Gas generator and airbag module
First Claim
1. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprisinga diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row, the discharge orifices (78) having different first, second, and third flow cross-sections and that in the row of the discharge orifices (78) at least partially a recurring sequence of the first flow cross-section→
- second flow cross-section→
first flow cross-section→
third flow cross-section is provided, wherein the first flow cross-section is small, the second flow cross-section is medium and the third flow cross-section is large.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, includes a diffuser (10) which preferably forms a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12). The diffuser (10) includes more than 12, preferably more than 14, further preferably 23 discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row. Moreover, the inflator exhibits a plurality of further peculiarities.
54 Citations
64 Claims
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1. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row, the discharge orifices (78) having different first, second, and third flow cross-sections and that in the row of the discharge orifices (78) at least partially a recurring sequence of the first flow cross-section→ - second flow cross-section→
first flow cross-section→
third flow cross-section is provided, wherein the first flow cross-section is small, the second flow cross-section is medium and the third flow cross-section is large. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- second flow cross-section→
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24. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row, wherein the discharge orifices (78) have different first, second, and third flow cross-sections and that in the row of the discharge orifices (78) at least partially a recurring sequence of the first flow cross-section→ - second flow cross-section→
first flow cross-section→
third flow cross-section is provided, wherein the first flow cross-section is small, the second flow cross-section is medium and the third flow cross-section is large; and
wherein a ratio of an outer circumference of the diffuser (10) in mm to a number of discharge orifices (78) having the first flow cross-section is less than 19.7, and wherein a ratio of the outer circumference of the diffuser (10) in mm to a number of discharge orifices (78) having the medium flow cross-section and to a number of discharge orifices (78) having the large flow cross-section is less than 39.4. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
- second flow cross-section→
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29. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row extending in circumferential direction about the central axis A and having a beginning with a first discharge orifice (78a) and an end with a last discharge orifice (78b), a circumferential distance between the first discharge orifice (78a) and the last discharge orifice (78b) being greater than a distance between neighboring discharge orifices (78) in the row; - wherein a tamping strip (84) is arranged between the beginning and the end of the row.
- View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row; - and
a fuel canister (58) filled with fuel including a fuel canister bottom (66) and a fuel canister opening (64) opposed to the fuel canister bottom (66) which is closed by a combustion chamber sleeve (60), wherein plural holes (106) are formed in the fuel canister bottom (66), and wherein the combustion chamber sleeve (60) is free of holes apart from the combustion chamber sleeve orifice or the open side, and wherein the combustion chamber sleeve (60) is slipped onto an igniter carrier (32). - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
- and
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39. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row; - and
a combustion chamber sleeve (60) at least partially enclosing a combustion chamber (56) filled with fuel, wherein the combustion chamber sleeve (60) changes at least one of its position and shape under the influence of pressure formed during combustion of the fuel so as to release a discharge orifice (112) leading out of the combustion chamber (56), into a further combustion chamber (44) of the inflator, for a combustion gas formed during combustion of the fuel (31);
wherein the combustion chamber sleeve (60) is attached to a support component of the inflator comprising an igniter carrier (32), the combustion chamber sleeve (60) detaching at least partially from the igniter carrier (32) to form the discharge orifice (112) between the combustion chamber sleeve (60) and the igniter carrier (32); and
wherein the discharge orifice (112) is formed to not entirely encircle a central axis C of the combustion chamber sleeve (60) or at least not to have a constant radial width, wherein the discharge orifice (112) has a greatest radial width in an area facing away from a filter (46) disposed outside the combustion chamber (56) and having a greatest possible distance from the filter (46). - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
- and
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42. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row; - and
a combustion chamber sleeve (60) at least partially enclosing a combustion chamber (56) filled with fuel, wherein the combustion chamber sleeve (60) changes at least one of its position and shape under the influence of pressure formed during combustion of the fuel so as to release a discharge orifice (112) leading out of the combustion chamber (56), into a further combustion chamber (44) of the inflator, for a combustion gas formed during combustion of the fuel, wherein the combustion chamber sleeve (60) is slipped onto a fuel canister (58) filled with fuel and having a fuel canister bottom (66) including at least one hole (106) through which the combustion gas flows to the discharge orifice (112);
wherein the at least one hole (106) is formed by the pressure developed during combustion of the fuel tearing the fuel canister bottom (66). - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
- and
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46. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row; - and
an igniter sleeve (38) at least partially enclosing an igniter (34) and an igniter chamber (42) filled with a booster charge, wherein the igniter sleeve (38) is adjacent to a first combustion chamber (44) associated with a first activating stage of the inflator, a combustion chamber sleeve (60) at least partially enclosing a second combustion chamber (56) filled with fuel and associated with a second activating stage of the inflator, wherein an axial distance of an open side of the igniter sleeve (38) from a bottom (20) of the closing member (12) is greater than an axial distance of an open side of the combustion chamber sleeve (60) from the bottom (20) of the closing member (12); and
wherein the igniter sleeve (38) and the combustion chamber sleeve (60) are attached to a respective first igniter carrier (30) and second igniter carrier (32), wherein an axial height of a contact area between the igniter sleeve (38) and the first igniter carrier (30) is greater than an axial height of a contact area between the combustion chamber sleeve (60) and the second igniter carrier (32); and
