclined surface connecting the bottom wall at a bent portion, the inclined surface being formed to be inclined from the bent portion to spread outwardly and radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing.