JP2017081343A - Gas generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas generator capable of stably assembling a directivity imparting member while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost.SOLUTION: A gas generator 1A comprises: a bottomed long cylindrical housing 10 including therein a combustion chamber S1 storing a gas generating agent 50; a holder 20 assembled to an opening end of the housing 10; an igniter 30 held by the holder 20; a directivity imparting member 60 for imparting directivity to a travel direction of heat particles generated in the igniter 30; and a coil spring 70A for fixing the directivity imparting member 60 to the holder 20. The directivity imparting member 60 includes a cylindrical part 61 surrounding an ignition part 31 in a radial direction, and a flange part 62 extending radially outward from an end part of the cylindrical part 61 on the holder 20 side. In a state where the coil spring 70A is compressed in an axial direction, by bringing an end part of the coil spring 70A on the holder 20 side into contact with the flange part 61, the directivity imparting member 60 is fixed immovably while being pressed toward the holder 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas generator incorporated in an airbag device as an occupant protection device installed in an automobile or the like, and more particularly to a gas generator having a long, substantially cylindrical outer shape.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, airbag devices, which are occupant protection devices, have been widely used from the viewpoint of protecting occupants such as automobiles. The airbag device is equipped for the purpose of protecting an occupant from an impact generated when a vehicle or the like collides, and the airbag is inflated and deployed instantaneously when the vehicle or the like collides, so that the occupant's body is deployed. It is something that catches. The gas generator is a device that is incorporated in the airbag device and inflates and deploys the airbag by instantaneously generating gas when a vehicle or the like collides.

  Gas generators of various configurations exist based on specifications such as installation positions and outputs with respect to vehicles and the like. One of them is a so-called cylinder type gas generator. The cylinder type gas generator has a long and substantially cylindrical shape, and is suitably incorporated in a side airbag device, a passenger seat side airbag device, a curtain airbag device, a knee airbag device, a seat cushion airbag device, etc. It is.

  Normally, in a cylinder type gas generator, an igniter is installed on one end side in the axial direction of the housing, and a combustion chamber containing a gas generating agent is provided on one end side in the axial direction of the housing. A filter chamber in which a filter is accommodated is provided on the other end side in the axial direction, and a gas outlet is provided in a peripheral wall portion of the housing that defines the filter chamber. In the cylinder type gas generator configured in this way, in general, gas generated in the combustion chamber flows into the filter chamber to pass through the inside of the filter, and the gas after passing through the filter passes through the gas outlet. Will be ejected to the outside. In addition to this cylinder type gas generator, what is called a T-shaped gas generator exists as a gas generator having a long and substantially cylindrical outer shape.

  In a cylinder type gas generator, it is important to efficiently guide the hot particles (that is, flame) generated in the igniter to the gas generating agent during operation, and it is directed in the traveling direction of the hot particles generated in the ignition unit. There is a case where a directivity imparting member as a guide for imparting characteristics is installed around the igniter. Usually, the directivity imparting member has a cylindrical shape surrounding an ignition part in which an igniter is accommodated in an igniter, and fills a gap between the peripheral wall part of the housing and the ignition part. Installed inside the housing.

  References disclosing the specific configuration of the cylinder type gas generator provided with the directivity imparting member described above include, for example, US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0046161 (Patent Document 1) and US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0096844 (Patent Document 1) and the like.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0046161 US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0096844

  Here, the directivity imparting member needs to be stably assembled in the housing so as not to move, and the fixing method is an important consideration.

  In this regard, in the cylinder-type gas generator disclosed in Patent Document 1, the directivity imparting member described above is fixed by simply being affixed to other components housed in the housing. In the case of such a configuration, high dimensional accuracy is required for various components including the directivity imparting member, resulting in a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.

  On the other hand, in the cylinder type gas generator disclosed in Patent Document 2, a pair of caulking portions are provided on the peripheral wall portion of the housing near the portion where the directivity imparting member is located, and the pair of caulking portions are provided. The directivity imparting member is sandwiched and fixed in the axial direction by the portion. In the case of such a configuration, an extra caulking portion must be provided in the housing, resulting in a decrease in productivity, and as a result, a problem that the manufacturing cost increases occurs.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a gas generator capable of stably assembling a directivity imparting member while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost. To do.

  The gas generator based on this invention is provided with the housing, the holder, the igniter, the directivity provision member, and the fixing member. The housing is formed of a long bottomed substantially cylindrical member including a combustion chamber in which a gas generating agent is accommodated. The holder is assembled to the opening end of the housing, and the holder is provided with a hollow opening extending along a direction parallel to the axial direction of the housing. The igniter includes an igniter that contains an igniter that generates hot particles for burning the gas generating agent, and the igniter projects from an axial end surface of the holder on the combustion chamber side. Thus, a part of the holder is held by the holder in a state of being arranged in the hollow opening of the holder. The directivity imparting member is for guiding the heat particles to the combustion chamber by imparting directivity to the traveling direction of the heat particles generated in the ignition unit. The fixing member fixes the directivity imparting member to the holder. The directivity imparting member includes a cylindrical portion that surrounds the ignition portion in the radial direction, and a flange that extends radially outward from an end portion of the cylindrical portion on the holder side. The fixing member is configured by a coil spring extrapolated to the cylindrical portion. In the gas generator according to the present invention, in the state where the coil spring is compressed in the axial direction, the end portion on the holder side of the coil spring comes into contact with the flange portion, so that the directivity imparting member is It is fixed so that it cannot move while being pressed toward the holder.

