KR0136841B1 - Inflatable restraint system reaction canister - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reaction canister body portion having an integrated inflator chamber, and an inflatable protection system using a reaction canister assembly having such body portion is provided.

Description

Reaction canister and reaction canister body

1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the reaction canister and the diffusion engine for an airbag module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a single piece diffuser with a top and bottom panel of the integrally formed reaction canister and a continuous perimeter.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the order in which the reaction canister shown in FIG. 1 is assembled from outside the reaction canister of the expander in the diffusion engine.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the diffuser and expander showing the jets of the off-gas jetting from the diffuser slot are deflected.

5 is a partial detail view of a method of attaching an airbag to a reaction canister.

6 is a cross-sectional view of a reaction canister body having an inflator chamber integrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an airbag module with a reaction canister body having an inflator chamber in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled airbag module assembly of FIG. 7 showing the receipt of (a) a thermally conductive material in the cooling cavity and (b) a protective cover around the outer periphery of the reaction cylinder airbag retaining cavity.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

10: airbag module, 14: reaction canister,

16: air bag, 20: diffuser,

100: reaction canister body portion, 106: inflator chamber,

110,112: side walls, 114,115: opposite ends,

170: end seal attachment, 180: fastener

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an inflatable passive suppression device used in a vehicle to suppress movement of an occupant in a seat during a collision. According to one feature of the invention, in particular, it relates to an improvement in the design of the airbag module used in the suppression device for minimizing damage to the instrument panel of the vehicle due to deformation of the module and deployment of the airbag. Such an improvement lies in the improvement of the internal structure for (a) receiving and placing the inflator and the airbag in place with respect to the module, and (b) directing the flow or injection direction of the inflation gas such that the deployment of the airbag is optimal.

In another aspect, the invention in particular relates to an improvement in the structure used in systems for embedding gas generating materials and inflatable airbags to further reduce the weight of the assembly and allow various design features to be combined more effectively and economically therein. .

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of reference only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms forward and backward refer to the normal front and rear of the vehicle's driving direction with the passive restraint module of the occupant attached. Thrust neutral The term thrust neutral refers to thrust caused by an inflator with a thrust of zero [zero] when the inflator begins to be operated accidentally, such as during deployment of the inflator or during shipment, storage or handling of the inflator. In other words, the gas outlets in the inflator are arranged in such a way that there is no coalescing that encourages physical movement of the inflator by discharging the gas in the opposite direction. Therefore, the inflator will generally consume the energy generated by it in place. Prior art status is indicated by the following United States patents.

Patent Number Issue Date Patent Holder

3,414,292 Dec. 3, 1968 S. oldberg et al.

3,715,131 February 6, 1973 E. K. Hurley et al.

3,880,447 April 29, 1975 W. F. Thorn et al.

4,332,398 June 1, 1982 G. R. Smith

4,817,828 April 4, 1989 G. W. Goetz

4,832,300 June 27, 1989 J. F. Zionmek et al.

4,941,678 July 17, 1990 D. R. Lauritzen et al.

The patent granted to Oldberg et al. Discloses a vehicle occupant restraining device, characterized in that it consists of a collapsible expandable impact bag that is closely enclosed by a long cylindrical diffuser member secured by a clamp. The diffuser member defines a chamber in which the fluid reservoir is located concentrically within the inner container.

The inner container is seam welded to the diffuser member at its opposite end to provide strong airtightness. In operation of the explosive means, the fluid from the reservoir flows backward from one side of the expander with respect to the adjacent inner wall of the diffuser member. The fluid is divided and discharged forward with respect to the fixed shield member formed through a row of longitudinally spaced openings on one side of the diffuser member. The shield member divides the fluid and directs it back into the inflatable bag.

In the manufacture and assembly of intumescent devices for protecting vehicle occupants, there is a potential for very high risk. Inadvertent operation of the inflator during transport, storage and installation in safety devices will result in human damage and property damage, especially if the inflator is not thrust neutral. Therefore, to minimize the possibility of human and property damage, it is desirable to reduce the degree of manipulation that the inflator receives during the manufacture and assembly of this safety device. Installing an inflator as the final step in the assembly of the device will essentially reduce the risk of damage and damage. Using thrust neutral inflators will further reduce the risk of such damage and damage.

In the structure of the oldberg safety device, it is not possible to install an inflator as the final stage of assembly of the device. Specifically, the expander, i.e., the end of the inner container is welded to the diffuser member, so that the expandable bag is installed while closely surrounding the diffuser member. Furthermore, since the fluid flowing out of the fluid reservoir flows from one side of the expander and one side of the diffuser member, the expander alone as well as the expander and diffuser member as a unit are not thrust neutral.

A patent issued to Hurley et al. Discloses a collapsible inflatable bag that surrounds a gas generator having a cylindrical head assembly composed of a closed end and an open front end closed by a sealing plate. Normally, an orifice sealed by the rupture disk is formed at the center of the closure plate. A diffuser having a dish head-shaped end surrounds the cylindrical portion of the head assembly and is disposed concentrically so that an annular cavity for gas release is formed, which results in pressure in the head assembly exceeding the burst pressure of the disk. In response, the generated gas flows out of an orifice formed in the sealing plate at the rear end of the gas generator and enters the inner wall at the end of the diffuser. Thus, gas is dispersed into the annular cavity and out of the plurality of openings disposed around the diffuser wall. Since the generated gas flows out of the rear end of the gas generator, its action is not thrust neutral. The structure of the Hurley device also does not allow the installation of a gas generator as a final step in the assembly of the device.

