Gas generator and assembly with a gas generator

• US 8,123,249 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zischka, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECK, KAREN JANE AMORES
• Application Number:
  US12/290,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20090121465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/728.2, 280/736, 280/740
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

A gas generator has an elongated outer housing, the wall of the outer housing surrounding at least one gas carrying inner chamber. An axially extending end section of the wall of the outer housing, which is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator with regard to flow, is constructed as a fastening section and has at least one fastening structure for connecting the gas generator with a carrier part.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

an elongated outer housing (112) has a wall that defines at least one gas carrying inner chamber and an outflow region of the gas generator,

an axially extending end section of the wall of the outer housing (112) being provided, which adjoins the outflow region in the axial direction and is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator (110) with regard to flow,

and which is constructed as a fastening section (116) and has at least one fastening structure (118) for connecting the gas generator (110) with a carrier part (10).

2. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the fastening section (116) is gas-tightly separated from the inner chamber.

3. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the fastening structure (118) is formed by at least one opening in a peripheral wall of the fastening section (116).

4. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the fastening section (116) is open at an axial end.

6. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the fastening section (116) is axially adjacent to an outflow region (114) of the gas generator (110).

16. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the fastening section (116) continues integrally into a remainder of the outer housing.

17. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the wall of the outer housing is for directing flow through the at least one gas carrying inner chamber.

28. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing (112) is tubular and substantially uniform in diameter along its length, the at least one gas carrying inner chamber, outflow region, and fastening section (116) comprising axially extending sections of the tubular outer housing.

29. The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the fastening structure comprises at least one aperture in a side wall of the outer housing (112).

5. A gas generator comprising:

an elongated outer housing (112) and

at least one gas carrying inner chamber,

a wall of the outer housing surrounding the at least one gas carrying inner chamber and an outflow region,

an axially extending end section of the wall of the outer housing (112) being provided, which adjoins the outflow region in the axial direction and is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator (110) with regard to flow,

and which is constructed as a fastening section (116) and has at least one fastening structure (118) for connecting the gas generator (110) with a carrier part (10), wherein in the fastening section (616) the outer housing (612) is compressed flat to form a double-walled flange.

7. An assembly comprising:

a gas generator having an elongated outer housing (112) with a wall that defines at least one gas carrying inner chamber and an outflow region of the gas generator, an axially extending end section of the wall of the outer housing (112) adjoining the outflow region in the axial direction and being separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator (110) with regard to flow and which is constructed as a fastening section (116) and has at least one fastening structure (118),

and a fastening element (120), engaging on the fastening structure (118) of the fastening section (116), for fixing the gas generator (110) on a carrier part (10).

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the fastening element (120) projects through two opposite openings in the wall of the fastening section (116).

9. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the fastening element comprises a mounting plate which is fastened to the gas generator via at least one opening in the peripheral wall of the fastening section.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein one part of a screw/nut connection is rigidly fastened to the mounting plate.

11. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the mounting plate is fastened to the gas generator by means of at least one blind rivet.

12. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the mounting plate is bent so that it embraces the rim of the fastening section at the axially free end of the fastening section.

13. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein a heat shield (122) is fastened to the gas generator (110) via the fastening element (120).

14. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the fastening element (120) projects radially from the gas generator (110).

18. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the fastening section (116) continues integrally into a remainder of the outer housing.

19. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the wall of the outer housing is for directing flow through the at least one gas carrying inner chamber.

15. A gas generator comprising:

an elongated outer housing having a wall that defines at least one gas carrying inner chamber and an outflow region of the gas generator, the inner chamber being for supporting functional parts of the gas generator necessary for generating a filling gas for a gas bag,

an end section of the wall of the outer housing that extends axially beyond the inner chamber and adjoins the outflow region being constructed as a fastening section comprising at least one fastening structure for connecting the gas generator with a carrier part.

20. The gas generator according to claim 15, wherein the fastening section (116) continues integrally into a remainder of the outer housing.

21. The gas generator according to claim 15, wherein the wall of the outer housing is for directing flow through the at least one gas carrying inner chamber.

22. The gas generator according to claim 15, wherein the end section of the wall is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator with regard to flow.

23. A gas generator comprising:

an elongated outer housing (112) and

at least one gas carrying inner chamber,

a tubular wall of the outer housing defining the at least one gas carrying inner chamber and an outflow region of the gas generator,

an axially extending end section of the wall of the outer housing (112) being provided, which adjoins the outflow region in the axial direction and is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator (110) with regard to flow,

and which is constructed as a fastening section (116) and has at least one fastening structure (118) for connecting the gas generator (110) with a carrier part (10), the entire fastening section (116) having a circular cross-section.

24. The gas generator according to claim 23, wherein the fastening section (116) has the same diameter as a remainder of the outer housing (112).

25. The gas generator according to claim 23, wherein the fastening section (116) has the same wall thickness as a remainder of the outer housing (112).

26. A gas generator comprising:

an elongated outer housing (112) having an axially extending tubular side wall,

a first axial portion of the tubular side wall defining at least one gas carrying inner chamber of the gas generator,

a second axial portion of the tubular side wall defining an outflow region of the gas generator,

a third axial portion of the tubular side wall defining a fastening section of the gas generator, the fastening section (116) comprising at least one fastening structure (118) for connecting the gas generator (110) with a carrier part (10).

27. The gas generator according to claim 26, wherein the fastening section (116) is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator with regard to flow.