  In the gas generator according to the present invention, the holder may be assembled in a state in which the holder is partially inserted into the opening end of the housing. The coil spring may be positioned between the peripheral wall portion of the housing and the ignition portion.

  In the gas generator according to the present invention, the end portion of the coil spring that is located on the opposite side to the end portion on the holder side is closer to the center portion along the axial direction of the housing than the ignition portion. Preferably it is located.

  The gas generator according to the present invention may further include a sealed container that accommodates the gas generating agent in a sealed state, and in that case, on the opposite side of the end of the coil spring on the holder side. It is preferable that the coil spring is compressed in the axial direction between the sealed container and the flange portion by the end portion positioned being in contact with the sealed container.

  In the gas generator according to the present invention, the coil spring is located on the side opposite to the end on the holder side with the bottom provided with a gap through which the heat particles generated in the ignition unit can pass. In this case, the coil spring is compressed in the axial direction between the gas generating agent and the flange portion by contacting the gas generating agent with the bottom portion of the coil spring. It is preferable that

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can be set as the gas generator which can assemble | attach a directivity provision member stably, suppressing the increase in manufacturing cost.

It is the schematic of the cylinder type gas generator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the igniter vicinity of the cylinder type gas generator shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the guide cover shown in FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the cylinder type gas generator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the igniter vicinity of the cylinder type gas generator shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below exemplifies a case where the present invention is applied to a cylinder type gas generator incorporated in a side airbag device. In the following embodiments, the same or common parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will not be repeated.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cylinder type gas generator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the igniter of the cylinder type gas generator shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the guide cover shown in FIG. First, with reference to these FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 3, the structure of 1 A of cylinder type gas generators in this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a cylinder type gas generator 1A in the present embodiment has a long cylindrical outer shape, and includes a housing 10 and a holder 20 as outer shell members. The housing 10 includes a long cylindrical cylindrical member 11 having both ends opened and a closing member 15 that closes one end of the cylindrical member 11 and has a bottomed long cylindrical shape as a whole. ing. The holder 20 is assembled to the open end so as to close the open end of the housing 10.

  Inside the outer shell member comprising the housing 10 and the holder 20 are an igniter 30 as an internal component, a sealed container 40, a gas generating agent 50, a cushion material 51, a guide cover 60 as a directivity imparting member, and a fixing member. The coil spring 70 </ b> A and the filter 80 are accommodated. The housing 10 is provided with a combustion chamber S1 in which the gas generating agent 50 among the above-described internal components is mainly accommodated, and a filter chamber S2 in which a filter 80 is disposed.

  The cylindrical member 11 has a peripheral wall portion 12 provided with a gas outlet 13 and caulking portions 14a and 14b, which will be described later, at a predetermined site. The closing member 15 is made of a disk-like member having a predetermined thickness, and has an annular groove portion 16 for caulking and fixing, which will be described later, on the peripheral surface thereof. The holder 20 is formed of a cylindrical member having a hollow opening 21 extending along the same direction as the axial direction of the housing 10, and has an annular groove portion 22 for caulking and fixing described later on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The annular groove portions 16 and 22 for caulking and fixing are formed on the circumferential surface of the closing member 15 and the outer circumferential surface of the holder 20 so as to extend along the circumferential direction.

  The closing member 15 is assembled to the cylindrical member 11 so as to close one opening end of the cylindrical member 11 in the axial direction. Specifically, in a state where the closing member 15 is inserted into the one opening end of the cylindrical member 11, a portion of the cylindrical member 11 corresponding to the annular groove portion 16 provided on the peripheral surface of the closing member 15. The peripheral wall portion 12 is reduced in diameter radially inward and engaged with the annular groove portion 16, whereby the closing member 15 is caulked and fixed to the cylindrical member 11.

  The holder 20 is assembled to the cylindrical member 11 so as to close the other opening end in the axial direction of the cylindrical member 11 (that is, the opening end of the housing 10). Specifically, in the state where the holder 20 is inserted into the opening end of the cylindrical member 11, the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11 corresponding to the annular groove portion 22 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the holder 20. The holder 20 is caulked and fixed to the cylindrical member 11 by reducing the diameter toward the inside in the radial direction and engaging with the annular groove portion 22.

  These caulking fixations are caulking fixations called eight-side caulking that reduce the diameter of the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11 substantially uniformly toward the inside in the radial direction. By performing this caulking, the caulking portions 14a and 14b are provided on the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11, and the caulking portions 14a and 14b are in close contact with the annular groove portions 16 and 22, respectively. . This prevents a gap from being generated between the cylindrical member 11 and the closing member 15 and between the cylindrical member 11 and the holder 20.

