Patent Application
20050230948
The present invention relates to an inflator that provides inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.
It is known to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. One particular type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is an inflatable curtain that inflates from the roof of the vehicle downward inside the passenger compartment between a vehicle occupant and the side structure of the vehicle in the event of a side impact or rollover. A known inflatable curtain is inflated from a deflated condition by inflation fluid directed from an inflator to the inflatable curtain through a fill tube.
Another type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is a front air bag inflatable by inflation fluid directed into the air bag from an inflator. A driver side front air bag is inflated from a stored position in a vehicle steering wheel to a deployed position between an occupant of a front driver side seat and the steering wheel/instrument panel of the vehicle. A passenger side front air bag is inflated from a stored position in the instrument panel to a deployed position between an occupant of a front passenger side seat and the instrument panel.
Another type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is a side impact air bag inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. Side impact air bags may be stored in a variety of locations in the vehicle, such as the side structure, seat, door, or floor of the vehicle. A side impact air bag may be inflated by inflation fluid directed into the air bag from an inflator. Other types of inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices include inflatable seat belts and inflatable knee bolsters.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an inflator that provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device. A conduit delivers the inflation fluid from the inflator to the protection device. The inflator includes an outlet passage and a conduit receiving portion for receiving an end portion of the conduit. The conduit receiving portion includes a wall portion that encircles the outlet passage and is spaced from the end portion of the conduit to help define an annular space between the wall portion and the end portion.
The present invention also relates to an apparatus for providing inflation fluid to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The apparatus includes an inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The inflator includes an outlet passage for discharging inflation fluid from the inflator. The apparatus also includes a conduit having an end portion welded to the inflator and encircling the outlet passage. An inner channel is formed inside the conduit adjacent the end portion of the conduit and encircles the outlet passage.
The present invention also relates to an apparatus for providing inflation fluid to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The apparatus includes an inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The inflator includes an outlet passage for discharging inflation fluid from the inflator. The apparatus also includes a conduit having an end portion welded to the inflator and encircling the outlet passage. An outer channel is formed outside the conduit adjacent the end portion of the conduit and encircles the outlet passage.
The present invention also relates to an apparatus that includes an inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The apparatus also includes a conduit that delivers inflation fluid to the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and a weld for securing the conduit to the inflator. The apparatus further includes means for collecting weld spatter generated during the formation of the weld.
The present invention also relates to an inflator for providing inflation fluid to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device via a conduit. The inflator includes a structure defining a chamber for storing inflation fluid under pressure and a closure member rupturable to release inflation fluid from the chamber. The inflator also includes an end cap connectable with the structure. The end cap is connectable with the conduit via a weld. The end cap includes an annular channel located inside the conduit for collecting weld spatter resulting from the weld.
The present invention further relates to an inflator for providing inflation fluid to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device via a conduit. The inflator includes a structure defining a chamber for storing inflation fluid under pressure and a closure member rupturable to release inflation fluid from the chamber. The inflator also includes an end cap connectable with the structure. The end cap is connectable with the conduit via a weld. The end cap includes an annular channel located outside the conduit for collecting weld spatter resulting from the weld.
The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an inflatable curtain or air bag. Representative of the present invention,
In the embodiment illustrated in
The inflatable curtain 14 is mounted adjacent the side structure 16 of the vehicle 12 and the roof 18 of the vehicle. An inflator 24 is connected in fluid communication with the inflatable curtain 14 through a fill tube 22. The fill tube 22 is of a metal material, such as steel. The fill tube 22 has a first end portion 26 for receiving fluid from the inflator 24. The fill tube 22 has a second end portion 28 disposed in the inflatable curtain 14. The second end portion 28 of the fill tube 22 may extend along the length of the inflatable curtain 14 to help distribute inflation fluid along the length of the curtain.
The vehicle 12 includes a sensor mechanism 30 (shown schematically in
The inflatable curtain 14 inflates under the pressure of the inflation fluid from the inflator 24. The inflatable curtain 14 inflates away from the roof 18 in a downward direction as shown in
The inflator 24 contains a stored quantity of pressurized inflation fluid (not shown) in the form of a gas for inflating the inflatable curtain 14. The inflator 24 alternatively could contain a combination of pressurized inflation fluid and ignitable material for heating the inflation fluid, or could be a pyrotechnic inflator that uses the combustion of gas-generating material to generate inflation fluid. As a further alternative, the inflator 24 could be of any suitable type for supplying a medium for inflating the inflatable curtain 14.
Referring to
The structure 40 includes a container portion 50, a fill cap 70, and an outlet assembly 80. The container portion 50 has a generally cylindrical side wall 52 centered on a longitudinal axis 54. The side wall 52 has a first end portion 56 and an opposite end portion 58. As shown in
The fill cap 70 has a generally cylindrical side wall portion 72 centered on a longitudinal axis 74. The fill cap 70 also includes an end wall portion 76 that spans the open diameter of the side wall portion 72 at an end of the side wall. The fill cap 70 may further include a flange portion 78 that extends from an end of the side wall portion 72 opposite the end wall portion 76 in a direction transverse to and away from the axis 74. The end wall portion 76 includes a fill aperture 82 through which inflation fluid may be directed to fill the chamber 42. A ball stop 84 may be fixed to the end wall portion 76 by means (not shown), such as welding, to block leakage of inflation fluid through the aperture 82 once the chamber 42 is filled.
