SLIDE-ON INFLATOR HOUSING

• US 20090189375A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mueller, Louis, Lunt, Larry Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,938,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/741
• 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

Abstract

An inflator assembly is disclosed for use in an automobile. The inflator assembly features a slide-on housing around an inflator.

Claims

1. An airbag inflator assembly, comprising;

an airbag inflator with a first mounting stem and a second mounting stem for mounting the inflator in a vehicle, the first mounting stem being more proximal to a gas exit end of the inflator;

an inflator housing with two opposing end portions, the inflator housing comprising a sidewall, which defines a chamber configured to slideably receive the inflator within the chamber of the inflator housing, the sidewall further comprising;

a receiving aperture for receiving the first mounting stem; and

,

a notch configured to receive the second mounting stem, wherein the recess is longitudinally co-linear with the receiving aperture.

2. The inflator assembly of claim 1, wherein the notch comprises:

a U-shape; and

,

a stop for the second mounting stem such that the notch limits the distance into which the inflator may be inserted into the housing.

3. The inflator assembly of claim 1, wherein the notch is configured to form an interference fit with the second mounting stem of such a magnitude that a person may manually fully seat the inflator within the inflator housing.

4. The inflator assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inwardly projecting protrusions are configured to center the inflator within the inflator housing.

5. The inflator assembly of claim 4, wherein the inwardly projecting protrusions form an interference fit between the inflator and the sidewall of the inflator housing of a magnitude such that a person can manually and fully seat the inflator within the inflator housing.

6. An airbag inflator assembly, comprising;

an airbag inflator with a first mounting stem and a second mounting stem for mounting the inflator in a vehicle, the first mounting stem being more proximal to a diffuser end of the inflator;

an inflator housing with two opposing end portions, the inflator housing comprising a sidewall, which defines a chamber configured to slideably receive the inflator within the chamber of the inflator housing, the sidewall further comprising;

a receiving aperture for receiving the first mounting stem, wherein the receiving aperture permits an interference fit with the first mounting stem of such a magnitude that a person may manually achieve the interference fit,

a notch configured to receive the second inflator mounting stem, wherein the notch is longitudinally co-linear with the receiving aperture, and

an extended portion at an inflator receiving end of the inflator housing, wherein the extended portion defines a recessed portion of inflator housing.

7. The inflator assembly of claim 6, wherein the recessed portion permits the first mounting stem to be inserted into the inflator housing and through the receiving aperture prior to the interference fit being achieved.

8. The inflator assembly of claim 6, wherein the notch is configured to act as a stop for the second mounting stem as the interference fit is achieved between the first mounting stem and the receiving aperture.

9. An inflator assembly, comprising;

an airbag inflator with a first mounting stem and a second mounting stem, wherein each mounting stem is configured to mount the inflator assembly in a vehicle, wherein the first mounting stem is more proximal to a diffuser end of the inflator than the second mounting stem;

an inflator housing with two opposing end portions, the inflator housing comprising a sidewall which defines a chamber, wherein the chamber is configured to slideably receive the inflator, the sidewall further comprising;

an inflator receiving end having an inside perimeter larger than an outside perimeter of the inflator, the inflator receiving end comprising an aperture for receiving the inflator into the chamber of the inflator housing along the longitudinal axis of the inflator housing;

a gas exit end disposed on the opposite longitudinal end of the inflator housing from the receiving end, the gas exit end comprising at least one aperture, which is in fluid communication with the chamber;

a receiving aperture configured to receive the first mounting stem, wherein the receiving aperture comprises;

a receiving slot and a reduced portion, wherein the reduced portion is located at the end of the receiving aperture longitudinally closest to the gas exit end of the inflator housing, wherein the reduced portion is configured to slideably receive the first mounting stem; and

, a notch disposed on the inflator receiving end of the inflator housing sidewall and is longitudinally aligned with the receiving aperture, wherein the notch is configured to receive the second inflator mounting stem.

10. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the receiving slot of the receiving aperture comprises an elongated slot, having a width larger than that of the first mounting stem, such that it may freely receive the first mounting stem.

11. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the reduced portion of the receiving aperture is U-shaped.

12. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the reduced portion of the receiving aperture acts as a stop for the first mounting stem to limit insertion of the inflator into the chamber of the inflator housing in the direction of the inflator housing gas exit end.

13. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the reduced portion of the receiving aperture and the first mounting stem form an the interference fit of such a magnitude that a person may manually fully seat the inflator within the housing.

14. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the inflator housing sidewall further comprises a recess at least partially defined by an extended portion of the sidewall, wherein the extended portion defines the notch, wherein the notch is opposite the recess.

15. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein a segment of the slot portion of the receiving aperture is opposite the recess such that the first mounting stem can be inserted into the slot portion as the diffuser end of the inflator is inserted into the chamber of the inflator housing.

16. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the extended portion is configured such that the receiving end of the inflator housing sidewall may be viewed as having an “

L”

shape with a vertical arm and a horizontal arm, wherein the extended portion is the horizontal arm, wherein a segment of the sidewall surrounding the recess is the vertical arm, wherein the notch and a segment of the receiving slot portion of the receiving aperture are at the horizontal arm of the “

L”

shape.

17. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the inflator housing sidewall comprises plastic.

18. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the inflator housing sidewall comprises an aluminum alloy.

19. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein more than half of the longitudinal length of the inflator is received within the chamber of the inflator housing.

20. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein both the reduced portion of the receiving aperture and the notch of the receiving end of the inflator housing sidewall respectively form interference fits with the first mounting stem and the second mounting stem, wherein the total magnitude of the interference fits permit a person to manually and fully seat the inflator within the housing.

21. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the inflator housing sidewall further comprises a plurality of inwardly projecting protrusions which form an interference with a body portion of the inflator,

wherein the reduced portion of the receiving aperture forms an interference fit with the first mounting stem, and

wherein both interference fits combine to have a magnitude such that a person may manually and fully seat the inflator within the inflator housing.

22. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the inflator housing sidewall further comprises a plurality of inwardly projecting protrusions which form an interference with a body portion of the inflator,

wherein the notch of the receiving end of the inflator housing sidewall forms an interference fit with the second mounting stem, and

wherein both interference fits combine to have a magnitude such that a person may manually and fully seat the inflator within the inflator housing.

23. The inflator assembly of claim 9, wherein the gas exit end of the inflator housing sidewall comprises an aperture which is defined by the inner perimeter of the inflator housing sidewall.

24. The inflator assembly of claim 24, wherein the gas exit end of the inflator housing sidewall comprises at least one aperture disposed on a longitudinal surface of the sidewall, wherein at least one aperture is configured to vent inflation gas from the chamber of the inflator housing.

25. A method of assembling an inflator assembly, comprising:

providing an inflator with a first and a second mounting stem, the first mounting stem disposed nearer a vent end of the inflator relative to the second mounting stem;

providing an inflator housing configured to slideably receive the inflator within a chamber of the inflator housing;

placing the first mounting stem into a receiving aperture of the inflator housing;

pivoting the inflator relative to the inflator housing until the inflator is longitudinally aligned within the chamber;

sliding the inflator in the chamber of the inflator housing until the first mounting stem is near a reduced portion of the receiving aperture and the second mounting stem is near a notch of the inflator housing;

aligning the second mounting stem with the notch; and

sliding the inflator further into the chamber of the inflator housing until the first mounting stem is fully received by a reduced portion in the receiving aperture and the second mounting stem is fully received by the notch.