  The cylindrical member 11 may be made of a metal member such as stainless steel, steel, an aluminum alloy, or a stainless alloy, or is formed into a cylindrical shape by pressing a rolled steel plate represented by SPCE. It may be configured by a press-molded product, or may be configured by an electric sewing tube represented by STKM. In particular, when the cylindrical member 11 is formed of a press-formed product of a rolled steel plate or an electric resistance welded tube, the cylindrical member can be easily and inexpensively compared with a case where a metal member such as stainless steel or steel is used. 11 can be formed, and the weight can be significantly reduced. On the other hand, the closing member 15 and the holder 20 are made of metal members such as stainless steel, steel, aluminum alloy, and stainless alloy.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the igniter 30 is held by a holder 20. The igniter 30 is for burning the gas generating agent 50, and is installed so as to face the space inside the housing 10. More specifically, the holder 20 has a caulking portion 23 for caulking and fixing the igniter 30 at the axial end facing the space inside the housing 10, and the igniter 30 is a hollow opening portion. The igniter 30 is clamped and fixed to the holder 20 by the caulking portion 23 described above being caulked in a state where the caulking portion 23 is caulked with the wall portion of the portion defining the hollow opening 21 of the holder 20 inserted into the wall 21. ing.

  The igniter 30 includes an ignition unit 31 and a pair of terminal pins 32. A resistor (bridge wire) is attached to the inside of the ignition unit 31 so as to be connected to the pair of terminal pins 32, and the ignition unit 31 is surrounded by or in contact with the resistor. Filled with sparks. Moreover, in the ignition part 31, the transfer charge may be loaded as needed.

Here, the resistance body is generally a nichrome wire or a resistance wire made of an alloy containing platinum and tungsten, and the igniter is generally ZPP (zirconium / potassium perchlorate) or ZWPP (zirconium / tungsten / peroxide). Potassium chlorate), lead tricynate and the like are used. As the transfer _charge, consisting of _{B / KNO 3, B / NaNO} 3, Sr (NO 3) such as composition and consisting of metal powder / oxidant represented by _2, potassium titanium hydride / perchloric acid composition And a composition composed of B / 5-aminotetrazole / potassium nitrate / molybdenum trioxide. In addition, the squib cup that defines the outer surface of the ignition unit 31 is generally made of metal or plastic.

  When a collision is detected, a predetermined amount of current flows through the resistor via the terminal pin 32. When a predetermined amount of current flows through the resistor, Joule heat is generated in the resistor, and the ignition agent starts burning. Hot hot particles generated by combustion rupture the squib cup containing the igniting agent. The time from when the current flows through the resistor until the igniter 30 is activated is generally 2 milliseconds or less when a nichrome wire is used as the resistor.

  A concave portion 24 is provided continuously to the hollow opening 21 described above at the end in the axial direction that is exposed to the outside of the holder 20. The recess 24 forms a female connector portion that receives a male connector (not shown) of a harness for connecting the igniter 30 and a control unit (not shown). The portion near the tip of the terminal pin 32 of the container 30 is exposed and positioned. A male connector is inserted into the recess 24 as the female connector portion, thereby realizing electrical conduction between the core wire of the harness and the terminal pin 32.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a sealed container 40 is disposed in a space adjacent to the space in which the holder 20 and the igniter 30 assembled thereto are disposed in the space inside the housing 10. The sealed container 40 includes a cup body 41 and a cap body 42 that closes the opening of the cup body 41, and is inserted into the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11. In the sealed container 40, the cup body 41 and the cap body 42 are combined and joined, so that the accommodation space 43 formed inside the sealed container 40 is hermetically sealed from the outside of the sealed container 40. Yes.

  The sealed container 40 is configured by a member made of a material having low mechanical strength so that at least part of the sealed container 40 is ruptured or melted by the combustion of the gas generating agent 50. More specifically, the cup body 41 and the cap body 42 are made of, for example, a metal press-molded product such as copper, aluminum, a copper alloy, or an aluminum alloy, or a resin molded product formed by injection molding or sheet molding. Become. For joining the cup body 41 and the cap body 42, brazing, adhesion, welding, winding (caulking), or the like is preferably used. If a sealing agent is separately used for the joining, the airtightness can be further improved.

  The cup body 41 of the sealed container 40 includes a top wall portion 41a and a side wall portion 41b. The top wall portion 41a constitutes an axial end located on the filter chamber S2 side of the sealed container 40 by being positioned so as to partition the space inside the housing 10 in the axial direction, and the side wall portion 41b It extends from the outer peripheral side end of the top wall 41a along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 11 toward the holder 20 side.

  The sealed container 40 is fitted or loosely fitted to the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11, and the caulking process for fixing the sealed container 40 is performed on the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11. Not given. Here, the fitting includes so-called press-fitting and refers to a state where the outer peripheral surface of the sealed container 40 is attached while being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 11. In addition, loose fitting refers to a state in which the outer peripheral surface of the sealed container 40 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 11 are not necessarily in contact with each other over the entire periphery, and are inserted with a slight gap (play). In addition, from the viewpoint of facilitating assembly, it is preferable to loosely fit the sealed container 40 to the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11.

  A gas generating agent 50 and a cushion material 51 are accommodated in the accommodating space 43 of the sealed container 40. More specifically, a cushion material 51 is disposed at the end of the sealed container 40 on the side where the igniter 30 is located, and the gas generating agent 50 is disposed in a portion other than the portion where the cushion material 51 is disposed. Is arranged.

