Device for inflating an airbag

• US 20020008373A1
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Specht, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 6,485,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

A device for inflating an airbag has a gas generator. A gas generator housing can be anchored to a vehicle body. An end of an inflation tube is connected to a gas discharge socket fastened to the gas generator housing in an axially aligned and gas-tight manner. The tube end and the gas discharge socket are connected via a covering sleeve that bridges a gas-tight connection between the inflation tube and the gas generator.

Claims

1. A device for inflating an airbag comprising:

a gas generator having a gas generator housing that can be anchored to a vehicle body;

a gas discharge socket fastened to the gas generator housing; and

an inflation tube having an end that is connected to and axially aligned with the gas discharge socket and forms a gas-tight seal with the gas discharge socket, wherein the tube end is fixed by a covering sleeve that at least partially surrounds an outer face of the tube end or directly on the gas discharge socket so as to be secured in an axial direction and secured against rotation around an axis of the tube.

2. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 wherein a gas-tight connection is arranged at the end face between the tube end and the gas discharge socket.

3. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 further comprising a gas-permeable trap extending over the cross-section of the gas discharge socket.

4. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 wherein the covering sleeve is fixed on an outer face of the gas discharge socket.

5. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 further comprising a bolt extending transversely through the gas discharge socket with at least one bolt end projecting above an outer face of the gas discharge socket and the covering sleeve at least partially surrounding at least one bolt end with an interlocking fit.

6. The device for inflating an airbag according to claims 1 wherein the gas-tight connection is formed by a peripheral weld.

7. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 wherein the covering sleeve is welded to the gas discharge socket.

8. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 7 wherein the covering sleeve and the gas discharge socket comprise the same material.

9. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 7 wherein the covering sleeve and the gas discharge socket have end faces that are welded to each other.

10. The device for inflating an airbag according to claims 9 wherein the covering sleeve is widened at the welded end face to a peripheral flange.

11. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 8 wherein the covering sleeve is welded to the gas discharge socket by direct current welding.

12. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 further comprising at least one fixing element positioned through the covering sleeve and the tube end, which fixing element extends transversely to the covering sleeve and the tube end and connects the covering sleeve and the tube end to one another so as to be secured in an axial direction and against rotation around an axis of the tube.

13. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 wherein the inflation tube with its tube end can be inserted into the gas discharge socket and can be obturated by a pressure acting inside the tube against the inside wall of the gas discharge socket or its extension.

14. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 further comprising an extension of the gas discharge socket and wherein the inflation tube with its tube end can be inserted into the extension of the gas discharge socket and can be obturated by a pressure acting inside the tube against the inside wall of the gas discharge socket or its extension.

15. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 wherein the tube end is connected to the gas discharge socket by welding.

16. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 15 wherein the tube end is welded to an end face of the gas discharge socket.

17. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 16 wherein a peripheral widening is provided on tube end, the widening being welded with the end face of the gas discharge socket.

18. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 17 wherein the peripheral widening is a flange.

19. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 1 further comprising a tube end piece that is inserted into the gas discharge socket so as to be secured against rotation around the tube axis.

20. The device for inflating an airbag according to claim 19 wherein the outer surface of the tube end piece inserted into the gas discharge socket and an internal surface of the gas discharge socket, against which this external surface lies, have mating peripheral non-circular shapes.