The patent to Thorn et al. Discloses a collapsible inflatable bag positioned in intimate contact with a long cylindrical gas generator. The gas generator is formed by forming a row of gas discharge ports extending 360 ° along the cylinder circumference. The gas is thrust neutral because the gas is discharged in the opposite direction to generate a reverse thrust. The gas diverter plates, having the shape of a half of the cylindrical vessel, are spaced apart around a portion of the gas generator facing forward. The plate redirects the expanding gas discharged forwards backwards into the expandable bag. The diverted gas, with the gas discharged directly into the inflatable bag, normally develops the folded bag in an expanded state. When the bag is in the storage position, it is located very close to or in contact with the rear half side of the gas generator. This makes it impossible to install a gas generator as a final step in the assembly of the device.

The patent granted to Smith discloses an expandable suppressor comprising a collapsible inflatable cushion, a concentric long elongated cylindrical expander-diffuser combination, and a horizontally oriented elongated nozzle. The inflator and the diffuser are located in the area of the collapsible cushion and are connected in one unit to the side wall of the housing by bolting means extending into the tapped boss, which boss is rigid with the combined unit. As a result, neither the combined unit nor the expander can be installed as a final step in the assembly of the device.

In Goetz's patent, a long cylindrical inflator and a collapsible airbag are mounted on a rigid reaction canister fixed to the instrument panel of the vehicle, in which the initial flow of gas generated during operation is directly driven backward by the inflator to inflate the bag. The arrangement and orientation of the gas outlet openings or exhaust ports of the inflator is made to face. Excess gas flows forward from the expander into the surrounding atmosphere. This result is achieved by using a rupturable thin film layer that seals both the forward and backward inflator discharge ports, with the rupture of the back port occurring at a preselected pressure lower than the rupture pressure of the forward port. Therefore, the inflator is not thrust neutral and the inflator cannot be installed as a final step in the assembly of the device because the reaction canister of the collapsible airbag is located very close to the inflator.

As disclosed in the patent granted to Goetz and the patents of the prior art described above, it is an installation method known in the art to have a container incorporating an airbag and an inflator. The vessel generally means a reaction canister and is provided as an intermediate for installing or maintaining the module on the instrument panel using suitable brackets.

The reaction canister is provided to protect the inflator, diffuser (optionally used), and the airbag until deployment of the bag. In addition, this reaction canister absorbs typically very large loads that occur during deployment of the bag. If sufficient absorption is not achieved, such loads cause serious damage to the interior of the vehicle, in particular the instrument cluster.

A disadvantage of using reactive canisters in the occupant protection airbag module is the cover of the instrument cluster, which is assigned for installation of the module. There is usually a limit on the height, which made the upper and lower panels deeper and longer to accommodate the volume of the folded airbag. The bag is then limited to spread and must move back farther than the desired distance before unfolding. Due to the large amount of gas generated and the distance required to move the bag before it is deployed, a pressure is created in the reaction canister to inflate the canister to inflate the bag. This condition, known as bell mouthing, severely damages the instrument cluster, and is not suitable especially for low speed collisions where other damage to the vehicle is low.

The patents issued to Zionmek et al. And Laurizen et al. Disclose the use of restraint bands that resist diffusion forces on the reaction canisters, so that bell louding does not occur when the airbag is deployed. This technology allows the use of lightweight and inexpensive reaction canisters. However, the structure introduces undesirable complexity in the fabrication and assembly steps, and furthermore the installation of the inflator cannot be carried out as a final step in the assembly of the module.

Therefore, in general, airbag assemblies of the prior art provide (1) a cushion or airbag inflated with gas in situations such as when the vehicle faces sudden deceleration, and (2) a gas used to inflate the airbag in operation. Three basic elements: an inflator that serves, and (3) a reaction canister that functions to structurally receive and support the inflator and the airbag, providing a direction for the product gas from the inflator and a mounting base for installing the assembly in the vehicle. Contains the configuration.

In general, because of the relatively high pressure generated in conventional inflators (ie, the pyrotechnic inflator produces a pressure of about 1500-3000 psi), the walls of the inflators are made of relatively thick material to provide additional strength. Is produced by. However, as described above, in conventional airbag module assemblies, the inflator is housed in a walled reaction canister. The use of the thick walled inflator housed in the walled reaction housing results in an assembly of heavier weight than is optimally required.

In addition, since the reaction canisters are fabricated using molded and / or welded steel, such fabrication techniques can economically and effectively embed various predetermined fixtures such as various mountings or attachments (especially automotive intumescent design applications). I can't let you. In addition, as the issue of weight reduction in automobiles increases, there is a need for a lighter intumescent suppression device. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved reaction canister for use in an occupant airbag module of a vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reaction canister that includes an integrally formed diffuser that receives the inflator and the inflatable bag in place and directs the gas injection generated by the inflator to inflate the bag.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reaction canister in which the diffuser in the reaction canister is a single piece diffuser consisting of a continuous outer periphery.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a reaction canister which allows the installation of the expander at the end of assembly by arranging the reaction canister so as to install the expander from the outside of the reaction canister.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reaction canister that has the advantage of directing deflectable gas injection for optimal bag deployment and at the same time employs a thrust neutral expander for safety.

In achieving these and other objects of the present invention, one feature of the present invention is to provide a reaction canister which is integrally assembled with a diffusion engine having a continuous outer periphery. This type of diffuser provides a powerful means of attachment to the diffuser, which provides an indication of the diffuser and the containment of gases generated by combustion at lower gas pressures, and a method of directing the gas for improved bag deployment. To provide.

Other advantages of using a diffuser tube integrally formed with the reaction canister include a simple method of sealing the gas generator or inflator so that it does not leak into the occupant compartment, and because the inflator can be installed more simply from the outside of the reaction canister, the end of assembly. The inflator can be installed at the stage. While having the advantage of directing deflectable gas injection for optimal bag deployment, a safety thrust neutral inflator can also be used. Another advantage of the diffuser is that the depth of the unsupported upper and lower panels can be reduced, thereby reducing the tendency of the bell mouthing of the reaction canister.

