Actuator subassembly

• US 8,517,419 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2010
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.), TRW Airbag Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Debler, Jens, Sedlmeier, Martin, Englbrecht, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/688,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20100187797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 294/28, 294/53, 89/11.4, 102/275.12, 102/530, 102/531, 102/335, 102/356, 280/736, 280/737, 280740-742, 280/743.2, 280/806
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23388 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator subassembly (10) for a vehicle safety system comprising a pyrotechnic actuator unit (12) including an igniting portion (14) as well as a receiving element (16) forming a guide for the movable igniting portion (14) after activating the actuator unit (12). Further the invention relates to an airbag module of a vehicle safety system comprising said actuator subassembly (10) and a method of mounting a releasable tether (30) on an airbag module by means of said actuator assembly (10).

Claims

1. An actuator subassembly for a vehicle safety system comprising

a pyrotechnic actuator unit (12) including a holding portion (24) and a an igniting portion (14) actuatable to rupture the actuator unit (12) and separate the holding portion (24) from the igniting portion (14);

and

a receiving element (16) that holds the actuator unit (12) and forms a guide for permitting movement of the igniting portion (14) longitudinally relative to the holding portion (24) after activation and rupture of the actuator unit (12), wherein the rupture releases a member (30) that is held in the receiving element (16) due to an engagement between the member (30) and the holding portion (24).

2. An actuator subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that prior to its activation the actuator unit (12) is undisplaceably attached to the receiving element (16).

3. An actuator subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that in the receiving element (16) at least one stop is formed to restrict movement of the igniting portion (14) after activation of the actuator unit (12).

4. An actuator subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the member comprises a tether (30) fixed at the actuator unit (12) prior to activation of the pyrotechnic actuator unit (12.

5. An actuator subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that in the igniting portion (14) a pre-fabricated electric igniting unit (18) including a pyrotechnic charge (20) is received.

6. An actuator subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving element (16) is a plastic part.

7. An actuator subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the igniting portion (14) and holding portion (24) are firmly connected to each other prior to activating the actuator unit (12).

8. An actuator subassembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the igniting portion (14) and/or the holding portion (24) are made of plastic material.

9. An actuator subassembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding portion (24) is firmly connected to the receiving element (16) prior to activating the pyrotechnic actuator unit (12).

10. An actuator subassembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the receiving element (16) includes engaging portions (28) forming a snap fit with the holding portion (24) such that the holding portion (24) and receiving element (16) do not move relative to one another due to activation of the actuator unit (12).

11. An airbag module of a vehicle safety system comprising

an airbag (52),

an inflator (46) and

an actuator subassembly (10) according to claim 1,

characterized in that the receiving element (16) of the actuator subassembly (10) is firmly connected to a modular component (44).

12. An airbag module according to claim 11, characterized in that the receiving element (16) is engaged in the modular component (44).

13. An airbag module according to claim 11, characterized in that the modular component (44) is the inflator.

14. An airbag module according to claim 11, characterized in that the actuator unit (12) includes a pyrotechnic charge (20) and that the member comprises a tether (30) is provided which is fixed at the actuator unit (12) prior to igniting the pyrotechnic charge (20) and is released after igniting the pyrotechnic charge (20).

15. An actuator subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that upon activation of the pyrotechnic actuator unit (12) the holding portion (24) maintains a fixed connection with the receiving element (16) and the igniting portion (14) moves relative to the holding portion (24).

16. An actuator subassembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving element (16) extends along a longitudinal axis (A), the igniting portion (14) moving along or parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) and relative to the holding portion (24) upon activation of the pyrotechnic actuator unit (12).

17. An actuator subassembly according to claim 1, wherein the actuator unit(12) comprises a predetermined breaking point (26) between the igniting portion (14) and the holding portion (24), the member being released through a space between the igniting portion (14) and the holding portion (24) upon rupture of the breaking point (26).

18. An actuator subassembly for a vehicle safety system comprising

a pyrotechnic actuator unit (12) including a holding portion (24) and a movable igniting portion (14),

a receiving element (16) that holds the holding portion (24) and forms a guide for the movable igniting portion (14) after activation of the actuator unit (12), and

a tether (30) held within the receiving element (16) by the pyrotechnic actuator unit (12) and released from the receiving element through a space between the holding portion (24) and the igniting portion, the holding portion (24) and igniting portion (14) breaking apart from each other when the pyrotechnic actuator unit is activated.

19. An apparatus for securing a tether in a vehicle, comprising:

a receiving element (16) connectable with the vehicle; and

a pyrotechnic actuator unit (12) including a holding portion (24) secured to the receiving element (16) and an igniting portion (14) actuatable to rupture the actuator unit (12) and separate the holding portion (24) from the igniting portion (14);

the receiving element (16) receiving the actuator unit (12) and the tether (30), the actuator unit (12) when received in the receiving element (16) engages the tether (30) to connect the tether (30) to the receiving element (16);

the receiving element (16) forming a guide for permitting movement of the igniting portion (14) longitudinally relative to the holding portion (24) while the holding portion (24) remains secured to the receiving element (16) after activation and rupture of the actuator unit (12), which disconnects the tether (30) from the receiving element (16).

20. An actuator subassembly according to claim 19, wherein the actuator unit (12) extends through a loop in the tether (30) to connect the tether (30) to the receiving element (16).

21. An actuator subassembly according to claim 19, wherein the receiving element (16) includes engaging portions (28) that maintain the holding portion (24) in the same position before and after actuation of the pyrotechnic actuator unit (12).