  The gas generating agent 50 is a chemical that generates gas by being ignited and burned by hot particles generated by the operation of the igniter 30. As the gas generating agent 50, it is preferable to use a non-azide-based gas generating agent, and it is generally configured as a molded body containing a fuel, an oxidizing agent and an additive. As the fuel, for example, a triazole derivative, a tetrazole derivative, a guanidine derivative, an azodicarbonamide derivative, a hydrazine derivative, or a combination thereof is used. Specifically, for example, nitroguanidine, guanidine nitrate, cyanoguanidine, 5-aminotetrazole and the like are preferably used. The oxidizing agent is selected from basic nitrates such as basic copper nitrate, perchlorates such as ammonium perchlorate and potassium perchlorate, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, and ammonia. Nitrate containing cation is used. As the nitrate, for example, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate and the like are preferably used. In addition, examples of the additive include a binder, a slag forming agent, and a combustion adjusting agent. As the binder, for example, an organic binder such as a metal salt of carboxymethyl cellulose or stearate, or an inorganic binder such as synthetic hydrotalcite or acidic clay can be suitably used. As the slag forming agent, silicon nitride, silica, acid clay, etc. can be suitably used. Moreover, as a combustion regulator, a metal oxide, ferrosilicon, activated carbon, graphite, etc. can be used suitably.

  The shape of the molded body of the gas generating agent 50 includes various shapes such as a granular shape, a pellet shape, a granular shape such as a cylindrical shape, and a disk shape. In addition, in the cylindrical shape, a porous (for example, a single-hole cylindrical shape or a porous cylindrical shape) having a through hole inside the molded body is also used. These shapes are preferably selected as appropriate according to the specifications of the airbag apparatus in which the cylinder type gas generator 1A is incorporated. For example, the shape in which the gas generation rate changes with time when the gas generating agent 50 is burned. It is preferable to select an optimal shape according to the specification, such as selecting. In addition to the shape of the gas generating agent 50, it is preferable to appropriately select the size and filling amount of the molded body in consideration of the linear combustion rate, the pressure index, etc. of the gas generating agent 50.

  The cushion material 51 is provided for the purpose of preventing the gas generating agent 50 made of a molded body from being crushed by vibration or the like, and is preferably a ceramic fiber molded body, rock wool, foamed resin (for example, foamed resin). Silicone, foamed polypropylene, foamed polyethylene, etc.), chloroprene and rubbers typified by EPDM are used. The cushion material 51 is opened or divided by the heat particles generated by the operation of the igniter 30 and is burned out in some cases. Instead of the cushion material 51, for example, a coil spring can be used.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a guide cover 60 and a coil spring 70 </ b> A are disposed between the holder 20 and the sealed container 40 so as to surround the ignition unit 31 of the igniter 30. Here, the guide cover 60 and the coil spring 70 </ b> A are sandwiched between the holder 20 and the sealed container 40 along the axial direction of the cylindrical member 11.

  The guide cover 60 is for efficiently guiding the heat particles generated in the igniter 30 to the gas generating agent 50 during the operation of the cylinder type gas generator 1A. Directivity is given to the traveling direction of the generated thermal particles. The coil spring 70 </ b> A is mainly for fixing the guide cover 60 to the holder 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the guide cover 60 includes a cylindrical tubular portion 61 and a flange-shaped flange portion extending radially outward from one axial end portion of the tubular portion 61. 62. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 61 defines an insertion portion 63 that can accommodate the ignition portion 31 of the igniter 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide cover 60 has an end on the side where the holder 20 of the combustion chamber S <b> 1 is located so that the ignition part 31 of the igniter 30 is accommodated in the insertion part 63 described above. It is arranged substantially coaxially with the cylindrical member 11 and the igniter 30 in the portion. Here, the direction of the guide cover 60 is adjusted so that the end portion on which the flange portion 62 is provided is disposed on the holder 20 side.

  As a result, as described above, the igniter 31 of the igniter 30 is surrounded by the cylindrical portion 61 of the guide cover 60 in the radial direction, and when the cylinder-type gas generator 1A is operated, the guide cover 60 Directivity is given to the traveling direction of the heat particles generated in the ignition part 31 of the igniter 30.

  More specifically, when the ignition part 31 is surrounded by the cylindrical part 61 of the guide cover 60, gas generation in the squib cup occurs when the squib cup that defines the outer surface of the ignition part 31 is ruptured. An opening is mainly formed at the tip portion located on the agent 50 side, and accordingly, the traveling direction of the heat particles generated in the ignition portion 31 is narrowed in the axial direction of the cylindrical member 11.

  In other words, the guide cover 60 is disposed inside the housing 10 so as to fill the gap between the peripheral wall portion 12 of the housing 10 and the ignition portion 31, so that the cylindrical portion 61 of the guide cover 60 is ignited by the ignition portion 31. And the progression of the heat particles generated in the ignition unit 31 to the outside in the radial direction is hindered by the cylindrical portion 61, and as a result, the traveling direction of the heat particles is It will be squeezed in the axial direction.

  Therefore, as described above, it is possible to efficiently guide the heat particles generated in the igniter 30 to the gas generating agent 50, and it is possible to prevent ignition delay of the gas generating agent 50 in advance, and By reducing the amount used, the cylinder type gas generator 1A can be reduced in size and weight, and further contributes to a reduction in manufacturing cost.

