Inflator device with integral clamp stop

• US 9,573,549 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lang, Shawn M., Clark, Kenneth, Carter, Jason Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US14/755,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20170001595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26076 characterised by casing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26082 Material
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/04 Protecting sheathings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/06 built-up from wound-on bands or filamentary material, e.g. wires

Abstract

A vehicular safety restraint inflator device, the inflator device includes a tubular housing to provide inflation gas to inflate an associated inflatable restraint device and a toroidal clamp stop positioned on the tubular inflator housing. The clamp stop serves to provide a hard stop for an inflator attachment clamp to secure the inflator device within an airbag module and thus to minimize or avoid undesired lateral movement of the inflator device within a module assembly.

Claims

1. A vehicular safety restraint inflator device, the inflator device comprising:

a tubular housing to provide inflation gas to inflate an associated inflatable restraint device; and

a toroidal clamp stop positioned on the tubular housing to provide a hard stop for an inflator attachment clamp to secure the inflator device within an airbag module;

wherein a reactive material is contained within the tubular housing and reaction of the reactive material within the tubular housing generates an increase in pressure within the tubular housing, the inflator device additionally comprising;

an overwrap about at least a portion of the tubular housing to form an inflator assembly that withstands the pressure generated within the tubular housing upon reaction of the reactive material, the overwrap comprising a composite of fibers and a resin matrix system and

wherein the toroidal clamp stop comprises a toroidal-shaped element disposed on the tubular housing with the composite overwrap disposed thereover.

2. The vehicular safety restraint inflator device of claim 1 wherein the inflator device comprises a hybrid inflator.

3. The vehicular safety restraint inflator device of claim 1 wherein the tubular housing is incapable of withstanding the pressure generated within the tubular housing upon reaction of the reactive material without support provided by the overwrap.

4. The vehicular safety restraint inflator device of claim 1 wherein the tubular housing has a length to diameter ratio of at least 1:

1.

5. A vehicular safety restraint inflator device, the inflator device comprising:

a tubular housing to provide inflation gas to inflate an associated inflatable restraint device; and

a toroidal clamp stop positioned on the tubular housing to provide a hard stop for an inflator attachment clamp to secure the inflator device within an airbag module;

wherein a reactive material is contained within the tubular housing and reaction of the reactive material within the tubular housing generates an increase in pressure within the tubular housing, the inflator device additionally comprising;

an overwrap about at least a portion of the tubular housing to form an inflator assembly that withstands the pressure generated within the tubular housing upon reaction of the reactive material, the overwrap comprising a composite of fibers and a resin matrix system and

wherein the toroidal clamp stop comprises a raised build-up of the composite onto the tubular housing.

6. The vehicular safety restraint inflator device of claim 5 wherein the inflator device comprises a hybrid inflator.

7. The vehicular safety restraint inflator device of claim 5 wherein the tubular housing is incapable of withstanding the pressure generated within the tubular housing upon reaction of the reactive material without support provided by the overwrap.

8. The vehicular safety restraint inflator device of claim 5 wherein the tubular housing has a length to diameter ratio of at least 1:

1.

9. A hybrid inflator device that upon actuation provides a supply of inflation gas to inflate an associated inflatable restraint device, the inflator device comprising:

a tubular hybrid inflator housing containing a supply of reactive material and a supply of pressurized gas supplying material; and

an overwrap about at least a portion of the tubular hybrid inflator housing to form a hybrid inflator device that withstands pressure generated within the tubular hybrid inflator housing upon reaction of the reactive material, the overwrap comprising a composite of fibers and a resin matrix system, the overwrap forming a toroidal clamp stop disposed around the tubular hybrid inflator housing to provide a hard stop for an inflator attachment clamp to secure the inflator device within an airbag module.

10. The vehicular safety restraint inflator device of claim 9 wherein the tubular hybrid inflator housing is incapable of withstanding the pressure generated within the tubular hybrid inflator housing upon reaction of the reactive material without support provided by the overwrap.

11. The vehicular safety restraint inflator device of claim 9 wherein the toroidal clamp stop comprises a raised build-up of the composite onto the tubular hybrid inflator housing.

12. The vehicular safety restraint inflator device of claim 9 wherein the tubular hybrid inflator housing has a length to diameter ratio of at least 1:

1.

13. In an inflator device that upon actuation provides a supply of inflation gas to inflate an associated inflatable restraint device, the inflator device including a tubular inflator housing containing a supply of reactive material, the inflator device having an overwrap comprising a composite of fibers and a resin matrix system disposed over at least a portion of the inflator housing, the improvement comprising:

a clamp stop disposed around an exterior of the tubular inflator housing, the clamp stop providing a hard stop for an inflator attachment clamp to secure the inflator device within an airbag module,

wherein the clamp stop comprises a toroidal-shaped element and

wherein the overwrap extends over the toroidal-shaped element.

14. The improvement of claim 13 wherein the inflator device comprises a hybrid inflator.

15. The improvement of claim 13 wherein the inflator device comprises an elongated tubular form.

16. In an inflator device that upon actuation provides a supply of inflation gas to inflate an associated inflatable restraint device, the inflator device including a tubular inflator housing containing a supply of reactive material, the inflator device having an overwrap comprising a composite of fibers and a resin matrix system disposed over at least a portion of the inflator housing, the improvement comprising:

a clamp stop disposed around an exterior of the tubular inflator housing, wherein the clamp stop comprises a toroidal-shaped build-up of the composite onto the tubular inflator housing, the clamp stop providing a hard stop for an inflator attachment clamp to secure the inflator device within an airbag module.

17. The improvement of claim 16 wherein the inflator device comprises a hybrid inflator.

18. The improvement of claim 16 wherein the inflator device comprises an elongated tubular form.