The outlet assembly 80 includes a base portion 90 and an end cap 170. The base portion 90 has a generally cylindrical side wall 92 centered on a longitudinal axis 94 of the end cap. The end cap 90 also includes an end wall 96 that is centered on the axis 94. The end wall 96 includes a frusto-conical portion 98 and a ring-shaped portion 100, each of which extends transverse to and toward the axis 94. An opening 102 in the end wall 96 extends through the ring-shaped portion 100. As shown in
The outlet assembly 80 also includes a filter assembly 120 supported by the end cap 170. Referring to
The end cap 170 includes a generally cylindrical side wall 172 centered on a longitudinal axis 174. The side wall 172 helps define a cavity 176 in the end cap 170. The end cap 170 also includes an end wall 180 that extends transversely from the side wall 172 toward the axis 174 and helps further to define the cavity 176.
The side wall 172 has an inner surface 182 and an opposite outer surface 184. The side wall 172 also has a terminal end portion 186 opposite the end wall 180. Along the end portion 186 of the side wall 172, the inner surface 182 has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the remainder of the inner surface of the side wall. This forms an annular inner shoulder portion 190 at the end portion 186 of the side wall 172.
Also, along the end portion 186 of the side wall 172, the outer surface 184 has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the outer surface of the side wall closest to the end wall 180. This forms an annular first outer shoulder portion 192 of the end portion 186 of the side wall 172. Farther along the end portion 186 of the side wall 172 in a direction away from the end wall 180, the outer surface 184 has a diameter that is further decreased from the diameter of the outer surface of the side wall adjacent the first outer shoulder 192. This forms an annular second outer shoulder portion 194 and an annular rim portion 196 of the end portion 186 of the side wall 172. The rim portion 196 forms a terminal end of the side wall 172.
The end cap 170 includes a central portion 200 centrally located on the end wall 180 and centered on the axis 174. The central portion 200 includes a side wall 220 having several cylindrical and frusto-conical segments of varying diameters. The side wall 220 defines a central passage 202 that extends through the central portion 200. The side wall 220 also defines an initiator receiving portion 204 of the central portion 200 and a connector receiving portion 206 of the central portion. The initiator receiving portion 204 includes an annular rim portion 208 that forms a terminal end of the central portion 200.
The end cap 170 also includes a conduit receiving portion or outlet portion 300 including an outlet passage 302 that extends through the end wall portion 180. The outlet passage 302 has a first portion 304 centered on an axis 306 and a second portion 310 centered on an axis 312 that is offset from and parallel to the axis 306. The axis 306 and the axis 312 are offset from and extend parallel to the axis 174 of the end cap 170. The outlet passage 302 is defined by a side wall 314 that has several cylindrical and frusto-conical segments of varying diameters.
As best shown in
The outlet portion 300 also includes a cylindrical outer side wall 330 centered on the axis 306. The outer side wall 330 encircles the inner, sleeve 320 and the outlet passage 302 and has an inner surface 332 that is spaced apart from and faces the outer surface 326 of the inner sleeve 320. The outer side wall 330 has an outer surface 334 opposite the inner surface 332 that merges with the outer surface 184 of the end cap 170.
The outlet portion 300 further includes an annular end wall 340 that extends from the outer surface 326 of the inner sleeve 320 to the inner surface 332 of the outer side wall 330. The end wall 340 extends transversely of the axis 306 at an acute angle with the axis 306. As shown in
The inner sleeve 320, outer side wall 330, and end wall 340 help define an annular conduit receiving space or channel 350 of the outlet portion 300. The annular channel 350 encircles the inner sleeve 320 and the outlet passage 302. The annular channel 350 is centered on the axis 306 and extends into the end surface 322 of the end cap 170.
Referring to
The support barrel 240 has a generally cylindrical side wall 242 and a terminal end wall 244. The end wall 244 includes a centrally located opening 246. The side wall 242 has a terminal end portion opposite the end wall 244 with an increased diameter that helps define an annular shoulder portion 248 of the support barrel 240.
In an assembled condition of the outlet assembly 80, the initiator 230 and support barrel 240 are assembled with the central portion 200 of the end cap 170. The initiator 230 is inserted in the initiator receiving portion 204 and the terminals 236 extend through the central passage 202 into the connector receiving portion 206. The body portion 232 of the initiator 230 engages and mates with an inner surface of the initiator receiving portion 204.
The support barrel 240 is placed over the initiator 230 such that the shoulder portion 248 engages and mates with the body portion 232 of the initiator. The squib portion 234 may engage and mate with an inner surface of the side wall 242 and is positioned adjacent or near the opening 246 in the end wall 244.