  The guide cover 60 is preferably made of a metal material having a relatively high mechanical strength so that it can withstand an impact when the igniter 31 is ruptured. For example, stainless steel, steel, aluminum alloy It is preferable that it is made of a metal member such as a stainless alloy.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coil spring 70 </ b> A has a spring portion 71 formed by winding a metal wire spirally around an axis, and the holder 20 of the combustion chamber S <b> 1 is located. The cylindrical member 11, the igniter 30, and the guide cover 60 are arranged substantially coaxially at the end portion on the side, so that the cylindrical portion 61 of the guide cover 60 is extrapolated. Thus, the coil spring 70A is disposed between the peripheral wall portion 12 of the housing 10 and the ignition portion 31, and surrounds the ignition portion 31 of the igniter 30 as described above, and the cylindrical portion of the guide cover 60. 61 is also surrounded.

  An end portion (that is, an end portion on the closing member 15 side) located on the opposite side of the end portion on the holder 20 side of the coil spring 70 </ b> A is closer to the center portion side along the axial direction of the cylindrical member 11 than the ignition portion 31. It is in contact with the sealed container 40 by being positioned. On the other hand, the end portion of the coil spring 70 </ b> A located on the holder 20 side is in contact with the flange portion 62 of the guide cover 60. Here, the coil spring 70 </ b> A is sandwiched between the sealed container 40 and the flange portion 62, thereby being compressed in the axial direction thereof.

  Therefore, the coil spring 70A presses the guide cover 60 toward the holder 20 based on the restoring force (elastic force), and the guide cover 60 is fixed to the holder 20 so as not to move by the coil spring 70A. become.

  The coil spring 70A has not only the function of fixing the above-described guide cover 60 to the holder 20, but also the function of fixing the sealed container 40 and the filter 80 in the axial direction inside the housing 10, and further, these It also has a function of absorbing variations in axial lengths of the component parts. Therefore, by adopting the above configuration, it becomes possible to fix the sealed container 40, the guide cover 60, and the filter 80 together, not only facilitating the assembly work but also the dimensional accuracy of these components. It is no longer necessary to manage the strictness more than necessary, and the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a filter adjacent to a space in which the sealed container 40 is disposed among spaces inside the housing 10 and sandwiched between the sealed container 40 and the closing member 15 includes a filter. 80 is arranged. The filter 80 is made of a cylindrical member having a hollow portion 81 extending in the same direction as the axial direction of the cylindrical member 11, and one end surface in the axial direction is in contact with the top wall portion 41a of the sealed container 40, The other end surface in the axial direction is in contact with the closing member 15.

  The filter 80 functions as a cooling means for cooling the gas by taking away the high-temperature heat of the gas when the gas generated by the combustion of the gas generating agent 50 passes through the filter 80, and in the gas It also functions as a removing means for removing slag (residue) and the like contained in. As described above, by using the filter 80 made of a cylindrical member, the flow resistance to the gas flowing through the filter chamber S2 during operation can be kept low, and an efficient gas flow can be realized. .

  As the filter 80, it is possible to use a filter constituted by a metal wire rod or an assembly of metal mesh members preferably made of stainless steel or steel. Specifically, a knitted wire mesh, a plain weave wire mesh, an assembly of crimp-woven metal wires, or a material obtained by pressing them together by pressing can be used. Moreover, it can use instead of this what wound the perforated metal plate. In this case, as the perforated metal plate, for example, expanded metal that has been cut in a zigzag pattern on the metal plate and expanded to form a hole and processed into a mesh, In addition, it is possible to use a hook metal or the like that is flattened by crushing burrs generated at the periphery of the hole.

  A plurality of gas outlets 13 are provided along the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the peripheral wall portion 12 in the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11 that defines the filter chamber S2. The plurality of gas ejection ports 13 are for leading the gas after passing through the filter 80 to the outside of the housing.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, in the cylinder type gas generator 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment, the hermetic container 40 is relative to the thin wall portion 41 a 1 relatively thin with respect to the top wall portion 41 a of the cup body 41. In particular, it includes a thick portion 41a2.

  The thin portion 41a1 is located at a portion facing the hollow portion 81 of the filter 80, and the thick portion 41a2 is located at a portion facing the axial end surface excluding the hollow portion 81 of the filter 80. That is, when the top wall portion 41a of the cup body 41 and the filter 80 are projected on a plane orthogonal to the axial direction along the axial direction of the cylindrical member 11, the boundary between the thin portion 41a1 and the thick portion 41a2 is The filter 80 overlaps the inner edge of the part excluding the hollow part 81 (that is, the outer edge of the hollow part 81). Thereby, the thick part 41a2 will face the outer edge part of the axial direction end surface located in the combustion chamber S1 side of the filter 80. FIG.

  The thin-walled portion 41a1 is formed sufficiently thin so as to be ruptured or melted by the combustion of the gas generating agent 50. The thickness of the thin-walled portion 41a1 is, for example, 0.1 [mm] when the sealed container 40 is made of an aluminum alloy. It is 1.0 [mm] or less. On the other hand, the thick portion 41a2 is formed to be thicker than the thin portion 41a1 so as not to be ruptured and melted by the combustion of the gas generating agent 50. The thickness of the thick portion 41a2 is such that the sealed container 40 is made of an aluminum alloy. In some cases, for example, 0.4 [mm] or more and 4.0 [mm] or less.

