Inflator and airbag module

• US 9,815,431 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Bierwirth, Sebastian, Hofmann, Achim, Neumayer, Hans-Peter, Spitzenberger, Dieter, Nuiding, Hannes, Schober, Thomas, Bommer, Josef, Breddermann, Tobias, Schwebel, Dietmar
• Primary Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US14/930,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20160052483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26011 using a filter through which the inflation gas passes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/263 using a variable source, e.g. plural stage or controlled output hybrid inflators B60R21/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes an igniter sleeve (38) which at least partially encloses an igniter (34) and an igniter chamber (42) filled with a booster charge and is adjacent to a first combustion chamber (44) filled with fuel, wherein the igniter sleeve (38), related to a central axis B of the igniter sleeve (38), has overflow orifices (98) unevenly distributed in circumferential direction.

Claims

1. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising:

a diffuser forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member, wherein the diffuser includes a plurality of discharge orifices arranged in a row and which are of circular shape; and

an igniter sleeve which at least partially encloses an igniter and an igniter chamber filled with a booster charge and is adjacent to a first combustion chamber filled with fuel and;

wherein the igniter sleeve includes a marker distant from a central axis (B) or extending non-symmetrically from the central axis (B) which indicates a predetermined orientation of the igniter sleeve;

a combustion chamber sleeve that surrounds a second combustion chamber;

wherein the igniter sleeve, related to the central axis (B) of the igniter sleeve, has overflow orifices unevenly distributed in a circumferential direction to define a maximum angular range (α

) less than 180°

such that all inflation fluid exits the igniter sleeve over an angular range less than 180°

, each of the overflow orifices being directed in a direction that does not intersect the combustion chamber sleeve.

2. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the first combustion chamber is associated with a first activating stage of the inflator, and wherein the second combustion chamber is filled with fuel and associated with a second activating stage of the inflator, wherein both sleeves (60) are juxtaposed and are differently offset with respect to a central axis (A) of the inflator;

wherein the distance between the central axis (B) of the igniter sleeve and a central axis (C) of the combustion chamber sleeve is between 22.5 and 27.5 mm, and wherein the ratio of the minimum inner diameter (c) of the combustion chamber sleeve to the minimum inner diameter (d) of the igniter sleeve is between 1.64 and 2.63, and wherein, related to a central axis (A) of the inflator, the first combustion chamber is radially confined at least partially by an at least partly circumferential filter, the ratio of the inner diameter (f) of the filter to the minimum inner diameter (d) of the igniter sleeve ranging between 3.19 and 4.76.

3. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the first combustion chamber is associated with a first activating stage of the inflator, and wherein the second combustion chamber is filled with fuel and associated with a second activating stage of the inflator, wherein the combustion chamber sleeve is adjacent to the first combustion chamber which, related to a central axis (A) of the inflator, is radially confined at least partially by an at least partly circumferential filter, the ratio of the inner diameter (f) of the filter to the minimum inner diameter (c) of the combustion chamber sleeve ranging between 1.66 and 2.11;

wherein the ratio of the outer diameter (a) of the inflator to the minimum inner diameter (d) of the igniter sleeve is between 4.09 and 5.98; and

wherein the ratio of the outer diameter (a) of the inflator to the minimum inner diameter (c) of the combustion chamber sleeve is between 2.13 and 2.66.

4. The inflator according to claim 1, further comprising a radially projecting generator flange, related to a central axis (A) of the inflator, for mounting the inflator to a support, wherein the generator flange is substantially rectangular;

wherein a ratio of a length (l) to a width (b) of the rectangle ranges between 1.12 and 1.31;

wherein a ratio of the length (l) of the rectangle to an outer diameter (a) of the external housing ranges between 1.24 and 1.48; and

wherein a ratio of the width (b) of the rectangle to the outer diameter (a) of the external housing is between 1.01 and 1.23.

5. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein at least in portions a wall thickness of the closing member is larger than that of the diffuser, wherein the closing member has a substantially planar bottom in which at least one opening for receiving an igniter carrier is formed and that at least the bottom has a larger wall thickness than the diffuser.

6. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser includes a ceiling portion and the combustion chamber sleeve contacts the ceiling portion of the diffuser in a non-activated state of the inflator at least at one point, and wherein, related to a central axis (A) of the diffuser, the axial distance (g) between the combustion chamber sleeve and the ceiling portion is varying such that the maximum distance (g) between the combustion chamber sleeve and the ceiling portion of the diffuser is between 2.3 and 3.7 mm.

7. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the igniter sleeve is offset with respect to a central axis (A) of the diffuser whose axial distance (i) from a ceiling portion of the diffuser is varying such that the maximum distance (i) between the igniter sleeve and the ceiling portion of the diffuser is between 2.1 and 3.5 mm.

8. An airbag module for a vehicle comprising an airbag having a volume of 40 to 60 liters, comprising an inflator according to claim 1.

9. An airbag module for a vehicle comprising an airbag having a volume of 60 to 135 liters, comprising inflator according to claim 1.

10. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein a connecting line extends between the central axis of the igniter sleeve and the portion of the filter maximally distant from the central axis, each overflow orifice allowing inflation fluid to exit the igniter sleeve being circumferentially positioned at an acute angle relative to the connecting line.

11. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the igniter sleeve includes a nose or a recess as the marker and wherein the igniter sleeve has a configuration adapted to a configuration of a neighboring component of the inflator such that mounting of the igniter sleeve in the inflator is possible at the predetermined orientation only.

12. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein an axial cross-section of the igniter sleeve including the marker is different from an axial cross-section of the igniter sleeve spaced from the marker.

13. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the maximum angular range (α

) extends to both sides of a connecting line (x) between the central axis (B) of the igniter sleeve and the portion of the filter maximally distant from the central axis (B), wherein the angular range (α

) is obtuse and ranges between 90° and

135°

.

14. The inflator according to claim 13, wherein the angular range (α

) includes areas in which a distance from the filter not blocked by components of the inflator is maximal and wherein the angular range (α

) encloses the combustion chamber sleeve, the second combustion chamber being at least partially surrounded by the first combustion chamber.

15. The inflator according to claim 1, further comprising a fuel canister filled with fuel including a fuel canister bottom and a fuel canister opening opposed to the fuel canister bottom which is closed by means of a combustion chamber component.

16. The inflator according to claim 15, wherein the second combustion chamber is associated with a particular activating stage of the inflator, wherein the combustion chamber sleeve exhibits a combustion chamber sleeve opening or an open side and a combustion chamber sleeve bottom opposed thereto which covers the fuel canister opening, wherein a second fill member connected to the combustion chamber sleeve bottom is arranged at the combustion chamber sleeve bottom;

and

wherein at least part of a side wall of the fuel canister extending between the fuel canister opening and the fuel canister bottom is directly opposed to at least part of a side wall of the combustion chamber sleeve extending between the combustion chamber sleeve orifice or the open side of the combustion chamber sleeve and the combustion chamber sleeve bottom.

17. The inflator according to claim 1, further comprising an igniter unit, wherein the igniter unit has a marker, wherein the marker is a milled slot, and wherein the marker sets a predetermined orientation of connecting pins of the igniter unit.

18. The inflator according to claim 17, wherein the igniter unit is a pre-assembled unit having an igniter carrier and an igniter held therein which is adapted to be inserted in a bottom orifice of a closing member of the inflator.

19. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising:

a diffuser forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member, wherein the diffuser includes a plurality of discharge orifices arranged in a row and which are of circular shape; and

an igniter sleeve which at least partially encloses an igniter and an igniter chamber filled with a booster charge and is adjacent to a first combustion chamber filled with fuel, wherein the igniter sleeve, related to a central axis (B) of the igniter sleeve, has overflow orifices unevenly distributed in a circumferential direction,

wherein the igniter sleeve includes a marker distant from the central axis (B) or extending non-symmetrically from the central axis (B) which indicates a predetermined orientation of the igniter sleeve, and wherein the igniter sleeve includes a nose or a recess as the marker and wherein the igniter sleeve has a configuration which is adapted to a configuration of a neighboring component of the inflator such that mounting of the igniter sleeve in the inflator is possible at the predetermined orientation only;

wherein the igniter sleeve is offset with respect to a central axis (A) of the diffuser and a bottom of the igniter sleeve is opposed to a ceiling portion of the diffuser, wherein the igniter sleeve bottom has a slant adapted to a curvature of the ceiling portion of the diffuser such that the igniter sleeve fits below the ceiling portion of the diffuser at the predetermined orientation only, and

wherein the igniter sleeve is radially tapered in an axial direction toward the bottom of the igniter sleeve.

20. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising:

a diffuser forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member, wherein the diffuser includes a plurality of discharge orifices arranged in a row and which are of circular shape; and

an igniter sleeve which at least partially encloses an igniter and an igniter chamber filled with a booster charge and is adjacent to a first combustion chamber filled with fuel, wherein the igniter sleeve, related to a central axis (B) of the igniter sleeve, has overflow orifices unevenly distributed in a circumferential direction,

wherein the first combustion chamber is associated with a first activating stage of the inflator, as well as a combustion chamber sleeve which at least partially encloses a second combustion chamber 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 from a bottom of a closing member of the inflator is unequal to an axial distance of an open side of the combustion chamber sleeve from the bottom of the closing member, the distance of the igniter sleeve being larger, and wherein the igniter sleeve and the combustion chamber sleeve are attached to a first igniter carrier or to a second igniter carrier, wherein the axial height of the contact area between the igniter sleeve and the first igniter carrier is larger than the axial height of the contact area between the combustion chamber sleeve and the second igniter carrier;

wherein both the igniter sleeve is raised a pressure developed during combustion of the booster charge and the combustion chamber sleeve is raised by a pressure developed during combustion of the fuel in a direction of a ceiling portion of a diffuser of the inflator, wherein by raising the combustion chamber sleeve a discharge orifice in the form of a discharge gap is released which leads out of the combustion chamber sleeve, whereas no discharge orifice is released by raising the igniter sleeve.

21. An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising:

a diffuser forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member, wherein the diffuser includes a plurality of discharge orifices arranged in a row and which are of circular shape; and

an igniter sleeve which at least partially encloses an igniter and an igniter chamber filled with a booster charge and is adjacent to a first combustion chamber filled with fuel, wherein the igniter sleeve, related to a central axis (B) of the igniter sleeve, has overflow orifices unevenly distributed in a circumferential direction,

wherein the first combustion chamber is filled with the fuel which is associated with a first activating stage of the inflator and is closed on one side by a lid, wherein a first fill member is disposed between the fuel and the lid,

wherein the first fill member has at least one circular recess into which an igniter sleeve associated with the first activating stage of the inflator or a combustion chamber sleeve associated with a second activating stage of the inflator projects;

wherein the first fill member has two recesses of different size, wherein the igniter sleeve projects into a smaller recess and the combustion chamber sleeve projects into a larger recess;

wherein a ratio of a diameter of the larger recess to a diameter of the smaller recess is between 1.52 and 2.25; and

wherein the first fill member is designed in at least two parts, each of the two partial members has a shape of a double half moon.