EP0314898A1 - Zündelement für elektrische Zündsysteme - Google Patents

Zündelement für elektrische Zündsysteme Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0314898A1
EP0314898A1 EP88114625A EP88114625A EP0314898A1 EP 0314898 A1 EP0314898 A1 EP 0314898A1 EP 88114625 A EP88114625 A EP 88114625A EP 88114625 A EP88114625 A EP 88114625A EP 0314898 A1 EP0314898 A1 EP 0314898A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
igniter
ignition systems
heating element
electric ignition
thin film
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP88114625A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0314898B1 (de
EP0314898B2 (de
Inventor
Hirokazu Kobari
Hitoshi 78 Oaza Toyochi Aza Namiki Hasegawa
Junichi Kishimoto
Nakaba Nakamura
Akihiko Tamura
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Susumu Co Ltd
Nippon Koki Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Susumu Co Ltd
Nippon Koki Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=16908240&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0314898(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Susumu Co Ltd, Nippon Koki Co Ltd filed Critical Susumu Co Ltd
Publication of EP0314898A1 publication Critical patent/EP0314898A1/de
Publication of EP0314898B1 publication Critical patent/EP0314898B1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0314898B2 publication Critical patent/EP0314898B2/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B3/00—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive
    • F42B3/10—Initiators therefor
    • F42B3/12—Bridge initiators
    • F42B3/124—Bridge initiators characterised by the configuration or material of the bridge

