Inflator having an improved closure cap

• US 20070138776A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Klettenheimer, Guido, Rossbach, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,401,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/274 characterised by means to rupture or open the fluid source
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0181 Airbags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1744 Specific weakening point
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1767 Movable knife or cutter

Abstract

An inflator has a sealed vessel for containing compressed gas. The inflator has an axis. The vessel has a gas outlet passageway. The inflator has an elongated sealing cap closure with an internal chamber portion open to the compressed gas and sealed vessel to seal the opening of the gas outlet passageway. The elongated sealing cap is coaxial with the inflator. When a triggering device is activated it exerts a force against the elongated sealing cap closure in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the inflator that causes the elongated sealing cap closure to fail and allows gas to escape from the vessel.

Claims

1. An inflator comprising a vessel for containing compressed gas, the vessel having a gas outlet passageway defined by an annular abutment wall with a central opening, the inflator having a sealing cap closure with an internal chamber portion open to the compressed gas and sealed to the annular abutment wall to seal the opening of the gas outlet passageway;

and a triggering device that when activated breaks a wall of a chamber portion of the sealing cap closure so that the passageway opening is opened allowing gas to escape from the vessel.

2. The inflator according to claim 1 further comprising an exhaust port housing having one or more exhaust ports for allowing the gas to pass to therethrough to inflate an airbag.

3. The inflator according to claim 2 further comprising a filter located between the sealing cap closure and the one or more exhaust ports.

4. The inflator according to claims 1 wherein the sealing cap closure has a sealing flange for attachment to the annular abutment wall.

5. The inflator according to claim 4 wherein the sealing flange is secured to a surface on the annular abutment wall on the compressed gas containing portion of the vessel.

6. The inflator according to claim 5 wherein the sealing flange is welded to the annular abutment wall.

7. The inflator according to claim 1 wherein the sealing cap closure is formed as a drawn metal part and the internal chamber portion has an enlarged diameter chamber portion adjacent the sealing flange with a thin walled frangible seam disposed between the two chamber portions.

8. An inflator comprising a sealed vessel for containing compressed gas, the inflator having an axis, the vessel having a gas outlet passageway, the inflator having an elongated sealing cap closure with an internal chamber portion open to the compressed gas and is attached to the vessel to seal the opening of the gas outlet passageway;

the elongated sealing cap being coaxial with the inflator, and a triggering device that when activated exerts a force against the elongated sealing cap closure in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the inflator that causes the elongated sealing cap closure to fail and allows gas to escape from the vessel.

9. The inflator according to claim 8 wherein the elongated sealing cap closure has a frangible portion and when the triggering device is actuated the force exerted by the triggering device causes the elongated sealing cap closure to break at the frangible portion.

10. The inflator according to claim 8 wherein the elongated sealing cap closure has a thin walled frangible seam and when the triggering device is actuated the force exerted by the triggering device causes the elongated sealing cap closure to break at the thin walled frangible seam.

11. The inflator according to claim 8 wherein the sealing cap closure is formed as a drawn metal part and the internal chamber portion has an enlarged diameter chamber portion adjacent the sealing flange with a thin walled frangible seam disposed between the two chamber portions, and when the triggering device is actuated the force exerted by the triggering device causes the elongated sealing cap closure to break at the thin walled frangible seam.

12. An inflator comprising an elongated sealed vessel for containing compressed gas, the inflator having a longitudinal axis, the vessel having a gas outlet passageway, the inflator having an elongated sealing cap closure with an internal chamber portion open to the compressed gas and is attached to the vessel to seal the opening of the gas outlet passageway;

the elongated sealing cap closure being coaxial with the inflator, and a triggering device that when activated generates gas that drives a piston in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inflator such that the piston impacts the elongated sealing cap closure and causes the elongated sealing cap closure to fail and allows gas to escape from the vessel.

13. The inflator according to claim 12 wherein the elongated sealing cap closure has a frangible portion and when the piston impacts the elongated sealing cap closure the elongated sealing cap closure breaks at the frangible portion.

14. The inflator according to claim 12 wherein the elongated sealing cap closure has a thin walled frangible seam and when the piston impacts the elongated sealing cap closure the elongated sealing cap closure breaks at the thin walled frangible seam.

15. The inflator according to claim 12 wherein the elongated sealing cap closure is formed as a drawn metal part and the internal chamber portion has an enlarged diameter chamber portion adjacent the sealing flange with a thin walled frangible seam disposed between the two chamber portions, and when the piston impacts the elongated sealing cap closure the elongated sealing cap closure breaks at the thin walled frangible seam.