The diffuser can take the majority of the stresses generated by the gas pressure as tensile stresses as circumferential stress units.

The reaction canister provides the vehicle with an attachment of the bracket or associated therewith for installation on the instrument panel of the vehicle. The reaction canister also provides a secure and reliable attachment for the inflatable bag. The inflator is securely installed in the reaction canister. This installation is one of the unique features of the present invention. The inflator used has a long cylindrical shape and also has a gas outlet or exhaust port structure that provides inflator thrust neutrality.

According to one feature of the invention, the exhaust port arrangement of the inflator of the invention is important in contrast to the structure disclosed in the patent issued to Thorn et al., In which the heat of the gas outlet or exhaust port does not extend 360 ° around the cylindrical inflator. There is also a significant difference. Instead, several rows of exhaust ports arranged in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the inflator are formed on each side of the inflator, with each row on one side spaced 180 ° from the rows on the other side.

In order to be able to use the generated gas jet in the direction of deployment of the expandable bag while maintaining thrust neutral safety for the gas generator, the diffuser was also integrated as an integral part of the reaction canister. This diffuser engine effectively becomes a low pressure vessel with holes or slots for direction control of gas jet streams.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a single piece diffuser with a continuous outer circumference is provided to direct the initial half to accommodate canister pressure and to direct the gas flow through the out of the inflatable bag. Problems and derived advantages addressed by using a diffuser with a continuous outer periphery used in accordance with the present invention are as follows.

1. Providing the body structure of the reaction canister to reduce the tendency of bell mounding by reducing the reaction area of the reaction canister.

2. Blockade of gas flows entering the same surface, reducing bell louding.

3. Providing a barrier between the visor and the inflatable bag to reduce the tendency of the bag to be damaged by heat and to eliminate bag and inflator interference when installing the inflator.

4. Allow safety using thrust neutral expanders, while maintaining the advantage of directing flow for bag deployment without hot gas entering the bag directly from the inflator.

Diffusers with continuous periphery can be made of aluminum and iron and combinations thereof. Similar shapes can be produced from extruded aluminum. A limitation when using extruded aluminum is that its shape must be continuous over the entire length. In practice, the upper and lower chute panels should be continuous with either the half of the diffuser or the half of the cap. Configurations perpendicular to the surface of the part should also be manufactured as secondary processing such as drilling, milling and punching.

All of the above structures can be replicated with extruded aluminum or magnesium, and in some cases can be cast with this same metal. Extrusion has some limitations, one of which half of the diffuser must be included in the upper and lower panels of the chute. The cap half is an inevitable half for this inclusion, leaving a smaller half of the diffuser for secondary processing and / or application of other materials.

It is an object of another feature of the present invention to provide an improved structure for use in receiving and positioning an inflatable airbag in an inflatable passive suppression device and for use in receiving a gas generating material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reaction canister having an integral chamber for accommodating a gas generating material.

A more particular object of this feature of the present invention is to solve one or more of the problems described above.

The object of this feature of the invention can be achieved, at least in part, through a specifically shaped or shaped body part for the reaction canister of the inflatable passive suppression device. The body portion is molded by extrusion and has the shape of a trough. The body portion includes an integrated inflator chamber having gas outlets formed along at least one side and first and second opposing sidewalls. The head unit has first and second opposing ends, and each of the opposing ends is provided with a plurality of end sealables.

Prior art airbag module assemblies generally comprise a thick walled inflator housed within a walled reaction canister, which undesirably increases the weight of the assembly. Moreover, the fabrication of reaction canisters using conventional machining operations does not economically and effectively embed various desired fixtures, such as various mountings or attachments (especially automotive intumescent design applications).

The present invention also includes a reaction canister for the expansion suppression device. The reaction canister includes an integral inflator chamber having a specifically shaped or shaped body portion having first and second opposing sidewalls and a gas outlet formed along at least one side of the chamber. The body portion also includes first and second opposing ends, each of which has a plurality of end seal attachments. The reaction canister also includes first and second end seals attached to each associated opposite end of the body portion by means cooperatively located with each end seal attachment. Each end seal also includes an inflator chamber base portion positioned to receive an associated one of the ends of the integrally formed inflator chamber of the body portion.

The present invention includes a reaction canister for an inflatable passive suppression device having a trough-shaped body portion extruded from aluminum, an airbag retainer / diffuser attached to the reaction canister body portion, and first and second end seals. The body portion includes an integrated inflator chamber having gas outlets formed along at least one side and first and second opposing sidewalls. The body portion also includes at least one integral mount of an external type for mounting the reaction canister body portion to the vehicle. The body portion has first and second opposing ends, each of which is provided with a plurality of end seal attachments. In addition, at least one of the sidewalls is continuously molded with an integrally formed filing chamber through sidewall connections forming at least one gas cooling cavity. The sidewall connection includes at least one outlet hole to allow gas evacuation from the reaction canister, and the gas cooling cavity contains a thermally conductive material of aluminum wool to facilitate cooling of the exhaust gas. The reaction canister body portion further includes at least one attachment sleeve suitable for attaching the airbag retainer / diffuser to the reaction canister body portion. The airbag retainer / diffuser is attached to the reaction canister body by insertion means located in cooperation with the attachment sleeve. The first and second end seals are attached to each associated opposite end of the body portion by screw means located in cooperative relationship with the respective end seal attachments. Each of the first and second end seals with the inflator chamber base portion is positioned to receive an associated one of the ends of the inflator chamber integral with the body portion, wherein at least one of the end seals is an end plate and an end base. It includes.