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an igniter for electric ignition systems used for electric detonators and auto­motive air bag gas generators.
  • the conventional type of igniter for electric ignition systems used for the above-mentioned application is made up of two lead wires 11, with their ends functioning as a pair of terminals 13, and a heating element 15 dispos­ed between the paired terminals 13, as shown in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.
  • the heating element 15 is a fine platinum wire or nichrome wire having a high electric resistance, and it is bonded and connected to the terminals 13 with solder or electrically conductive adhesive 17.
  • this type of igniter for electric ignition systems 18 permits an electric current to flow through the high-resistance heating element 15 via the conductors 11 of the lead wires and the termi­nals 13, generating heat in the heating element 15 as the result of conversion from electric energy into ther­mal energy.
  • the above-mentioned conventional type of igniter for elec­tric ignition systems 18 may be used for an electric deto­nator, i.e. an electric ignition system as shown in Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings, in which the reference nume­ral 19 denotes two lead wires to supply an electric current.
  • the igniter for electric ignition systems 18 Between the ends of the conductors 11 of the lead wires 19 is disposed the igniter for electric ignition systems 18.
  • the priming charge 21 Around the igniter for electric ignition systems 18 is dis­posed the priming charge 21.
  • On the priming charge 21 is disposed the blasting powder 23.
  • the lead wires 19 and the priming charge 21 are surrounded by the insulation resin 25 and 26, respectively, which prevent the priming charge 21 from being ignited by static electricity.
  • the electric detonator mentioned above permits an electric current to flow through the lead wires 19 and the igniter for electric ignition systems 18.
  • the electric current ge­nerates thermal energy which ignites the priming charge 21 which, in turn, explodes the blast
  • the safety air bag is inflated by a pyrotechnic gas generator.
  • the igniter 18 for the gas generator is required to have a high reliability so that it never works when the car is in the normal state but generates a gas instantan­eously for the reduction of shocks to the driver in the event of an accident.
  • this reliability is achieved by providing the igniter 18 with two or three heating elements 15 arranged in parallel so that ignition takes place certainly even in the case where one of the heating elements 15 is disconnected from the terminal 13.
  • the conventional igniter 18 mentioned above has a disad­vantage that there is no way to confirm that the fine heat­ing element 15 is firmly connected to the terminal 13 of the lead wire 19 because the connection is made with ad­hesive or solder. It has another disadvantage that there is a possibility that the heating element 15 is disconnec­ted from the terminal 13 while the air bag is left unused for a long period of time in an environment where there are considerable temperature changes, vibrations, and shocks. With the heating element disconnected, the igniter does not work.
  • the igniter 18 For the conventional igniter 18 to be highly reliable, it is necessary that the igniter 18 be provided with two or three heating elements arranged in parallel. This creates difficulties of making the fine heating elements uniform in resistance and igniting performance.
  • an igniter for electric ignition systems which comprises a pair of terminals of metal thin film formed and disposed a certain distance apart on the surface of a thin insulating board and at least one heating element of metal thin film which integrally connects said terminals to each other.
  • an igniter for electric ignition systems which comprises a pair of terminals of metal thin film formed and disposed a certain distance apart on the surface of a thin insulating board and at least one heating element of metal thin film which integrally connects said terminals to each other, said heating element being covered with a protective coat­ing film of inorganic thin film.
  • the terminals and heat­ing elements are integrally made of metal thin film. This structure permits an electric current to flow through the terminals and heating element certainly and to generate heat in a short time because of the small mass of the heat­ing element.
  • the heating element is covered with a protective coating film made of an inorgan­ic material to ensure good heat conduction and to maintain the initial performance over a long period of time.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the igni­ter for electric ignition systems pertaining to the pre­sent invention.
  • the reference numeral 31 de­notes a rectangular thin insulating board, about 0.6 mm thick, made of ceramics. This thin insulating board may be replaced by an insulation layer formed on a glass plate or metal plate.
  • the terminals 33 and the heating elements 35 are integral­ly made of metal thin film.
  • Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the igniter 36 taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1.
  • the thin insulating board 31 and the terminals 33 and heating elements 35 of nichrome, tantalum nitride, or other metal thin film formed thereon.
  • the terminals 33 and heating elements 35 may be of single-layered struc­ture or multiple-layered structure.
  • the igniter 36 When triggered, the igniter 36 constructed as mentioned above permits an electric current to flow through the ter­minals 33 and heating elements 35, generating heat in the heating elements 35.
  • the igniter for electric ignition systems mentioned above is produced in the following manner.
  • the thin insulating board 31 of ceramics is entirely coated with metal thin film, 500 to 5000 ⁇ thick, by the sputtering method or vacuum deposition method.
  • the metal thin film is subjected to photo-etching to remove the unnecessary part indicated by the chain line in Fig. 2.
  • the ter­minals 33 and heating elements 35 of metal thin film are integrally formed as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the igniter for electric ignition systems 36 constructed as mentioned above differs from the conventional one in that it is not necessary to bond the fine heating element 15 to the terminals 13 of lead wires with solder or elec­trically conductive adhesive as shown in Fig. 8.
  • the terminals 33 and heating ele­ments 35 are integrally formed on the thin insulating board 31. Therefore, the heating element 35 works certain­ly to generate heat even in a severe environment. This leads to the reliability of the igniter for electric igni­tion systems 36.
  • Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the igniter for electric ignition systems pertaining to the present inven­tion which is applied to the air bag gas generator.
  • the reference numeral 41 indicates the lead wire for an elec­tric current.
  • the lead wire 41 is made up of the conductor 43, which is a tin-plated soft copper wire, and the covering 44 of crosslinked polyethylene.
  • the end of the conductor 43 of the lead wire 41 is connected to the solderless terminal 47 of oxygene-free copper having the projecting part 45.
  • the solderless terminal 47 and the lead wire 41 are fixed to the plug proper 49 made of insulating resin such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and Ryton.
  • the plug pro­per 49 is composed of two split parts as shown in Fig. 4.
  • the part 51 to hold the solderless terminal has the pro­jection 55 for pressing, and the part 53 to hold the lead wire has the projection 56 for pressing.
  • the pro­jection 55 presses the projecting part 45 of the solder­less terminal 47 in place and the projection 56 presses the lead wire 41 in place.
  • one half is provided with the semicylindrical fitting piece 57 and the other half, the hole (not shown) to receive the fitting piece 57.
  • each half is provided the V-shaped rib 58 on one side thereof.
  • the upper part of the joined plug proper 49 is provided with the fitting cap 59 made of an insulating resin such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and Ryton.
  • the plug assembly composed of the plug proper 49 and the cap 59 is protected by the plug case 61 made of aluminum, iron, or stainless steel.
  • the above-mentioned igniter 36 At the center 63 of the plug assembly is disposed the above-mentioned igniter 36.
  • On the thin insulating board 31 of the igniter 36 are integrally formed the terminal 33 and heating element 35 by deposition.
  • the terminal 33 is fixed to the center 63 of the plug assembly by bending the end of the projecting piece 45 of the solderless ter­minal 47.
  • the end of the projecting piece 45 is bonded to the terminal 33 with solder 65.
  • the igniter 36 is firmly bonded to the center 63 of the plug with an epoxy adhesive.
  • the top of the heating element 35 is covered with the pro­tective coating film 67, about 3 ⁇ m thick, made of inorga­ nic thin film such as silicon oxide and silicon nitride, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
  • the protective coating film 67 of desired shape as shown in Fig. 5 is formed by deposi­tion through plasma reaction or the like and then dry etch­ing with a gas.
  • the protective film 67 controls the igni­tion time according to its thickness. Experimental results indicate that the thicker the protective coating 67, the longer the ignition time as shown in Fig. 7.
  • the upper part of the plug proper 49 is filled with the priming charge 69 such as tricinate, lead rhodanide and potassium chlorate, diazonitrophenol, and barium styphnate.
  • the priming charge 69 is on the protective coating film 67.
  • the igniter 36 constructed as mentioned above is installed in the ignition system for the air bag gas generator. When triggered, the igniter permits an electric current to flow through the conductor 43 of the lead wire 41, the solder­less terminal 47, the terminal 33, and the heating element 35 having a smaller surface area. The electric current ge­nerates heat in the heating element 35. The heat ignites the priming charge 69 placed on the heating element 35, and the priming charge 69 melts the top of the cap 59 and ignites the blasting powder (not shown). The blasting pow­der generates a gas to inflate the air bag instantaneously.
  • the air bag ignition system constructed as mentioned above has many advantages as follows:
  • the cap 59 fitting to the plug proper 49 keeps the priming charge 69 in the plug proper 49 and prevents spark discharge which is otherwise induced between the solderless terminal 47 and the plug case 61 by static electricity.
  • the lead wire 41 and the solderless terminal 47 are protected from being pulled out or bent, because the lead wire 41 is pressed in place by the pressing projection 56 formed in the lead wire holder 53 and the projecting piece 45 of the solderless terminal 47 is pressed in place by the pressing projection 55 form­ ed in the solderless terminal holder 51.
  • the protective coating film 67 separates the heating element 35 from the priming charge 69, thereby protecting the heating element 35 from corrosion, breakage, and change in resistance which would otherwise occur when the priming charge 69 de­teriorates. It is possible to properly change the thick­ness of the protective coating film 67, the surface area and material of the heating element 35, and the kind of the priming charge 69 according to the desired performance of the igniter 36. This contributes to the high safety and reliability even in a severe environment.
  • the igniter 36 is fixed by bending the end of the projecting piece 45 of the solderless terminal 47 and the projecting piece 45 is fixed to the terminal 33 on the thin insulating board 31 with solder. This connecting method is easier and certain­er than the conventional direct connecting method, and contributes to high safety and reliability even in a se­vere environment.
  • the lead wire 41 is con­nected to the igniter 36 through the solderless terminal 47.
  • the conductor 43 of the lead wire 41 may be connected directly to the terminal 33 of the igni­ter 36 without the solderless terminal 47.
  • the igniter for electric igni­tion systems pertaining to the present invention may be used for electric detonators and firearms as well as the gas generating system to inflate an air bag.
  • the igniter for electric ignition systems pertaining to the present invention has the heating element which is narrower than the part adjoining the terminal 33 so that the heating element generates a prescribed amount of heat.
  • the number of the heating elements may be one or two or more according to the object, although it is two in the above-mentioned example.
  • the heating element as shown in Fig. 1 is used for the ignition system in which the heat­ ing element is not subject to peeling and corrosion
  • the heating element as shown in Fig. 5 is used for the ig­nition system in which the heating element is subject to peeling and corrosion.
  • the igniter of the present invention is made up of integrally formed terminals and heating ele­ments of metal thin film. Therefore, it maintains its stable ignition performance, high safety, and high reliabi­lity over a long period of time even in a severe environ­ment.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
EP19880114625 1987-09-14 1988-09-07 Zündelement für elektrische Zündsysteme Expired - Lifetime EP0314898B2 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP62230463A JPH0792358B2 (ja) 1987-09-14 1987-09-14 電気式点火装置用点火器
JP230463/87 1987-09-14

