Airbag module with an airbag and a tubular gas generator that can be fastened to a module housing

• US 8,141,898 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Hamels, Stefan, Fechner, Tobias, Gross, Frank, Kempe, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US13/051,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/731, 280/732, 285/325, 285/82, 285/91, 403/289, 403/344
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• 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

An airbag module with an airbag and a tubular gas generator fastened to a module housing is provided. Said tubular gas generator having gas outlet openings along the periphery thereof and can be fastened to the module housing by means of only a clamping ring that is movable over the tubular gas generator and over a section of the module housing. The clamping ring has in axial direction elongated sections being separated from each other and continuing axial in the opposite direction. The module housing has in its bottom an opening for inserting the tubular gas generator, wherein on the module housing below this opening a support for the tubular gas generator is provided. The clamping ring is designed such that said clamping ring reaches below the support after positioning the tubular gas generator with the elongated section by axial moving in direction of the center of the tubular gas generator.

Claims

1. An airbag module comprising:

an airbag; and

a tubular gas generator fastened to a module housing,

wherein said tubular gas generator has gas outlet openings along the periphery of the tubular gas generator,

wherein the tubular gas generator is fastened to the module housing by only a clamping ring that is movable in an axial direction along the tubular gas generator towards the centre of the tubular gas generator and over a section of the module housing,

wherein the clamping ring has elongated sections separated from one another in an axial direction and extending away from one another in opposite axial directions,

wherein the clamping ring is located around the tubular gas generator,

wherein the module housing has an opening in the bottom of the module housing for inserting the tubular gas generator,

wherein on the module housing below the opening a support for supporting the tubular gas generator is provided, and

wherein the clamping ring is designed such that one of the elongated sections of the clamping ring extends below the support of the module housing to fasten the gas generator to the housing.

2. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the support has a lesser length than the tubular gas generator.

3. The airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the clamping ring is designed such that, when the tubular gas generator is fastened to the module housing, another one of the elongated sections extends over the bottom of the module housing and/or under a retaining member by means of which the airbag is fastened to the module housing.

4. The airbag module according to claim 2, wherein on an edge area of the opening of the bottom a spring means is provided that preloads a free end section of the tubular gas generator against the support.

5. The airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the spring means is formed in one piece to the module housing.

6. The airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the spring means revolves around the tubular gas generator perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular gas generator.

7. The airbag module according to claim 6, wherein the spring means revolves around the tubular gas generator about 180 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tubular gas generator.

8. The airbag module according to the claim 4, wherein, seen along the longitudinal axis of the tubular gas generator, an edge section of the opening of the bottom of the module housing is opposite to an edge section of the support, to another edge section of the opening of the bottom and/or to an edge section of the retaining member.

9. The airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the ends of the support and the corresponding elongated section of the clamping ring have an inclined surface so that the tubular gas generator is adapted to be fastened between the support and an upper section of the clamping ring by moving the clamping ring in direction of the centre of the tubular gas generator.

10. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the clamping ring is designed such that when the tubular gas generator is fastened to the module housing, the one of the elongated sections is positioned under an edge section of the support, and another of the elongated sections is positioned over an edge section of the opening of the bottom of the module housing and/or under an edge section of a retaining member by means of which the airbag is fastened to the module housing.

11. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein a centre section and a lower elongated section of the clamping ring that is related to the support have together a length which is shorter than the distance between the edges of the bottom and the edges of the support in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular gas generator.

12. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the clamping ring and the module housing are designed such as to provide a sealing between the clamping ring and the module housing on the edges of the bottom of the module housing, and wherein the clamping ring and the module housing are designed such as to provide a sealing between the clamping ring and the module housing and the tubular gas generator on the edges of the support and on the edges of a protrusion of the clamping ring.

13. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the clamping ring is adapted to be locked to the module housing.

14. The airbag module according to claim 13, wherein the module housing has at least one latch nose and the clamping ring has at least one corresponding flexible latch hook.

15. The airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag loops around the tubular gas generator and wherein, in the clamping position of the clamping ring, the airbag is fixed between the tubular gas generator and the support.