Pipes and tubular conduits – With closures and plugs
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-06-12
Hook, James (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
With closures and plugs
C138S091000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244301
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel bulkhead barrier member which is structurally arranged to be inserted within a tubular housing and expanded radially to engage the tubular housing to separate the housing into sections or chambers that are sealed from one another.
In the past, bulkhead barriers or members have been utilized to separate tubular housings into sections or chambers. One such type of prior art bulkhead barrier includes disc member or members that are welded to the interior surface of the tubular housing to separate and seal the housing into sections or chambers. However, the time and expense in inserting and in welding the disc member or members to the interior housing wall to provide a barrier severely restricts such utilization in mass-produced assemblies, such as airbag detonation assemblies.
Additionally, it has been suggested that a shaft member may be selectively machined from both ends, leaving a wall between the two machined chambers. However, such a chambered housing is expensive and costly to manufacture. Thus, for mass-produced articles, for example, airbag assemblies, such an operation of manufacture is unacceptable.
Also, it has been suggested that a barrier member may be inserted within a tubular housing and the tubular housing is crimped and compressed to seal against the outer radial peripheral edge of the barrier member to separate the housing into sections or chambers. However, such assemblies result in deformation of the housing wall which may weaken the housing and results in inadequate sealing and separation between the chambers. Accordingly, such assemblies have limited acceptance in the marketplace.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel bulkhead barrier assembly which divides and separates a tubular housing into separate chambers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for the placement of a bulkhead barrier within a tubular housing to provide separate chambers within the housing.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel bulkhead barrier member which, when positioned within a tubular housing, is radially expandable to sealingly engage the inner surface of the tubular housing to separate and seal the tubular sections or chambers from one another.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a bulkhead barrier member is comprised of a pair of circular saucer-shaped members each having a planar central portion and an angled outer radial peripheral edge portion extending therearound. The pair of saucer-shaped members are mounted in back-to-back relationship with respect to one another and inserted into the tubular housing or member. The resultant structure provides a yoke-type or V-shaped outer radial peripheral edge configuration with respect to the back-to-back central planar portions. The barrier member is dimensioned to have a diameter of between about 0.001 to 0.005 inches less than the inner diameter of a tubular member. When the barrier member is inserted and predeterminedly located within the tubular member, against an anvil or stop member, compression of the barrier member causes the angled outer radial peripheral edge portions to be compressed towards one another to engage the inner wall surface of the tubular housing. This compression causes the angled edge portions of the barrier member to be compressed and moved to a more planar configuration with respect to the central portion. This compression and movement increases the diameter of the barrier member. This resultant increased diameter causes the radial peripheral edge portions of the barrier member to sealingly engage the inner surface of the tubular member to provide a wall or barrier which separates the chambers within the tubular member and which provides a sealed barrier between the chambers.
The compression member utilized in compressing the peripheral end wing portions of the barrier member against the anvil or stop member may be a hydraulic driven piston member which engages the peripheral edge portions to compress the same against an anvil member during the inward stroke of the piston. The method of inserting the barrier member into the housing and then engaging and compressing the outer radial peripheral edge portion to increase the diameter of the barrier member to provide a seal with the tubular housing is efficient and very cost effective. Also, the method permits the positioning of the barrier member or wall within the tubular housing at any predetermined location within the housing to provide a barrier between different sized chambers.
The resultant sealed section or chamber structure has particular application in airbag assemblies, and, in particular, in the development and utilization of “smart” airbag detonating assemblies. In such assemblies, it is highly desirable to place separate and predetermined amounts of propellants in the respective sealed sections or chambers of the tubular airbag housing or detonator assembly and to maintain a sealed and fixed barrier between the two separate detonating chambers. This permits the airbag to be operable based upon the degree of force or the speed at which a vehicle engages or contacts an object. Also, it is possible to size the detonating capacity of the assembly to correlate to the size of the end user or passenger sitting in front of the airbag assembly. For example, if the passenger is a small child, then it would be desirous to have only a small or partial detonation of the airbag assembly to prevent injury to the young passenger. However, if the passenger is an adult, then one or both of the chambers or the larger chamber of the airbag detonator could be triggered to inflate the airbag. Accordingly, there is an important need to have a detonating assembly where controlled detonation may be achieved which is readily and cheaply manufactured.
Additionally, the present invention has further application in the dividing of any cylinder housing or tubular member into separate sealed compartments or chambers. Thus, any fluids contained within a housing in separate chambers or compartments are sealed from one another. Such fluids can take the form of either liquids or gases. For example, chambers containing acetylene and oxygen gases used in various types of welding or cutting operations benefit from the inexpensive separated and sealed housing chambers provided in accordance with the present invention.
The present invention consists of certain novel features and structural details hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 798031 (1905-08-01), Gherky
patent: 2139491 (1938-12-01), Dawson
patent: 2256775 (1941-09-01), Hubbell
patent: 2536431 (1951-01-01), Endsley
patent: 3860037 (1975-01-01), Rowe
patent: 4425943 (1984-01-01), Martin
patent: 4462430 (1984-07-01), Anthony et al.
patent: 4669506 (1987-06-01), Ramsey, Jr.
patent: 4875615 (1989-10-01), Savard
patent: 5918638 (1999-07-01), Davis
Scott Craig A.
Stukel Randolph F.
Emrich & -Dithmar
Hook James
Stukel Randolph F.
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