Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-10-30
English, Peter C. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S736000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308984
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a gas generator, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system, and to a device for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gas generators have to be small in size and must open up the possibility of fastening the gas-directing part, adjoining them in the direction of flow, in a simple and gas-tight manner to the gas generators. In the region of the fastening section the gas generator with the connected gas-directing part is likewise to be small in size, which, however, is not always possible, because in this region also gas-directing channels with a certain minimum cross-section must be present, so that the gas also arrives quickly to the vehicle occupant restraint system (preferably gas bag or belt tensioner). The gas-directing part can preferably be a gas-directing pipe or gas lance leading to a vehicle occupant restraint system. However, the vehicle occupant restraint system can also be fastened directly to the gas generator, e.g. the gas bag can be clamped to the gas generator in the region of its inflation orifice.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a gas generator and a device for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint system which is distinguished by a simple, space-saving construction. This is achieved in a gas generator which comprises an outer housing which has a fastening section, and outflow openings in the outer housing. The outflow openings are distributed on the periphery of the outer housing in a region of the fastening section such that thrust neutrality occurs during an outflow of a gas generated by the gas generator. The gas generator further comprises a gas directing part, the fastening section being constructed for arresting the gas-directing part to the outer housing. The outer housing has indentations in the fastening section, and the outflow openings are provided in the indentations. The indentations form flow channels for the generated gas which can arrive from there into the gas-directing part. Whereas hitherto the gas-directing channels always lay entirely outside the usually cylindrical housing, through the indentations the gas-directing channels are moved as it were inwards into the outer housing, whereby space can be saved. The indentations in addition do not require any separate parts delimiting gas flow channels.
Preferably the indentations are constructed in a trough shape so that they are formed in a manner favorable to the flow.
In the preferred embodiment, the outflow openings extend radially outwards and are provided at the deepest point of each indentation. The indentations themselves alternate with protrusions which form fastening surfaces. The gas-directing part can be fastened directly to the fastening surfaces, so that the flow channels are delimited radially on the inner face by the indentations and on the outer face by the gas-directing part, without additional parts being required for this.
Advantageously, the fastening section is an axial end of a cylindrical elongated outer housing and the indentations penetrate the end face of this axial end. The flow channels which are formed by the indentations and the gas-directing part continue in axial direction thereby into the gas-directing part which forms a common large flow channel.
When the fastening section begins with a shoulder in the outer housing, a gas-tight seal can be achieved via this shoulder between the gas generator and the gas-directing part which is fastened thereto.
The invention provides, furthermore, a device for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint system, preferably a side gas bag restraint system having a large area, in which the gas-directing part is fixed directly to the fastening section of the gas generator according to the invention. The indentations, as stated, permit a space-saving construction of the device in the region of the transition between the gas generator and the gas-directing part. This is achieved by the indentations which form flow channels.
Preferably, the gas-directing part is a gas-directing pipe which is slipped onto an axial end of the cylindrical outer housing and is pressed on in a gas-tight manner.
According to the preferred embodiment, the gas-directing part is an elongated gas lance which projects into the interior of a side gas bag having a large area.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4114924 (1978-09-01), Kasagi et al.
patent: 5671945 (1997-09-01), Rhule et al.
patent: 6213501 (2001-04-01), Hock
English Peter C.
Ilan Ruth
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
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