JPH0570636U - Gas generator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a compact and lightweight gas generator that enhances the storage efficiency of the gas generating agent. A cylindrical container 1 having a ring-shaped space 23 formed therein is provided, and a partition 9 extending in the ring-shaped space 23 in a radial direction is provided with a lower gas generating agent storage chamber 7 and an upper filter storage chamber 11. , 13, the gas generator is divided into the partition wall 9 and the filter storage chambers 11 and 13 to extend radially inward and outward, and a support member 12 extending to the upper surface of the ring-shaped space 23 is provided. To do.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a gas generator used by being incorporated into an airbag safety device of a vehicle.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 First, the structure of an airbag safety device using a gas generator will be described with reference to FIG. The airbag safety device 24 is a unit in which a gas generator 30 and an air bag 27 are housed in a base 25 and a cover 26, and they are fixed by bolts 28 to form a part of a handle 29. Therefore, in appearance, it is not necessary to be aware that the airbag safety device 24 is present there. The airbag 27 is inflated like a balloon at the time of a collision and serves as a cushioning material between the handle and the like, and is normally folded small and stored in the cover 26. The air bag 27 and the base 25 are airtightly mounted, and the gas generator 30 is provided in an airtight space between the air bag 27 and the base 25. Further, the cover 26 is provided with a notch or a thin portion so as to be expanded (opened) when the airbag 27 is inflated.

Therefore, the airbag safety device 24 is required to be downsized, and the gas generator is required to be downsized while maintaining the amount of generated gas. To this end, it is necessary to improve the storage efficiency of the gas generating agent. Conventionally, as such a gas generator, two types are known, one in which a gas generating agent storage chamber and a filter storage chamber are arranged in the radial direction and the other in which they are arranged in the axial direction. First, in the case where the gas generating agent storage chamber a and the filter storing chamber b are arranged in the radial direction, the gas generating agent 8 is arranged in the inner gas generating agent storage chamber a as shown in FIG. The storage efficiency of the upper gas generating agent 8 becomes low. That is, since the storage amount of the gas generating agent 8 is proportional to the average diameter D of the storage portion, the storage efficiency is higher when the gas generating agent 8 is arranged outside.

Therefore, in order to improve the storage efficiency of the gas generating agent, there is one in which the gas generating agent storage chamber and the filter storage chamber are arranged in the axial direction (USP 4,547,342 or JP-A-61-108034). reference). Hereinafter, this type of gas generator will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The gas generator 130 has a cylindrical container 101 in appearance and is composed of an upper container 102 and a lower container 103, which are integrated by pressure welding or welding, and are divided into a central portion 22 and a ring-shaped space portion 23 by an inner wall 106. There is. Further, the ring-shaped space 23 is formed by press-fitting hollow disk-shaped partition walls 109 and 131 into the lower gas generator storage chamber 107, the middle first filter storage chamber 110, and the upper second filter storage chamber 113. It is divided into An electric igniter 104 that operates by receiving an electric current from a collision sensor 132 in the central portion 22 and a transfer charge 5 that is in contact with the electric igniter 104 constitute an ignition means. In the ring-shaped space 23, the gas generating agent 8 is stored in the gas generating agent storage chamber 107, the first filter 111 is stored in the first filter storage chamber 110, and the second filter 114 is stored in the second filter storage chamber 113. , Each is stored. Gas holes 106a, 109a, 131a, and 115a are provided in the inner wall 106, the partition walls 109 and 131, and the outer wall 115, respectively.

Next, the operation of the above-described gas generator 130 will be described. The hot air of the transfer charge 5 ignited by the electric ignition device 104 flows into the gas generating agent storage chamber 107 through the gas holes 106a. The hot air causes the gas generating agent 8 to chemically react and gasify. This gas flow passes through the gas holes 109a and passes through the first filter 111 of the first filter storage chamber 110 to be cooled. Further, the gas reaches the second filter chamber 113 through the gas holes 131a, slag is removed by the second filter 114, and is ejected from the gas holes 115a into an airbag (not shown).

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the gas generator 130 of FIG. 4 described above, since the gas generating agent storage portion is arranged from the inner wall 106 to the outer wall 115, the storage amount of the gas generating agent 8 can be increased. Insufficient in terms. That is, since the partition walls 109 and 131 are supported only by the inner wall portion 106 and the outer wall 115 at the inner diameter portion and the outer diameter portion, it is necessary to make the partition walls 109 and 131 thick in order to have a structure that can withstand the generated gas pressure. However, there is a problem that there is a limit in increasing the storage amount of the gas generating agent 8. Further, since the gas generator is divided into three chambers in the axial direction, there is a limit to the size of the gas hole 115a to the airbag, and the flow rate of the gas flowing out to the outside is limited by design. There is also a problem that the storage amount of the gas generating agent 8 is restricted because it is necessary to keep the gas pressure below a certain level. Therefore, there is a limit to reduction in size and weight due to these problems.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the conventional technology, and an object thereof is to enhance the storage efficiency of the gas generating agent and to reduce the size and weight of the gas generating agent. To provide a container.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problems, a gas generator according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical container having a ring-shaped space formed therein, and a gas generating agent on the lower side of a partition extending radially in the ring-shaped space. In the gas generator which is divided into a storage chamber and an upper filter storage chamber, a support member is provided which extends from the partition wall so as to divide the filter storage chamber inward and outward in the radial direction and reaches the upper surface of the ring-shaped space. To do.

[0009]

[Action]

 By providing the support member in the middle of the partition wall, the strength of the partition wall in the upward direction is increased, and thus the partition wall can be thinned. Further, since the support member also serves as a partition wall and divides the filter storage chamber in the radial direction, the gas hole to the airbag can be enlarged.