  When configured in this way, the thick part 41a2 remains during operation, and the thick part 41a2 functions as a pressure partition that partitions the combustion chamber S1 and the filter chamber S2, and the thickness is increased. Since no gap is generated between the meat portion 41a2 and the cylindrical member 11, gas leakage through the portion can be prevented.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 1, the operation | movement at the time of the action | operation of the cylinder type gas generator 1A in this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  Referring to FIG. 1, when a vehicle equipped with cylinder type gas generator 1A according to the present embodiment collides, the collision is detected by a collision detection means provided separately in the vehicle, and based on this, the vehicle is detected. The igniter 30 is activated by energization from a control unit provided separately.

  When the igniter 30 is operated, the pressure in the igniter 31 is increased by burning the igniting agent or the transfer charge in addition to the igniting agent. leak. At that time, as described above, since the ignition unit 31 is surrounded by the guide cover 60, directivity is given to the heat particles generated in the ignition unit 31, and the heat particles are transmitted to the shaft of the cylindrical member 11. Proceed along the direction.

  The cap body 42 of the sealed container 40 is ruptured or melted by the flowing out heat particles, and the heat particles reach the cushion material 51. The hot particles that have reached the cushion material 51 burn the cushion material 51 to open or divide it, whereby the hot particles reach the gas generating agent 50.

  The hot particles that have reached the gas generating agent 50 burn the gas generating agent 50, thereby generating a large amount of gas. Along with this, the pressure and temperature of the combustion chamber S1 rise, and the thin wall portion 41a1 of the top wall portion 41a of the cup body 41 is ruptured or melted, whereby a part of the top wall portion 41a is opened.

  When a part of the top wall 41a is opened, the gas generated in the combustion chamber S1 flows into the filter chamber S2. The gas that has flowed into the filter chamber S <b> 2 flows in the hollow portion 81 of the filter 80 along the axial direction, then changes its direction in the radial direction, and passes through the inside of the filter 80. At that time, heat is taken away by the filter 80 to cool the gas, and slag contained in the gas is removed by the filter 80.

  Then, the gas after passing through the filter 80 is ejected to the outside of the cylinder type gas generator 1 </ b> A through the gas ejection port 13. The jetted gas is introduced into an airbag provided adjacent to the cylinder type gas generator 1A, and the airbag is inflated and deployed.

  As described above, in the cylinder type gas generator 1A according to the present embodiment, the guide cover 60 as the directivity imparting member moves while being pressed toward the holder 20 by the coil spring 70A as the fixing member. It is fixed impossible. Therefore, by adopting the configuration, the directivity imparting member can be stably assembled while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost.

  Further, in the cylinder type gas generator 1A in the present embodiment, as described above, the coil spring 70A as the fixing member is extrapolated to surround the cylindrical portion 61 of the guide cover 60 as the directivity imparting member. Yes. Therefore, by adopting this configuration, the axial length of the housing is shortened compared to the case where the directivity imparting member and the fixing member for fixing the directivity imparting member are arranged side by side along the axial direction of the housing. It can contribute to the miniaturization as a whole.

  Furthermore, by adopting the above configuration, it is possible to form a clearance of a desired size between the igniter 30 and the sealed container 40 by adjusting the axial length of the coil spring 70A. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the squib cup from being prevented from being ruptured during operation, so that rapid movement of the heat particles is realized, and as a result, desired combustion characteristics can be achieved. Here, the axial length of the housing 10 can be prevented from becoming longer by setting the clearance to the minimum necessary size.

(Embodiment 2)
4 is a schematic view of a cylinder type gas generator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of an igniter of the cylinder type gas generator shown in FIG. First, with reference to these FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the structure of the cylinder type gas generator 1B in this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cylinder type gas generator 1 </ b> B in the present embodiment is a partition member instead of the sealed container 40 when compared with the cylinder type gas generator 1 </ b> A in the first embodiment described above. The configuration is mainly different in that 90 is provided, a coil spring 70B having a different configuration is provided instead of the coil spring 70A, and a cushion material 51 is not provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the cylinder type gas generator 1 </ b> B in the present embodiment, a partition member 90 is arranged at a predetermined position in the space inside the housing 10. The partition member 90 is a member for partitioning the space inside the housing 10 in the axial direction, and has a substantially disk shape having a predetermined thickness. The partition member 90 is made of a metal member such as stainless steel, steel, an aluminum alloy, a stainless alloy, or the like, similar to the closing member 15 and the holder 20 described above.

  The partition member 90 is disposed inside the housing 10 such that its main surface is orthogonal to the axial direction of the cylindrical member 11. A communication hole 91 extending through the axial direction is provided at the center of the partition member 90, and an annular groove 92 extending along the circumferential direction is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 90. .

  The partition member 90 is disposed at an intermediate position in the axial direction of the cylindrical member 11 and is fixed to the cylindrical member 11. Specifically, in a state where the partition member 90 is inserted into the cylindrical member 11, the diameter of the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11 corresponding to the annular groove portion 92 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the partition member 90 is reduced. The partition member 90 is caulked and fixed to the cylindrical member 11 by reducing the diameter toward the inside in the direction and engaging with the annular groove 92.

  The caulking is also caulking, which is called the above-mentioned caulking. By performing this caulking, the caulking portion 14 c is provided on the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11, and the caulking portion 14 c comes into close contact with the annular groove portion 92. Thereby, a gap is prevented from being generated between the cylindrical member 11 and the partition member 90.

  Here, the annular groove 92 accommodates a seal member 94 made of an O-ring or the like. Thereby, the seal member 94 accommodated in the annular groove portion 92 provided in the partition member 90 is sandwiched between the partition member 90 and the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11 when the caulking is fixed. Airtightness in the part is ensured.