As used herein, it can be seen that the term for the side wall or panel portion of the body portion of the reaction canis is generally a relative term, which is relative to the reaction canister when installed in a vehicle.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which is described in conjunction with the appended claims and drawings.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An airbag module 10 designed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 with it mounted on the instrument panel 12 of an automobile. The illustration of the motor vehicle is omitted for the sake of brevity and the instrument panel 12 is shown in dashed lines. Module 10 includes a reaction canister 14 that houses a collapsible airbag 16. A lid 18 for the airbag 16 is provided to prevent debris from falling on and into the reaction canister. Since the method of attaching the cover is not included in the scope of the present invention, the detailed description is omitted.

A single piece diffuser 20 having a long continuous column is formed integrally with the reaction canister 14. An axially spaced expansion gas outlet port or slot 22 is formed in the wall portion of the diffuser engine 20 facing the airbag 16. As will be described in more detail below, the inflator 24 is positioned within the diffuser 20 and is firmly fixed while maintaining a predetermined angle therewith. Brackets 26 and 28 fixed to the outside of the reaction canister 14 are provided to allow the module 10 to be installed on the instrument panel 12. A decorative cover (not shown) may be provided that matches the contour of the surface of the instrument panel. When the module 10 is installed, this decorative cover forms part of the instrument panel surface.

The reaction canister 14 includes an upper panel 30 and a lower panel 32, each panel having first edges 30a, 32a and second edges 30b, 32b. The upper panel 30 and the lower panel 32 and the first end plate 34 and the second end plate 36 connected to the diffuser engine 20 form a cavity 38. A conventional collapsible air bag 16 is embedded in the cavity 38. The lid 18 shown in FIG. 1 is partially cut away to expose the collapsible airbag therein.

2 shows a cross section of a single piece diffuser 20 having a continuous circumference formed integrally with the top panel 30 and bottom panel 32 of the reaction canister 14. In other words, as shown, the diffuser 20, the top panel 30, and the bottom panel 32 are formed in a continuous or single structure. In the present preferred embodiment, this shape can be made of extruded aluminum, by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. Slots 22 formed in half of the diffuser 20 facing the airbag 16 and the upper panel 30 and the lower panel 32 allow the gas generated in the inflator 24 to flow into the airbag 16. It is sized and positioned so that it can be distributed in any way desired. The inflator 24 is elongated cylindrical as shown in FIG. 3 and fixed concentrically with the diffuser 20 between the end plates 34 and 36.

A circular opening 40 is formed in the first end 41 of the second end plate 36 to allow the inflator 24 to be inserted into the diffuser 20 at the final stage during assembly of the module 10. The first end 43 of the first end plate 34 is formed with a smaller opening 42 having a key slot. A flange 44 is also formed on the first end of the inflator 24 as shown, and a threaded key stud 46 is formed on the second end of the inflator. The size of the opening 40 formed in the second end plate 36 is such that the expander 24 can be inserted such that the second end of the expander on which the studs 46 are formed is engaged with the opening 40. Similarly, the size of the key opening 42 formed in the first end plate 34 is such that it can receive the studs 46 deeply. In this arrangement the relative angular position of the inflator 24 and the diffuser engine 20 relative to the common longitudinal axis 48 is defined by the key opening 42 formed in the first end plate 34 and the key stud 46 of the expander. Is determined. The nut 50 on the studs 46 engages and secures the end plates 34 and 36 to the first end 20c and the second end 20d of the diffuser 20, respectively, to diffuse the inflator 24. It serves to maintain in the engine (20).

As shown in FIG. 1, the second end 51 of the end plate 36 adjacent the air bag cover 18 and the second end 53 of the end plate 34 are driven by the drive screws 52 and 54. ) Is firmly attached to the first and second edges of the upper panel 30 and the lower panel 32, respectively. These screws 52 and 54 are fastened into grooves 56 and 58 formed in the respective forwardly located edges of the top panel 30 and the bottom panel 32.

The internal parts of the inflator 24 are not within the scope of the present invention and may be any number of known configurations that are commercially available. As an example and not by way of limitation, such internal components are described in 1990 ,. 1. May include US Pat. No. 4,890,860, issued to Fred E. Schneiter on 2nd, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of longitudinally aligned openings or outlet ports 60 are formed on one side of the inflator 24 parallel to the longitudinal axis 48 and substantially in this manner. Discharge ports 62 are formed on the other side of the inflator which are identical and are longitudinally spaced and axially spaced apart. By keying the opening 42 formed in the first end plate 34 and the studs 46 of the expander, the rows of discharge ports 60 and 62 formed in the expander are formed in the diffuser slot 22. Are arranged while maintaining the angle selected. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, it becomes possible to level the jet flow of the gas ejected from the slot 22. As shown in FIG. The selection of the deflection angle can easily be made, for example, by stamping the key slot formed in the first end plate 34 to be positioned at an appropriate angle with respect to the key stud on the inflator 24 end.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the cavity 38 is associated with the upper panel 30 and the lower panel 32, respectively, to maintain the air bag 16 in the reaction canister 14. A pair of long keyhole shaped slots or grooves 68 and 70 are formed at the front end. On each of the upper and lower sides of the generated gas inlet opening (not shown) of the airbag 16, the fabric is in the form of a loop, in particular the upper ring 64 and the lower ring (as shown in FIG. 2). 66) It is sewn in the form. Each of the rings 64 and 66 is inserted into an associated elongated groove 68 and 70 formed at the front end of each of the upper and lower panels 30 and 32. It is necessary to compress the rings 64, 66, as shown in FIG. 5, so that such insertion is facilitated through a narrow inlet formed in each of the grooves 68 and 70. Attaching the air bags to the reaction canister 14 and the diffusion engine 20 by retaining the rings 64 and 66 in the grooves 68 and 70 is performed on the rods 64 and 66 respectively. By inserting 70 and 74, the rod is effectively made by passing through the respective associated grooves 68, 70 corresponding thereto. The rods 72 and 74 can be firmly fastened in any suitable way with their fully inserted. Therefore, the improvement in the assembly of the reaction canister according to the present invention is as follows. (a) installation of the expander can be made as a final assembly step by making it easier to install the expander from outside the reaction canister; (b) the inflation gas generated in the inflator can be sealed off at low pressure; (c) can effectively seal the inflator to prevent gas from leaking into the occupant compartment; And (d) the use of a safety thrust neutral inflator with the advantage of directing the deflectable gas flow for the best bag deployment. Briefly summarized, the advantages and other advantages described above include a diffuser tube integrally formed with the reaction canister for locating and positioning the inflator and the inflatable bag, and for guiding the direction of inflation gas injection generated in the inflator to inflate the bag. By using a reaction canister comprising a. In one embodiment the diffuser is a single piece diffuser with a continuous outer periphery.

