Gas generator for air bag

• US 7,556,289 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Inventors: Katsuda, Nobuyuki, Yabuta, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US11/493,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/737, 280/741, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• 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 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence

Abstract

A gas generator for an air bag includes; a housing having a gas discharge port, a first combustion chamber and a second combustion chamber, provided inside the housing and charged with a gas generating agent, a first ignition device and a second ignition device provided in the two combustion chambers, respectively, the second ignition device provided with an electric igniter, a piston, an enhancer agent, a detonator provided in the enhancer agent, opposite to the distal end of the piston, and a tether connected to the rear end portion of the piston, the tether being tied around an air bag when accommodated into an air bag module, the tether controlling an inflation direction of the air bag by fastening the inflating air bag when the first ignition device is activated, the tether being configured to be released from the piston when the second ignition device is activated.

Claims

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

a housing having a gas discharge port,

a first combustion chamber and a second combustion chamber, provided inside the housing and charged with a gas generating agent,

a first ignition device and a second ignition device provided in the two combustion chambers, respectively,

the second ignition device provided with an electric igniter, a piston, an enhancer agent,

a detonator provided in the enhancer agent, opposite to the distal end of the piston, and

a tether being externally tied around an air bag accommodated into an air bag module, and one end of the tether being connected to the piston,

the tether controlling an inflation direction of the air bag by fastening the inflating air bag when the first ignition device is activated, the tether being configured to be released from the piston by movement of the piston when the second ignition device is activated.

2. The gas generator for an air bag according to claim 1, wherein the housing is cylindrical, the gas discharge port is provided in the vicinity of a central portion thereof, and the two combustion chambers are disposed at the two end sides thereof.

3. An air bag apparatus, wherein the gas generator according to claim 2 and an air bag are accommodated in an air bag module.

4. An air bag apparatus in which the gas generator according to claim 1 and an air bag are accommodated in an air bag module.