[0010]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the gas generator of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a gas generator 40 has a cylindrical container 1 in appearance, and includes an upper container 2 and a lower container 3. The upper container 2 is a hollow cylinder having an outer wall 15 and an inner wall 6. The lower container 3 has a lid shape, and both are integrated by pressure welding or welding, and are partitioned by the inner wall 6 into a central portion 22 and a ring-shaped space portion 23. Further, the lower container 3 is formed with a cylindrical portion 3a protruding upward in the central portion 22, and a concave portion 3c is formed below the cylindrical portion 3a. Then, the electric ignition device 4 that operates by receiving a current supply via a collision sensor (not shown) is housed in the recess 3c, and further, the transfer charge 5 is brought into contact with the electric ignition device 4 and located above the central portion 22. It is stored. The electric ignition device 4 and the transfer charge 5 constitute an ignition means. The ring-shaped space portion 23 is divided into a lower gas generation chamber 7 and an upper filter storage chamber by a hollow disk-shaped partition wall 9. Further, the filter accommodating chamber is divided into a first filter chamber 10 and a second filter chamber 13 in the radial direction by a short cylindrical support member 12 provided integrally with the partition wall 9. Here, the support member 12 does not necessarily need to be integrated with the partition wall 9 and may be a separate component. The gas generating chamber 7 stores the gas generating agent 8, the first filter chamber 10 stores the first filter 11, and the second filter chamber 13 stores the second filter 14. Further, the inner wall 6, the partition wall 9, the support member 12, and the outer wall 15 are provided with gas holes 6a, 9a, 12a, 15a, respectively.

Further, by providing the steps 19 and 20 on the inner surface of the container 2 at the portion where the inner diameter portion 16 and the outer shape portion 17 of the partition wall 9 are attached, and by making the upper end portion 18 of the support member 12 abut on the upper surface of the container 2. The force applied by the gas pressure in the gas generation chamber 7 is supported at three points. Further, by providing the step 21 on the upper surface of the container 2 at the portion where the upper end 18 of the support member 12 abuts, the force applied by the gas pressure in the first filter chamber 10 is also supported. In addition, as the supporting method, a method of tapering the mounting portion and the contact portion of the partition wall 9 and the supporting member 12 of the container 2 integrated with each other, or the partition wall 9 and the supporting member 12 integrated with each other may be used. A method of press-fitting into the container 2 or the like can also be used. Further, as described above, when the support member 12 is not integrated with the partition wall 9, a step such as the step 21 may be provided on the upper surface of the partition wall 9 where the lower end of the support member 12 abuts.

Next, the operation of the gas generator 40 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The hot air of the transfer charge 5 ignited by the electric ignition device 4 flows into the gas generation chamber 7 through the gas holes 6a. The hot air causes the gas generating agent 8 to chemically react and gasify. This gas flow passes through the gas holes 9a, passes through the first filter 11 in the first filter chamber 10, and is cooled. Further, the gas reaches the second filter chamber 13 through the gas holes 12a, slag is removed by the second filter 14, and is ejected from the gas holes 15a into an airbag (not shown).

By arranging the gas generating agent storage chamber 7 and the filter storage chambers 10 and 13 in the axial direction, the outer peripheral portion of the ring-shaped space portion 23 of the container 2 is effectively used, and the storage amount of the gas generating agent 8 is increased. It becomes possible to do. Since the support member 12 is provided in the middle of the partition wall 9, the strength of the partition wall 9 in the upward direction is increased, so that the partition wall 9 can be made thin and the dead space can be reduced. Further, since the support member 12 is integrated with the partition wall 9 and also serves as the partition walls of the two filter storage chambers 10 and 13, the conventional two partition walls become one. Furthermore, by dividing the filter storage chamber in the radial direction, the gas holes 15a to the air bag can be made large, and a large amount of gas can flow.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of another partition wall. The difference from FIG. 1 is the shape of the partition wall 35. The partition wall 35 has a shape including a large-diameter circular portion 35a, a conical portion 35b, and a small-diameter circular portion 35c. A short cylindrical support member 36 extends upward from the small diameter circular portion 35c. By changing the shape of the partition wall 35 to have a recess, it is possible to further increase the gas hole 15a and increase the flow rate of gas flowing to the airbag.

[0016]

[Effect of the device]

 Since the gas generator of the present invention is provided with the support member extending from the partition wall so as to divide the filter storage chamber radially inward and outward and reaching the upper surface of the ring-shaped space, the storage amount of the gas generating agent is increased, Moreover, the partition wall can be made thin. Further, since the gas holes to the airbag can be enlarged, the storage amount of the gas generating agent is not constrained by the design due to the flow rate of the gas flowing out to the outside. Therefore, the storage efficiency of the gas generating agent can be increased, and the gas generator can be made smaller and lighter.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a gas generator of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the gas generator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an airbag safety device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional gas generator.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional gas generator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cylindrical Container 7 Gas Generating Agent Storage Room 9 Partition 10 (First) Filter Storage Room 12 Supporting Member 13 (Second) Filter Storage Room 23 Ring Space 40 Gas Generator

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Creator Satoru Osaka 2-11, Iwaya Minami-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Inside Sensor Technology Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A gas which comprises a cylindrical container having a ring-shaped space formed therein, and which divides the ring-shaped space into a lower gas generating agent storage chamber and an upper filter storage chamber by a partition wall extending in the radial direction. The gas generator, wherein the generator is provided with a support member extending from the partition wall so as to divide the filter storage chamber inward and outward in the radial direction and reaching the upper surface of the ring-shaped space.