6 through 8 illustrate another feature of the present invention. These figures show the reaction canister body portion 100 (or, more simply, the can body portion) that is extruded, the reaction canister having the general form of a long, narrow, open container. The reaction canister body portion 100 is shown separately in FIG. 6 and shown as part of the airbag module assembly, indicated at 105 in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Reaction canister body portion 100 includes an integrally shaped inflator chamber 106 having an outer surface 107 and an inner surface 108 and is commonly included in inflators designed and used in an airbag module assembly. Like inflator chambers, it may serve to contain gaseous material associated with the flame inflators (shown in FIG. 7), such as gaseous generator pack 109 (pack).

An inflator chamber in the form of a tube having a circular cross section as shown by inflator chamber 106 would be generally the most suitable structure for use in such applications where the chamber must withstand pressure operations. However, it will be appreciated that other shapes of inflator chambers may be used in the practice of the present invention, if desired.

The internal components of the inflator chamber 106 and the components and shapes of the gas generating material embedded therein are not within the scope of the present invention and may be any number of known structures / compositions commercially available. As noted above, the internal elements may include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,890,860 to F.E. Schneiter, dated January 2, 1990.

6 to 8, the reaction canister body portion 100 is formed with the first and second opposing side walls or panels, i.e., the top side wall 110 and the bottom side wall 112. As shown in FIG. And first and second opposing ends 114 and 115. For example, the sidewalls may be formed directly in series with the inflator assembly 106 integrally, or may be formed together continuously through the sidewall connections 116, 118, as shown.

Side walls 110 and 112 may each be spaced apart to form an airbag retaining cavity 120 therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in the figures, the spaced apart sidewalls are generally parallel to each other, ensuring a more uniformly shaped airbag retaining cavity, thereby protruding the reaction canister body portion thereby. Reduces the possibility of unwanted capture or trapping by faces or edges. However, it should be understood that the sidewalls may be positioned at an angle to each other as may be required in a particular application to accommodate the reaction canister within the instrument panel opening of a particular shape.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sidewalls 110 and 112 are shown to be of different lengths, where the bottom sidewall 112 is longer than the government sidewall 110. In general, it is known that such shaped reaction canisters can be more conveniently embedded within the instrument panel of most common vehicles. However, the present invention is not limited to use in connection with such relative lengths of reaction canister sidewalls. That is, the present invention can be similarly used in connection with the reaction canister body part having the side wall of similar length, as well as the reaction canister body part whose length of the government side wall is larger than the length of the bottom side wall.

As shown in FIG. 7, the inflator chamber 106 includes a gas outlet or port 126 along its side 130. By such a gas outlet, as shown more easily in FIGS. 7 and 8, the gas generated in the inflator chamber can be discharged from the chamber and directed for inflation of the airbag 134. One or more flow directing devices may be embedded in the reaction canister assembly to form or produce a more uniform or ordered distribution of gas into the inflation airbag to help achieve a more uniform or ordered deployment of the inflation airbag. For example, the flow directing device may take the form of a gas port passage or baffle having a particular size, shape and / or arrangement.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flow directing device may take the form of an airbag retainer / diffuser device 140 and include it as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The airbag retainer / diffuser device 140 has a plurality of openings 141 therein to allow gas to pass through it. Opening 141 is positioned and sized to provide for the distribution of the desired gas into airbag 134.

Preferred such devices or systems for use in the practice of the present invention are retainer devices / systems as disclosed in commonly assigned US patent application Ser. No. 07 / 993,280, filed December 18, 1992, wherein the retainer device / system Is also a feature of the diffuser face member as disclosed in US Patent Application No. 07 / 993,277 filed Dec. 18, 1992, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. As disclosed therein, the size, geometry, and arrangement of the gas passage openings may be suitably designed to meet specific application needs, and the present invention is intended for use with a diffuser having a gas passage opening in any particular arrangement. There is no need to be limited. In addition, as disclosed in the patent, in addition to promoting the desired gas diffusion, the diffuser device / system may also (1) facilitate module assembly, (2) maintain proper airbag hold in the assembly. And (3) help to maintain a desired separation of the hot inflator surface from the surface of the airbag as well as from contact by the vehicle occupant. For example, as compared to maintaining the airbag in the assembly, the means for holding the airbag have the advantage of avoiding or minimizing the need for conventional fastner devices such as, for example, screws or rivets.

In addition, a diffuser device / system, such as diffuser 140, serves to facilitate control of the bell mouthing of the reaction canister, thereby maintaining the integrity of the reaction canister.

