Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1993-03-29
1994-04-26
Focarino, Margaret A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
280740, 102530, 422166, B60R 2128
Patent
active
053060415
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gas generator having a thin-walled structure for use with an inflatable air bag for protecting the occupant(s) of an automobile, and more particularly to an improvement in a housing of a gas generator to provide a double wall structure. The gas generator is suitably incorporated in a steering wheel so as to protect a driver of a passenger car when the collision of the car occurs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is generally known, a conventional safety device provided in a passenger car to protect occupants of the car from an impact occurring during a collision comprises an air bag, and a gas generator for inflating the air bag in a very short period of time.
This gas generator has, as main constituent elements, a centrally positioned igniter in which a squib/enhancer is held, a cylindrical combustion chamber formed about the igniter and housing gas generants therein, and a cross-sectionally rectangular filter/coolant chamber formed about the combustion chamber wherein a gas generated in the combustion chamber passes through a filter and a coolant and flows through gas outlet ports into an air bag.
Various types of structures wherein a housing forms a combustion chamber and a filter/coolant chamber for a gas generator have heretofore been proposed.
For example, a pressure container is used which consists of a case formed by subjecting a stainless plate to press working, and then welding the case at bolts set at the central portion thereof, and at rivets set at the circumferential portion and the outer circumferential portion thereof. The container for gas generants disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,342 (Morton Thiokol, Inc.) consists of upper and lower halved shell bodies, and partition walls for forming three cylinders in the halved shell bodies.
Japanese Patent Publication-A No. 152639/1980 (Bayern Chemie GmbH.) discloses a gas generator having a central cylinder holding an igniter therein, a cover and an S-shaped casing which form a combustion chamber and a filter chamber. Outlet ports of the filter chamber (expansion chamber) are formed in an extended portion of the casing by punching slits therein.
However, in order to incorporate any of these conventional gas generators in a steering wheel of an automobile, it is necessary that the thickness of the wall, particularly the wall which faces a driver, of the housing at the combustion chamber be made large, and this causes the weight of the housing to increase. Moreover, since the sealing of the gas generants is done by welding, a gas generator assembly line and the equipment required become complicated.
An object of the present invention is to provide a gas generator of a weight-reduced structure having a housing with a thin plate sealed by a non-welding method, which is advantageous with respect to the manufacturing equipment required to manufacture the generator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gas generator having a central cylindrical holder in which a squib/enhancer is housed, a combustion chamber surrounding the holder for holding gas generants therein, a filter/coolant chamber formed annularly so as to surround the combustion chamber, the filter/coolant chamber adapted to allow the entry thereinto of a gas from the combustion chamber, and gas outlet ports formed about the filter/coolant chamber through which the gas, which has passed through a filter and coolant, rushes out and into an air bag. The gas generator of the present invention is characterized in that the combustion chamber 10 is formed with a housing 14 having an annular top wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to a circumferential edge of a top wall of the center cylindrical holder 4, and an annular bottom wall fixed at an inner edge portion thereof to an edge portion of an opposite end of the holder 4. A diffuser 12 is provided to cover the top wall of the central cylindrical holder and the top wall of the housing of the combustion chamber, whereby a double wall of the combustion chamber
REFERENCES:
patent: 3985076 (1976-10-01), Schaiter et al.
patent: 4278638 (1981-07-01), Nilsson et al.
patent: 4547342 (1985-10-01), Adams et al.
patent: 5062367 (1991-11-01), Hageshi et al.
patent: 5100174 (1992-03-01), Jaskea et al.
patent: 5139280 (1992-08-01), Cord et al.
patent: 5149129 (1992-09-01), Anterfersthamer et al.
Muramatsu Osamu
Ogawa Akihisa
Daicel Chemical Industries Ltd.
Ellis Christopher P.
Focarino Margaret A.
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