wherein the igniter sleeve (38) is raised towards a ceiling portion (14) of the diffuser (10) by the pressure developed during combustion of the booster charge and the combustion chamber sleeve (60) is raised towards the ceiling portion (14) by the pressure developed during combustion of the fuel, wherein by raising the combustion chamber sleeve (60) a discharge orifice in the form of a discharge gap (112) is released which leads out of the combustion chamber sleeve (60), whereas no discharge orifice is released by raising the igniter sleeve (38). - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
- and
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49. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row; - and
a filter (46) and a combustion chamber sleeve (60) at least partially enclosing a combustion chamber (56), wherein the filter (46) extends in a ring-shaped manner about the combustion chamber (56) and includes a critical filter portion (120) which is closer to the combustion chamber component (60) than the remaining filter (46) and has a reduced thickness compared to areas of the filter (46) adjacent to the critical filter portion (20), wherein a gap (122) is formed between the combustion chamber component (60) and the critical filter portion (120), and wherein the material of the filter (46) is compressed more highly in the critical filter portion (120) than in the adjacent areas; and
wherein the combustion chamber component (60) has an increased material thickness at least in the area opposed to the critical filter portion (120); and
wherein the filter (46) extends along a circumferential wall (16, 22) of the inflator surrounding a combustion chamber (44) of the inflator in which the combustion chamber component (60) is disposed; and
wherein the combustion chamber component (60) extends over a greater axial height than the filter (46), the combustion chamber component (60) having an increased material thickness only in the axial area in which also the filter (46) extends. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
- and
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52. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row; - and
a filter (46) and a combustion chamber sleeve (60) at least partially enclosing a combustion chamber (56), wherein the filter (46) extends in a ring-shaped manner about the combustion chamber (56) and includes a critical filter portion (120) which is closer to the combustion chamber component (60) than the remaining filter (46) and has a reduced thickness compared to areas of the filter (46) adjacent to the critical filter portion (20), wherein a ratio of a minimum thickness of the critical filter portion (120) to a thickness of the adjacent areas of the filter (46) is between 0.43 and 0.93, and wherein a ratio of a minimum thickness j of the critical filter portion (120) to a maximum width (h) of the gap (122) is between 1.17 and 2.85, and wherein the inflator is closed at a first axial end face by the diffuser (10), wherein the filter (46) extends in an axial direction away from the axial end face of the inflator a distance greater than a circumferential wall (16) of the diffuser (10). - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
- and
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55. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row; - and
a combustion chamber sleeve (60) at least partially enclosing a combustion chamber (56), wherein the combustion chamber sleeve (60) contacts a ceiling portion (14) of the diffuser (10) in a non-activated state of the inflator at least at one point (110), and wherein an axial distance g parallel to the central axis A between the combustion chamber sleeve (60) and the ceiling portion (14) varies such that a maximum distance g between the combustion chamber sleeve (60) and the ceiling portion (14) of the diffuser (10) is between 2.3 and 3.7 mm. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
- and
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58. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row; - and
a first combustion chamber (44) associated with a first activating stage of the inflator and a second combustion chamber (56) associated with a second activating stage of the inflator, wherein the second combustion chamber (56) is surrounded at least partially by the first combustion chamber (44) and has a volume that is smaller than a volume of the first combustion chamber (44), wherein a ratio of the volume of the first combustion chamber (44) to the volume of the second combustion chamber (56) is between 2.07 and 3.78, and wherein a ratio of the volume of the first combustion chamber (44) to a volume of an igniter sleeve (38) at least partially surrounded by the first combustion chamber (44) is between 9.00 and 35.0, and wherein a ratio of an outer diameter a of the inflator to a height h1 of the external housing is between 1.38 and 1.78 and wherein the height h1 of the external housing of the inflator is between 30 and 50 mm. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
- and
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61. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row; - and
a first combustion chamber (44) associated with a first activating stage of the inflator and a second combustion chamber (56) associated with a second activating stage of the inflator, wherein the second combustion chamber (56) is surrounded at least partially by the first combustion chamber (44) and has a volume that is smaller than a volume of the first combustion chamber (44), wherein a ratio of the volume of the first combustion chamber (44) to the volume of the second combustion chamber (56) is between 2.34 and 3.27, and wherein a ratio of the volume of the first combustion chamber (44) to a volume of an igniter sleeve (38) at least partially surrounded by the first combustion chamber (44) ranges between 13.5 and 31.0, and wherein a ratio of an outer diameter a of the external housing of the inflator to a height h1 of the external housing ranges between 0.94 and 1.16 and wherein the height h1 of the external housing of the inflator ranges between 50 and 70 mm. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
- and
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64. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle and having a central axis A, comprising
a diffuser (10) cooperating with a closing member (12) to form an external housing of the inflator that is symmetric about the central axis A, wherein the diffuser (10) includes more than 12 circular discharge orifices (78) arranged in a single row, the discharge openings (78) having different first, second, and third flow cross-sections, wherein the first flow cross-section is small, the second flow cross-section is medium and the third flow cross-section is large, and wherein a ratio of the outer circumference of the diffuser (10) in mm to a number of discharge orifices (78) having the small flow cross-section is less than 19.7, and wherein a ratio of the outer circumference of the diffuser (10) in mm to a number of discharge orifices (78) having the medium flow cross-section and to a number of discharge orifices (78) having the large flow cross-section is less than 39.4.
Specification