Finally, the reaction canister body portion 100 includes an attachment sleeve 142 integrally formed as part of the sidewalls 110 and 112. As will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 and disclosed in US patent application Ser. No. 07 / 993,280, the attachment sleeve enables fastenerless attachment of the airbag in an inflatable safety system. However, in the broadest sense the practice of the invention is not limited to use with such attachment sleeves, and if necessary, fastener devices such as screws or rivets may be used as disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent Application No. 07 / 993,277. Inclusions can be used as another type of airbag retainer / diffuser attachment. In addition, if desired, the present invention may be practiced through the use of cushion retainers as disclosed in the above-mentioned US patent application Ser. No. 07 / 993,280, which device minimizes or preferably utilizes fasteners such as screws or rivets. Avoids and maintains airbags (ie cushions) in the assembly, but in this case it is not necessary to incorporate diffuser features therein. If desired, the present invention can also be practiced using conventional forms of airbag attachments, such as the use of fasteners such as screws and / or rivets, without using the aforementioned diffuser fixtures.

As is known in the art, the airbag of the intumescent suppression system may include one or more outlet holes (not shown) therein, such that gases generated through the gaseous material contained within the inflator chamber 106 are preferably It can also be discharged out of the airbag. Such airbag exit holes are preferably immediately after a collision (ie, it is desirable to soften the airbag upon contact with the vehicle occupant to obtain a greater cushioning effect and to reduce the extent to which the vehicle occupant bounces upon contact) and subsequently (ie It is preferable to facilitate the occupant escaping from the vehicle after the deployment.) It is possible to promote the gas discharge after the deployment of the airbag.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8, the airbag 134 has an outer peripheral edge 143 of a predetermined thickness. The predetermined thickness portion of the airbag is disclosed in the above United States patent applications (ie, 07 / 993,277 and 07 / 993,280) and, as shown, takes the form of a tufted loop 144 of airbag material at the edge of the gas inlet opening of the airbag. And a bead material 145 selected therein to ensure more secure engagement of the airbag 134 into the assembly 105. The airbag retainer / diffuser device 140 includes a channel 146, wherein a peripheral edge of a predetermined thickness of the airbag is inserted into the channel in cooperative relationship with the attachment sleeve and is described in detail in the aforementioned patent application and shown. And fixed to form an airbag / diffuser subassembly for coupling to the reaction canister body.

As disclosed in the above-mentioned patent application (07 / 993,277), the bead material can be suitably fabricated from a wide range of materials, such as metals or preferably plastics (particularly extruded thermoplastic materials). And may take various shapes or forms to meet the needs of a particular application.

To help achieve the desired airbag gas discharge, the illustrated reaction canister body portion 100 includes canister discharge holes 149 (FIG. 8) around the sidewall connections 116, 118, respectively. The canister discharge holes allow for rear airbag gas discharge, thereby minimizing the possibility of contact between the exhausted gas and the vehicle occupant with the gas discharged rearward from the canister. In addition, such canister discharge holes may stabilize the escape pressure from the airbag retaining cavity into the interior of the vehicle (ie, the initially deployed airbag escapes under the escape pressure through the cover layer of the assembly).

In the illustrated embodiment, the reaction canister body portion 100 forms a gas cooling cavity 150 through which the discharged gases can be appropriately cooled. As shown in FIG. 8, a thermally conductive material 151 may be located in the cooling cavity 150 to assist in cooling (ie, removing heat) of the gas discharged from the airbag. The thermally conductive material preferably has a large surface and can absorb large amounts of heat while allowing the released gas to pass through the material. The thermally conductive material so located serves to retain the generated heat in the confinement of the reaction canister to keep it away from the vehicle occupant. For example, such thermally conductive materials may take the form of metallic wool, or metal wool, more preferably aluminum wool, which has the advantages of relatively large thermal conductivity and light weight.

As shown more clearly in connection with FIG. 8, the body portion includes a protective lid retainer 152 shown in the form of a slot at each outermost portion of the sidewalls 110, 112. As shown in FIG. A protective cover 154 of fiber reinforced paper is a portion of the airbag module assembly 105 in the form of a wrap connected to the reaction canister body portion 100 around the airbag 134 in the airbag retaining cavity 120 of the assembly. It may be included as. Such protective cover 154 may be secured to the reaction canister body portion 100 by an elastic band or other selected bead material 158 located about the outer edge 160 of the 154, wherein the ratio The id material is secured in the protective cover retaining slot 152. Such protective covers serve to protect the airbags from damage caused by accidental or other unwanted contact with other elements of the intumescent suppression system as well as foreign elements in the environment to which the airbags may be exposed. In addition, such a protective cover serves to protect the reaction canister assembly from debris.

In practice, the protective cover is preferably made of a wear resistant material that can be ruptured at a predetermined position with the aid of perforations therein, while having conventional tear resistance. For example, such protective covers may be made of fiber reinforced paper sold under the trade name TYVEK by E.I. Du Pont de Nemours Co. However, it will be appreciated that other suitable materials having certain desirable properties or properties may be used.

The reaction canister body portion 100 also includes a plurality of end seal attachments 164. Such an attachment may take a hollow form, or since the body portion is preferably made by extrusion, such an attachment may take the form or groove of the shape mentioned in the extrusion art as a screw slot. However, the attachment and its form are not limited to the use of screw fasteners.

As shown, the attachment 164 follows the sidewalls 110, 112, and also the body portion 100 around the inflator chamber 106 (preferably around its outer surface 107). Spaced around the outer periphery, ensuring attachment of the end seal 170 (FIG. 7) to the reaction canister body portion 100 at least at each of the opposing ends 114, 115. As shown in FIG. Generally, the end seal 170 retains the cross-sectional shape of the reaction canister body portion 100.

