Pre-assembled gas bag module

Details Pre-assembled gas bag module Pre-assembled gas bag module

1999-09-02

2001-12-11

Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

C280S741000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06328332

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In current designs of gas bag modules, also termed airbag modules, the gas generator is attached directly to the partially assembled module by means of bolts and nuts as part of the assembly procedure, which requires a flange fitted to the housing of the gas generator. The disadvantage of these means of attachment and the consequent effect on the assembly sequence consists in that the batch quality control of the completed modules has to take place already at the production line and that any subsequent transportation of the modules fitted with gas generators can only proceed within the prescribed safety rules and regulations as applicable to hazardous goods. Furthermore, the flange at the gas generator housing requires assembly space and has to be differently positioned to suit the module involved, so that it becomes very difficult to standardize the housing for the gas generator and the advantages inherent in large batch production of such housings can only be reaped to a limited extent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved gas bag module which permits the large-batch production of the housings for the gas generator with standardized dimensions, and which allow the gas bag module to be pre-assembled without the gas generator and to be stored and moved without having to resort to special safety measures. Where, in the case of different gas bag module types, the gas generator has to be positioned at different heights in relation to the gas generator carrier, it should be possible to realize such design modifications without the relatively expensive housing of the gas generator being affected, but rather by other means.
In order to solve this problem the present invention provides a pre-assembled gas bag module comprising a generally cup-shaped carrier, a gas generator mounted on the carrier, an inflatable gas bag and a retaining plate for retaining the gas bag on the carrier. An edge of the gas bag is clamped between the carrier and the retaining plate. The carrier, retaining plate and gas bag have mutually aligned assembly openings for accommodation of the gas generator. The gas generator has a housing of a flangeless configuration and provided with mechanical interlock members for cooperation with corresponding interlock members provided on the carrier, to provide a bayonet-type or a snap mounting type connection of the gas generator to the carrier. Due to the variety of connection modes possible with flangeless housings, the gas or air bag module may be pre-assembled without the gas generator and stored and transported without any problem as a non-hazardous unit. In the case of the previously often used flanged housings, the bolts, by means of which the rim of the gas inlet port of the gas bag was clamped between the gas bag retaining plate and the generator carrier, were used simultaneously for the attachment of the gas generator. When positioning the folded air bag in the gas bag module, the gas generator had, therefore, to be assembled at the same time or, as an alternative, the bolts holding together the pre-assembled gas bag module without the gas generator had to be loosened once more for the purpose of attaching the gas generator. By using a flangeless housing for the gas generator there is no longer any need to manufacture a separate housing with a correspondingly positioned flange for every different height position of the gas generator in relation to the generator carrier. The assembly procedure is made independent of others and the gas bag module can be handled without the gas generator being present. Finally, the philosophy of the invention may also imply economic advantages in that the customer is not forced to purchase both the air bag module and the gas generator from the same manufacturer.


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