  Further, a seal tape 93 is affixed to a main surface located on the gas generating agent 50 side among the pair of main surfaces of the partition member 90. The seal tape 93 is for closing the communication hole 91 provided in the partition member 90. As the seal tape 93, an aluminum foil having an adhesive member applied on one side can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in addition to the annular groove portion 22 for caulking and fixing, another annular groove portion 25 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the holder 20. A seal member 26 made of a ring or the like is accommodated. The seal member 26 is sandwiched between the holder 20 and the peripheral wall portion 12 of the cylindrical member 11, thereby ensuring airtightness at the portion.

  Further, a seal member 27 made of an O-ring or the like is interposed between the igniter 30 and the holder 20. The seal member 27 is for preventing a gap from being generated between the igniter 30 and the holder 20, whereby the space inside the housing 10 is hermetically sealed.

  Here, also in the cylinder type gas generator 1 </ b> B in the present embodiment, a guide cover 60 as a directivity imparting member is disposed so as to surround the ignition unit 31 of the igniter 30. A coil spring 70 </ b> B is interposed in the tubular portion 61 so as to surround the portion 61.

  The coil spring 70B includes a spring portion 71 formed by spirally winding a metal wire around an axis, and a bottom portion 72 formed by further bending one end of the spring portion 71 in a plane. have. The bottom 72 is formed, for example, by bending a metal wire rod in a spiral shape or a meandering shape, so that a clearance through which hot particles generated in the ignition portion 31 can pass is provided in the bottom portion 72. .

  The coil spring 70B is disposed substantially coaxially with the cylindrical member 11, the igniter 30, and the guide cover 60 at the end of the combustion chamber S1 on the side where the holder 20 is located, so It is inserted. The direction of the coil spring 70B is adjusted so that the end on which the bottom portion 72 is provided is arranged on the side where the partition member 90 is located.

  The end portion of the coil spring 70B opposite to the end portion on the holder 20 side (that is, the end portion on the side where the bottom portion 72 is provided) is the center along the axial direction of the cylindrical member 11 relative to the ignition portion 31. It is in contact with the gas generating agent 50 by being located on the part side. On the other hand, the end portion of the coil spring 70 </ b> B located on the holder 20 side is in contact with the flange portion 62 of the guide cover 60. Here, the coil spring 70 </ b> B is compressed in the axial direction by being sandwiched between the gas generating agent 50 and the flange portion 62.

  Therefore, the coil spring 70B presses the guide cover 60 toward the holder 20 based on the restoring force (elastic force), and the guide cover 60 is fixed to the holder 20 so as not to move by the coil spring 70B. become.

  Here, the coil spring 70B has not only a function of fixing the above-described guide cover 60 to the holder 20, but also a function of fixing the gas generating agent 50 in the axial direction inside the housing 10, and further, these configurations. It also has a function of absorbing variations in the axial length of the parts. Therefore, by adopting the above configuration, the gas generating agent 50 and the guide cover 60 can be fixed together, and the assembly work is facilitated, and the dimensional accuracy of the guide cover 60 is required. This eliminates the need for strict management, and enables a significant reduction in manufacturing costs.

  In addition, the coil spring 70B also has a function of preventing the gas generating agent 50 made of the molded body from being pulverized by vibration or the like, and the cushion material 51 as shown in the first embodiment described above separately. In this respect, the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation | movement at the time of the action | operation of the cylinder type gas generator 1B in this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  Referring to FIG. 4, when a vehicle equipped with cylinder type gas generator 1 </ b> B in the present embodiment collides, the collision is detected by a collision detection means provided separately in the vehicle, and based on this, the vehicle The igniter 30 is activated by energization from a control unit provided separately.

  When the igniter 30 is operated, the pressure in the igniter 31 is increased by burning the igniting agent or the transfer charge in addition to the igniting agent. leak. At that time, as described above, since the ignition unit 31 is surrounded by the guide cover 60, directivity is given to the heat particles generated in the ignition unit 31, and the heat particles are transmitted to the shaft of the cylindrical member 11. Proceed along the direction.

  The heat particles that have flowed out pass through the gap provided in the bottom 72 of the coil spring 70 </ b> B and reach the gas generating agent 50. The hot particles that have reached the gas generating agent 50 burn the gas generating agent 50, thereby generating a large amount of gas. Along with this, the pressure and temperature of the combustion chamber S1 rise, and the seal tape 93 attached to the partition member 90 is ruptured or melted.

  When the seal tape 93 is ruptured or melted, the gas generated in the combustion chamber S1 flows into the filter chamber S2 through the communication hole 91 provided in the partition member 90. The gas that has flowed into the filter chamber S <b> 2 flows in the hollow portion 81 of the filter 80 along the axial direction, then changes its direction in the radial direction, and passes through the inside of the filter 80. At that time, heat is taken away by the filter 80 to cool the gas, and slag contained in the gas is removed by the filter 80.

  Then, the gas after passing through the filter 80 is ejected to the outside of the cylinder type gas generator 1B through the gas ejection port 13. The ejected gas is introduced into an airbag provided adjacent to the cylinder type gas generator 1B, and inflates and deploys the airbag.