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0314898A1 true EP0314898A1 (de) 1989-05-10
EP0314898B1 EP0314898B1 (de) 1992-07-01
EP0314898B2 EP0314898B2 (de) 1995-07-05

Family

ID=16908240

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880114625 Expired - Lifetime EP0314898B2 (de) 1987-09-14 1988-09-07 Zündelement für elektrische Zündsysteme

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0314898B2 (de)
JP (1) JPH0792358B2 (de)
CA (1) CA1319962C (de)
DE (1) DE3872485T2 (de)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0510551A2 (de) * 1991-04-24 1992-10-28 Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft Brücken-Zündmittel
US5320382A (en) * 1991-05-31 1994-06-14 Gt-Devices Pulsed pressure source particularly adapted for vehicle occupant air bag restraint systems
US5341742A (en) * 1990-12-14 1994-08-30 Eev Limited Firing arrangements
US5647924A (en) * 1993-10-20 1997-07-15 Quantic Industries, Inc. Electrical initiator
DE19802432A1 (de) * 1998-01-23 1999-08-26 Diehl Stiftung & Co Detonator
EP0949479A1 (de) * 1998-04-09 1999-10-13 DaimlerChrysler AG Halbleiterzünder
EP1092938A3 (de) * 1999-10-14 2002-06-12 Showa Kinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd. Elektrischer Brückenzünder
WO2002079713A1 (de) * 2001-03-31 2002-10-10 Robert Bosch Gmbh Brückenzünder
WO2002057705A3 (en) * 2001-01-22 2002-10-24 Smi Technology Pty Ltd An initiating device for an electronic detonator