In the airbag module assembly of the present invention, the end seal can take the form of an end plate with an integral inflator base as shown in FIG. 7 as a preferred form, or end plate 174 (174A and 174B, respectively). ) And the end base 178 (represented by 178A and 178B, respectively). As will be described in more detail, a fastener 180 (ie, a swaging screw fastener) made of suitable hard steel and usable under pressure application may be used to secure the end seal in the assembly. Also in a preferred embodiment according to the invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, at least some fasteners are adapted to simultaneously secure the end plate and the end base in order to reduce and simplify the number of parts required in the assembly. Can be used for Therefore, the fastener 180A is used to fix the end plate and the end base at the same time, while the fastener 180B is used to fix only the end plate.

In such design fabrication, the end plate 174 primarily serves to seal the end of the airbag retaining cavity formed by the reaction canister body portion 100, while the end base 178 is primarily the reaction canister body of the present invention. It serves to seal the ends of the unitary inflator chamber 106 formed in the part 100. The end base 178 serves to seal the end of the unitary inflator chamber 106 during assembly. End base 178 includes a mating surface 181 that mates with integral inflator chamber 106 during assembly. That is, the mating surface 181 suitably receives one of the ends of the unitary inflator chamber 106 to provide a seal to the chamber 106. In such an assembly, the end base is preferably made of a thicker and stronger material than that used in the end plate, since the end seals in the inflator chamber are more prone to pressure than the end seals of the airbag retaining cavity. Similarly, the attachment used to secure the end base to the assembly must be able to withstand much greater pressure. Finally, in the illustrated embodiment, four screw slots that are relatively evenly spaced about the outer surface 107 of the end seal attachment (ie, inflator chamber 106) used to attach the end base to the reaction canister body portion. The end seal attachment 164A in its form and the fasteners used to engage them (i.e., the fasteners 180A) are both large diameters, and the fasteners have an end seal attachment and a fastener (i.e., a reaction canister body portion (i.e. It has a longer length than attachment 164B and fastener 180B, which are used only to secure end plate 174 to 100).

The system and method of end seal attachment is relatively inexpensive, but nevertheless is a reliable system and method for attaching the end seal of the assembly to the reaction canister body portion of the present invention.

As will be appreciated, the number and location of the attachments can be changed as appropriate to meet the needs of a particular application. However, the present invention is not limited to using the end sealing or attaching means, but the inertia and M.I.G. Other forms of sealing and attachment means, including swaging and welding processes such as welding, may be used as needed.

The reaction canister body portion 100 may include one or more mounting portions 184. Such a mounting may be external for mounting the reaction canister body in the selected vehicle, and may be an internal or semi-internal type for mounting components in or in the reaction canister body. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, external mounts, such as mounting bracket 184A, may be properly positioned, oriented, shaped, and sized as desired to achieve the desired result. In addition, an internal or semi-internal mounting, such as mounting bracket 184B, may be extruded as part of the sidewall (ie, sidewall 112). Such mounting brackets 184B may be used to form shielding cavities or recesses 190 that are useful for spaced apart airbags from the retaining nuts or other elements (not shown) used in the reaction canister assembly.

Body portion 100 is preferably made by continuous extrusion of an extrudable material, such as magnesium (or preferably aluminum), which material is resistant to high temperatures and susceptibility when the body portion is used in an expansion suppression system. Can withstand pressure Such extrusion fabrication of the body makes it possible and easy to design with various design features and / or properties as needed. As mentioned above, the design features / properties may include, for example, one or more of the following as needed, i.e. diffuser and / or airbag retainer attachments, discharge holes to facilitate certain gas discharges, certain Cooling cavities to enable gas cooling of the assembly, protective cover retainers to facilitate maintenance of the protective covers to the assembly, and end to simplify attachment of end seals such as end plates or end plates / end base assemblies to the reaction canister. Sealing attachments, and mountings (external for mounting the reaction canister body in a selected vehicle and internal or semi-inner for mounting components therein or in the reaction canister body).

In addition, as the main body portion is produced by extrusion molding, it is possible to rapidly manufacture the body with the added advantage that the extrudate can be cut into various lengths to be embedded in an assembly having various sizes. The end seal, ie, the end plate and / or the combination of the end plate and the end base, helps to maintain the shape of the body portion 100. In practice, such end seals may be made of the same material as the reaction canister body portion (ie, aluminum) and may be pressed, machined or extruded as desired.

The force that the reaction canister typically receives during airbag deployment is such that the reaction canister is relatively rigid in order to resist the force that may cause unwanted bell loudsing of the reaction canister and damage the surrounding instrument panel structure. desirable. In practice, the reaction canister body portion that incorporates one or more of the features described above will have increased rigidity due to the shape or configuration that is added to embed the features therein. However, if additional stiffness is required, the assembly and its parts may be added by adding some rigid ridge or flange (not shown) as part of the reaction canister body or as part added by means such as welding. Such stiffness can be provided.

In general, the reaction canister body portion of the present invention will preferably be formed from one material, and the wall forming the inflator chamber is thicker than the average value of the wall portion of the part, ie the thickness of the wall 192 is the side wall 110. It would be desirable to exceed the thickness of the bottom sidewall 112. The thicker wall portion is more suitable for accommodating a relatively high gas generator pressure (ie 1500-3000 psi) that is believed to be generated therein as a conventional flameless gas generator material.