  As described above, also in the cylinder type gas generator 1B in the present embodiment, the guide cover 60 as the directivity imparting member moves in a state of being pressed toward the holder 20 by the coil spring 70B as the fixing member. Since it is fixed impossible, the directivity imparting member can be stably assembled while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost, as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

  In the first and second embodiments of the present invention described above, the case where the holder is inserted and fixed to the opening end of the housing has been described as an example. However, the holder is inserted and fixed to the opening end of the housing. In addition, the holder and the housing may be abutted and fixed without inserting the holder in and out of the opening end of the housing.

  In the first and second embodiments of the present invention described above, the cylindrical member and the closing member are connected by caulking and fixed, and the cylindrical member and the holder are connected by caulking and fixed. As described above, it is naturally possible to use welding or the like for fixing the cylindrical member and the closing member and / or fixing the cylindrical member and the holder.

  Moreover, in Embodiment 1 and 2 of this invention mentioned above, the case where the bottomed long and substantially cylindrical housing was comprised using the cylindrical member and closure member which consist of another member was demonstrated and demonstrated. However, it is good also as comprising a housing by a single member by comprising these integrally.

  In the first and second embodiments of the present invention described above, the case where only the igniting agent or the igniting agent and the transfer charge is loaded in the ignition part of the igniter has been described as an example. When loading, it is not always necessary that it is loaded in the igniter of the igniter, and it is loaded at a position between the igniter of the igniter and the gas generating agent using, for example, a cup-shaped member or container. May be.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the case where the fixing member is configured by the coil spring having only the spring portion has been described as an example. Instead, the second embodiment of the present invention is described. The fixing member may be constituted by a coil spring having a spring portion and a bottom portion as shown in FIG.

  Further, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the case where the fixing member is configured by the coil spring having the spring portion and the bottom portion is described as an example. However, the gas generating agent is, for example, along the axial direction of the housing. In the case of being constituted by a laminated disc-like laminated body, etc., instead of this, the fixing member is constituted by a coil spring having only a spring portion as shown in the first embodiment of the present invention. Also good.

  In addition, in the first and second embodiments of the present invention described above, the case where the present invention is applied to a cylinder type gas generator incorporated in a side airbag device is described as an example. The target is not limited to this, but is the same as a cylinder type gas generator or a cylinder type gas generator incorporated in a passenger seat airbag device, curtain airbag device, knee airbag device, seat cushion airbag device, etc. The present invention can also be applied to a so-called T-shaped gas generator having a long outer shape.

  Thus, the above-described embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative in all respects and is not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B Cylinder type gas generator, 10 housing, 11 Cylindrical member, 12 Peripheral wall part, 13 Gas outlet, 14a-14c Caulking part, 15 Closure member, 16 Annular groove part, 20 Holder, 21 Hollow opening part, 22, 25 annular groove part, 23 caulking part, 24 concave part, 26, 27 seal member, 30 igniter, 31 ignition part, 32 terminal pin, 40 sealed container, 41 cup body, 41a top wall part, 41b side wall part, 41a1 thin wall part, 41a2 thick part, 42 cap body, 43 accommodating space, 50 gas generating agent, 51 cushioning material, 60 guide cover, 61 cylindrical part, 62 collar part, 63 insertion part, 70A, 70B coil spring, 71 spring part, 72 bottom part , 80 filter, 81 hollow part, 90 partition member, 91 communication hole, 92 annular groove part, 93 seal tape 94 seal member, S1 combustion chamber, S2 filter chamber.

Claims (5)

A bottomed long cylindrical housing containing a combustion chamber containing a gas generating agent;
A holder provided with a hollow opening that is assembled to the opening end of the housing and extends along a direction parallel to the axial direction of the housing;
Including an igniter that contains an igniting agent that generates thermal particles for burning the gas generating agent, and a part of the igniter protrudes from the axial end surface of the holder on the combustion chamber side. An igniter held by the holder in a state arranged in the hollow opening of the holder;
A directivity imparting member for guiding the heat particles to the combustion chamber by giving directivity to the traveling direction of the heat particles generated in the ignition unit;
A fixing member for fixing the directivity imparting member to the holder;
The directivity imparting member includes a cylindrical portion that surrounds the ignition portion in a radial direction, and a flange portion that extends radially outward from an end portion on the holder side of the cylindrical portion,
The fixing member is constituted by a coil spring extrapolated to the cylindrical portion,
With the coil spring compressed in the axial direction, the end on the holder side of the coil spring abuts against the flange, so that the directivity-imparting member is fixed so as not to move while being pressed toward the holder. A gas generator. The holder is assembled in a state where a part thereof is inserted into the opening end of the housing,
The gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the directivity imparting member and the coil spring are located between a peripheral wall portion of the housing and the ignition portion.   The end of the coil spring that is located on the opposite side of the end on the holder side is located closer to the center along the axial direction of the housing than the ignition unit. Gas generator. Further comprising a sealed container for containing the gas generating agent in a sealed state;
The coil spring is compressed in the axial direction between the sealed container and the flange portion by contacting an end of the coil spring opposite to the end on the holder side against the sealed container. The gas generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The coil spring has a bottom portion provided with a gap through which the heat particles generated in the ignition portion can pass at an end portion located on the side opposite to the end portion on the holder side,
The said coil spring is compressed in the axial direction between the said gas generating agent and the said collar part by the said bottom part of the said coil spring contacting the said gas generating agent. Gas generator.

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