With the initiator 230 and the support barrel 240 positioned in the central portion 200 of the filter retainer 170, the rim portion 208 is crimped (i.e., bent or deformed) onto the shoulder portion 248. The rim portion 208 clamps the support barrel 240 and the initiator 230 to the central portion 200 and thereby connects the initiator and support barrel to the end cap 170.
The filter assembly 120 is also assembled with the end cap 170. The filter assembly 120 is placed in the cavity 176 of the filter retainer such that the assembly is positioned against the inner shoulder portion 190. The central portion 200 of the end cap 170 and the initiator 230 extend through the aperture 124 of the filter assembly 120.
With the filter assembly 120 seated against the inner shoulder portion 190 of the filter retainer 170, the rim portion 196 is deformed onto the filter assembly 120 to connect the filter assembly to the filter retainer 170. The filter assembly 120 is thus clamped between the rim portion 196 and the inner shoulder portion 190 of the filter retainer 170.
In the assembled condition of the outlet assembly 80, the end cap 170 (
In the assembled condition of the inflator 24 (
The fill tube may be welded directly to the outlet portion 300 of the end cap 170 or may be connected to the outlet portion the via a connector sleeve welded to the outlet portion. Such a connector sleeve would include means (not shown) positioned opposite the outlet portion 300, such as screw threads or a screw fitting, for connecting the fill tube 22 to the connector sleeve. In
Referring to
As the conduit 360 is moved axially into the channel 350 and into engagement with the outlet portion 300, an end portion 364 of the conduit passes over the inner sleeve 320, as shown in
The end portion 364 of the conduit 360 divides the annular channel 350 into an inner annular space or channel 372 and an outer annular space or channel 374. The inner annular channel 372 is defined by the outer surface 326 of the inner sleeve 320, an inner surface 376 of the conduit 360, and the first portion 342 of the end wall 340. The outer annular channel 374 is defined by the inner surface 332 of the outer side wall 330, an outer surface 378 of the conduit 360, and the first and second portions 342 and 344 of the end wall 340.
When the end portion 364 of the conduit 360 is welded to the end wall 340, weld spatter 380 may be produced during formation of the weld 370. This weld “spatter” is a byproduct of the welding process and includes metal particles expelled while forming the weld 370 that do not form a part of the weld. The weld spatter 380 can take the form of small beads that tend to stick to the metal parts, e.g., the conduit 360 or end cap 170, adjacent the weld 370.
As shown in
When the conduit 360 is welded to the end cap 170, the inner and outer annular channels 372 and 374 serve as receptacles for collecting the weld spatter 380. The inner annular channel 372 helps shield the weld spatter 380 from direct exposure to the flow path of inflation fluid as it exits through the outlet passage 302. This helps minimize contact between the weld spatter and the inflation fluid. This flow path is indicated generally by the arrows in
A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
As shown in
The end wall 340a extends from the inner surface 332a of the outer side wall 330a to the outlet passage 302a. The end wall 340a extends transversely of the axis 306a at an acute angle with the axis 306a. The outer side wall 330a and end wall 340a help define an annular conduit receiving space or channel 350a of the outlet portion 300a. The annular channel 350a encircles the outlet passage 302a. The annular channel 350a is centered on the axis 306a and extends into the end surface 322a of the end cap 170a.
As shown in
As the conduit 360a is moved into engagement with the outlet portion 300a, the chamfered terminal end 366a of the conduit 360a eventually engages the angled end wall 340a. The angle of the chamfered terminal end 366a with respect to the axis 306a may be the same or substantially the same as the angle of the end wall 340a with respect to the axis 306a. The chamfered terminal end 366a may thus extend parallel to the end wall 340a and provide a mating engagement with the end wall. This may help guide or urge the conduit 360a to the position centered on the axis 306a, as shown in
The end portion 364a of the conduit 360a helps form an outer annular space or channel 374a. The outer annular channel 374a is defined by the inner surface 332a of the outer side wall 330a, an outer surface 378a of the conduit 360a, and the end wall 340a. When the conduit 360a is welded to the end cap 170a, the outer annular channel 374a serves as a receptacle for collecting the weld spatter 380a. The outer annular channel 374a helps place the weld spatter 380a spaced from the vicinity of the connector receiving portion 206a and thus away from the leads 236a of the initiator 230a. This helps prevent the weld spatter 380a from interfering with electrical contacts made with the leads 236a.
From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. For example, although the illustrated embodiments have been shown and described as having an overall generally cylindrical configuration with generally circular cross-sections, alternative configurations, such as ones having rectangular or polygonal cross-sections, may also be implemented and incorporate the features of the present invention described above. Thus, for example, use herein of the word “annular” is meant to describe a generally circular or cylindrical ring-shaped geometry in reference to the generally cylindrical configurations of the illustrated embodiment. In the alternative configurations, such as the rectangular or polygonal configurations described above, “annular” is meant to describe the corresponding ring-shaped geometry resulting from the alternative configurations.
As another example, although the illustrated embodiment has been described as being used in conjunction with an inflatable curtain, the configuration of the inner and outer annular channels may be applied to inflation fluid sources for other inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices, such as driver side or passenger side air bags, side impact air bags, and inflatable knee bolsters. These and other such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.