Swaging screws are a form of fasteners that have been found to be patent useful in the practice of the present invention. Swaging screw fasteners generally thread into inserts into fastener holes or other attachments upon insertion (the swaging process produces a torgue of over 80% of the screw setting torgue). Such thread formation generally occurs as a result of displacement or stretching of the material into which the fastener is inserted (typically metal), which is generally removed as it occurs when using conventional threaded screw fasteners. The opposite is true. In addition, because fasteners are used in conjunction with components of the vehicle's intumescent suppression system, the use of a threaded screw fastener can result in the formation of fine metal fillers that are undesirable and not easily removed. As mentioned above, in contrast, such metal fillings are not produced by the swaging screw fasteners. By using a swaged screw fastener, the attachment of the reaction canister body portion of the present invention can be formed by simple extrusion during the manufacturing process, and the swaged screw fastener forms a thread during insertion.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in accordance with the instructions provided herein, other types of fasteners, such as, for example, rivets, bolts, or other screw fasteners, may be used in the practice of the present invention as needed. However, the first consideration in the selection of the fastener and the material of the structure used is that it must be able to operate properly under the pressure that the fastener will be subjected to (for example, a flower expander typically produces a pressure of 1500-3000 psi). It must be.

The provision of a reaction canister body with an integrated inflator chamber simplifies the assembly and fabrication of the corresponding expandable containment module, and furthermore in operation because the arrangement of the gas outlet or port in the inflator chamber is fixed relative to the reaction canister. Great safety is guaranteed. Therefore, the time and effort required during assembly to ensure that the gas outlets are properly oriented, and the possibility of misalignment of the gas outlets are substantially eliminated. The invention described herein may be practiced without the absence of any element, part, step component not specifically described herein. The foregoing detailed description is merely provided for clarity of understanding and is not intended to impose unnecessary limitation therefrom, and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (20)

A trough shaped reaction canister body portion for an inflatable passive restraint device, comprising: a tubular inflator chamber portion having first and second opposing side walls, a gas outlet formed along at least one side thereof, and having a continuous outer circumference, each of the plurality of ends A reaction canister body part having a first piece and a second opposing end having a seal attachment, and having a single piece structure formed by extrusion. The reaction canister body portion according to claim 1, wherein the body portion is manufactured by continuous aluminum extrusion. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sidewalls is formed continuously with the inflator chamber portion through a sidewall connection, wherein the sidewall connection comprises at least one discharge hole to allow gas to escape from the assembly containing the reaction canister body portion. Reaction canister body portion comprising a. The reaction canister body portion according to claim 1, further comprising at least one gas cooling cavity. 5. The reaction canister body portion according to claim 4, wherein said cooling cavity comprises a thermally conductive material. 6. The reaction canister body portion according to claim 5, wherein said thermally conductive material comprises aluminum wool. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one integrally formed attachment slide suitable for attachment to the body portion of at least one device selected from the group consisting of an airbag retainer, a diffuser, and an airbag retainer / diffuser. Reaction canister body part. The reaction canister body portion according to claim 1, further comprising at least one integrally formed mounting portion of an external type for mounting the reaction canister body portion to a vehicle. The reaction canister body portion according to claim 1, further comprising at least one integrally formed mounting portion for forming a shielding cavity in said reaction canister body portion. The reaction canister body part according to claim 1, further comprising at least one integrally formed protective cover holding means. A reaction canister for an inflatable passive suppressor, comprising: first and second opposing sidewalls, a tubular inflator chamber portion having a gas outlet formed along at least one side thereof and having a continuous outer periphery, each having a plurality of end seal attachments; And an extruded trough shaped single body portion having a second opposing end; An inflator chamber base portion attached to each associated opposing end of the body portion by means located in cooperative relationship with each end seal attachment and positioned to receive an associated one of the ends of the inflator chamber portion of the body portion. A reaction canister, comprising first and second end seals each provided. 12. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein at least one of the end seals comprises an end plate and an end base. 12. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein at least one of the end seals comprises an end plate having an integral end base. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein said body portion is fabricated by continuous aluminum extrusion. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sidewalls is formed continuously with the inflator chamber portion through sidewall connections forming at least one gas cooling cavity, wherein the sidewall connections are configured to provide gas from an assembly containing a reaction canister body portion. A reaction canister comprising at least one outlet hole to allow discharge and wherein said cooling cavity comprises a thermally conductive material. The reaction canister of claim 15 wherein the thermally conductive material comprises aluminum wool. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an airbag recliner / diffuser, wherein the body portion further comprises at least one integral attachment slave suitable for attaching the airbag retainer / diffuser to the body portion. Reaction canister characterized by the above-mentioned. 12. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein said body portion further comprises at least one integral mounting portion of an external type for mounting said reaction canister body portion in a vehicle. 12. The reaction canister of claim 11 wherein said body portion further comprises at least one integral mounting portion forming a shielding cavity in said reaction canister body portion. A reaction canister for an inflatable passive restraint device, comprising: a tubular inflator chamber portion having first and second opposing side walls, a gas outlet along at least one side thereof, and having a continuous outer periphery, and a reaction canister body portion in a vehicle; A trough-shaped single body portion having at least one integral mounting portion of an external shape, a first and second opposing ends each having a plurality of end sealing attachments, and an insertion means cooperatively located with the attachment slave An airbag retainer / diffuser attached to the reaction canister by means of a screw means positioned in cooperative relation with the respective end seal attachment, and attached to each associated opposite end of the body portion, the end portion of the inflator chamber of the body portion Inflator chamber base positioned to receive an associated end of the Comprising adding to a first and second end seal having, respectively, and; The body portion is fabricated by continuous aluminum extrusion, at least one of the side walls being continuously formed with the inflator chamber portion through side wall connections forming at least one gas cooling cavity, and the side wall connections of the body portion At least one discharge hole to allow gas to escape from the reaction canister, wherein the gas cooling cavity comprises a thermally conductive material with aluminum wool to facilitate cooling of the discharged gas, and the reaction canister body portion And further comprising at least one attachment slide suitable for attachment to said body portion of an airbag retainer / diffuser, said at least one end seal comprising an end plate and an end base. Canister.