Gas generator for restraining device for vehicle

• US 7,591,483 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries Limited
• Inventors: Noma, Noriaki, Nakayasu, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US11/927,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742, 102/530, 102/531, 102/202.5, 102/202.8, 102/202.9, 102/202.11, 102/202.12, 102/202.14
• US Class Current: 280/741
• 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 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/24 Cartridge closures or seals top closures for shotgun ammunition cartridges F42B7/12
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/26 Arrangements for mounting initiators; Accessories therefor, e.g. tools

Abstract

The present invention provides a gas generator for a restraining device for a vehicle, including: an igniter attached via an igniter collar to an opening in a housing bottom portion; the igniter collar including a main body portion that supports the igniter and an attachment portion that is fixed to the housing bottom portion; at least part of the attachment portion absorbing strains caused by deformation of the housing, sealing between the housing and the igniter collar, by deforming itself correspondingly to deformation of the housing when the housing deforms during the actuation.

Claims

1. A gas generator for a restraining device for a vehicle, comprising:

an igniter attached via an igniter collar to an opening in a housing bottom portion;

the igniter collar including a main body portion that supports the igniter and an attachment portion that is fixed to the housing bottom portion, the attachment portion further including, an annular inner wall, an annular top wall, and an annular outer wall, at least one of the annular outer wall and the annular top wall being formed to be thinner than the remaining two of the annular inner wall, the annular top wall, and the annular outer wall;

at least part of the attachment portion absorbing strains to seal between the housing and the igniter collar, by deforming correspondingly to deformation of the housing when the housing deforms during the actuation.

2. The gas generator for a restraining device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the attachment portion of the igniter collar has a protruding portion that protrudes outwardly in the opening of the housing, and the protruding portion has a fixing annular groove in which a concavity is formed in a radial direction;

and

the fixing annular groove is fitted to a circumferential edge of the opening of the housing bottom portion, whereby the igniter collar is fixed to the housing,

wherein the annular groove is formed by the annular inner wall, the annular top wall, and the annular outer wall.

3. The gas generator for a restraining device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the annular groove is deformable and formed in the axial direction in a portion that is in contact with an inner surface of the housing bottom portion;

an O-ring made of an elastic member is inserted into the annular groove; and

when the housing deforms during actuation, at least one of the annular top wall and the annular outer wall deforms correspondingly to the deformation of the housing, strains induced by the deformation of the housing are therefore absorbed and sealing between the housing and the igniter collar is attained.

4. The gas generator for a restraining device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein part of the attachment portion is in contact with an inner surface of the housing bottom portion in the vicinity of the opening, and a portion that is in contact with the inner surface is deformed upon reception of an external force.

5. The gas generator for a restraining device for a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the main body portion and the attachment portion are formed integrally.

6. The gas generator for a restraining device for a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the housing bottom portion to which the igniter collar is attaches is formed flat.