Gas generator

• US 7,578,522 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited (Daicel Corporation)
• Inventors: Okuyama, Takashi, Hanano, Teppei
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US11/511,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20070046005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742, 280/743.1, 102/530, 102/531
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26011 using a filter through which the inflation gas passes
• 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: B60R 21/274 characterised by means to rupture or open the fluid source

Abstract

The present invention provides a gas generator including a housing formed by a closure shell and a diffuser shell having a gas discharge port,

• • a combustion chamber provided inside the housing and charged with a gas generating agent,
  • an ignition device to ignite and burn the gas generating agent inside the combustion chamber,
  • a cylindrical filter disposed to face the gas discharge port and having an annular upper surface press-contacting a ceiling surface of the housing,
  • a retainer disposed inside the combustion chamber to support the cylindrical filter,
  • the retainer being substantially a cylinder, having a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, that is provided with a vent hole, as well as an annular surface portion provided between the larger diameter portion and the smaller diameter portion,
  • an outer peripheral surface of the larger diameter portion abutting against an inner wall surface of the housing before activation and press-contacting the inner wall surface of the housing in activation, the annular surface portion press-contacting an annular lower surface of the cylindrical filter and an outer peripheral surface of the smaller diameter portion abutting against an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical filter,
  • a lower end portion of the larger diameter portion press-contacting the inner peripheral surface of the housing.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

a housing formed by a closure shell and a diffuser shell having a gas discharge port,

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

an ignition device to ignite and burn the gas generating agent inside the combustion chamber,

a cylindrical filter disposed to face the gas discharge port and having an annular upper surface press-contacting a ceiling surface of the housing,

a retainer disposed inside the combustion chamber to support the cylindrical filter and

the retainer being substantially a cylinder, having a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, that is provided with a vent hole, and an annular surface portion provided between the larger diameter portion and the smaller diameter portion,

an outer peripheral surface of the larger diameter portion abutting against an inner wall surface of the housing before activation and press-contacting the inner wall surface of the housing in activation, the annular surface portion press-contacting an annular lower surface of the cylindrical filter, an outer peripheral surface of the smaller diameter portion abutting against an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical filter,

a lower end portion of the larger diameter portion press-contacting the inner peripheral surface of the housing,

a lower end portion of the larger diameter portion having an inward-facing flange portion, an upper end portion of the smaller diameter portion having an inward-facing flange portion, and the flange portion of the larger diameter portion press-contacting a bottom surface of the closure shell.

2. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein a height of the cylindrical filter is lower than a height of the diffuser shell.