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2559665Y2 (ja) * 1992-05-22 1998-01-19 センサー・テクノロジー株式会社 ガス発生器の点火装置
CA2103510A1 (en) * 1992-09-11 1994-03-12 Bradley D. Harris Printed circuit bridge for an airbag inflator
EP0648650A4 (de) * 1993-05-10 1997-12-10 Nippon Koki Kk ELEKTRISCHE ZÜNDVORRICHTUNG FüR EINE GASGENERATORVORRICHTUNG.
JP2971439B2 (ja) 1998-04-21 1999-11-08 東芝ホクト電子株式会社 着火装置およびその製造方法
JP4902542B2 (ja) * 2005-09-07 2012-03-21 日本化薬株式会社 半導体ブリッジ、点火具、及びガス発生器

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3420174A (en) 1967-09-29 1969-01-07 Us Navy Pulse sensitive electro-explosive device
US4409898A (en) * 1980-05-27 1983-10-18 Aktiebolaget Bofors Electric igniter
DE3416735A1 (de) * 1984-05-07 1985-11-07 Dynamit Nobel Ag, 5210 Troisdorf Elektrisches zuendelement
DE3606364A1 (de) 1986-02-27 1987-09-03 Dynamit Nobel Ag Elektrischer zuendbrueckentraeger zur anzuendung von anzuendsaetzen, verzoegerungssaetzen und pyrotechnischen mischungen sowie zur zuendung von primaerzuendstoffen und -saetzen und verfahren zu seiner herstellung

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS582699B2 (ja) * 1979-07-31 1983-01-18 工業技術院長 火薬類の発火及び起爆用点火具

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3420174A (en) 1967-09-29 1969-01-07 Us Navy Pulse sensitive electro-explosive device
US4409898A (en) * 1980-05-27 1983-10-18 Aktiebolaget Bofors Electric igniter
DE3416735A1 (de) * 1984-05-07 1985-11-07 Dynamit Nobel Ag, 5210 Troisdorf Elektrisches zuendelement
DE3606364A1 (de) 1986-02-27 1987-09-03 Dynamit Nobel Ag Elektrischer zuendbrueckentraeger zur anzuendung von anzuendsaetzen, verzoegerungssaetzen und pyrotechnischen mischungen sowie zur zuendung von primaerzuendstoffen und -saetzen und verfahren zu seiner herstellung

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5341742A (en) * 1990-12-14 1994-08-30 Eev Limited Firing arrangements
EP0510551A2 (de) * 1991-04-24 1992-10-28 Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft Brücken-Zündmittel
EP0510551A3 (en) * 1991-04-24 1993-04-28 Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft Bridge wire initiator
US5320382A (en) * 1991-05-31 1994-06-14 Gt-Devices Pulsed pressure source particularly adapted for vehicle occupant air bag restraint systems
US5647924A (en) * 1993-10-20 1997-07-15 Quantic Industries, Inc. Electrical initiator
US5711531A (en) * 1993-10-20 1998-01-27 Quantic Industries, Inc. Electrical initiator seal
DE19802432A1 (de) * 1998-01-23 1999-08-26 Diehl Stiftung & Co Detonator
EP0949479A1 (de) * 1998-04-09 1999-10-13 DaimlerChrysler AG Halbleiterzünder
US6220164B1 (en) 1998-04-09 2001-04-24 Daimlerchrysler Ag Semiconductor igniter
EP1092938A3 (de) * 1999-10-14 2002-06-12 Showa Kinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd. Elektrischer Brückenzünder
WO2002057705A3 (en) * 2001-01-22 2002-10-24 Smi Technology Pty Ltd An initiating device for an electronic detonator
WO2002079713A1 (de) * 2001-03-31 2002-10-10 Robert Bosch Gmbh Brückenzünder
US6810815B2 (en) 2001-03-31 2004-11-02 Robert Bosch Gmbh Bridge igniter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3872485D1 (de) 1992-08-06
EP0314898B1 (de) 1992-07-01
JPH0792358B2 (ja) 1995-10-09
CA1319962C (en) 1993-07-06
JPS6475896A (en) 1989-03-22
DE3872485T2 (de) 1995-09-28
EP0314898B2 (de) 1995-07-05

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