Electrical connection apparatus and method for an airbag inflator
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01R-013/627
H01R-013/62
출원번호
US-0614577
(2003-07-07)
발명자
/ 주소
Barker,Kent
Kida,Jeff
Brisighella,Dario
Parks,Brent
출원인 / 주소
Barker,Kent
Kida,Jeff
Brisighella,Dario
Parks,Brent
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
11인용 특허 :
17
초록▼
An airbag module has an inflator activated via an electrical connector. The inflator includes an initiation assembly having an initiator and a receptacle that retains the connector. The initiator may have a single, center pin. The initiator may be encased by a body and cover, which may be attached t
An airbag module has an inflator activated via an electrical connector. The inflator includes an initiation assembly having an initiator and a receptacle that retains the connector. The initiator may have a single, center pin. The initiator may be encased by a body and cover, which may be attached together by molding, vibratory welding, electromagnetic welding, or snap fitting. The connector may have projections that extend from a main body to facilitate retention of the connector by a collar, washer, a retainer attached to the body, or by the inflator housing. The body may be seated in a collar having an annular ridge that presses into the body to form a seal. The connector may have a rib designed to mesh with splines of the receptacle to enable engagement of the connector with the receptacle in multiple orientations, while preventing relative rotation between the connector and the initiator after assembly.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An initiation assembly for a pyrotechnic device, the initiation assembly comprising: an initiator that ignites in response to receipt of an activation signal; and a retainer coupled to the initiator, the retainer comprising at least three splines shaped to mate with at least
What is claimed is: 1. An initiation assembly for a pyrotechnic device, the initiation assembly comprising: an initiator that ignites in response to receipt of an activation signal; and a retainer coupled to the initiator, the retainer comprising at least three splines shaped to mate with at least one rib of a connector such that the connector is engageable with the retainer in at least three orientations to enable conveyance of the activation signal from the connector to the initiator, wherein the splines and the rib mesh to prevent rotation of the connector between the orientations. 2. The initiation assembly of claim 1, wherein the splines are disposed on an outside diameter of the retainer. 3. The initiation assembly of claim 1, wherein the splines are disposed on an inside diameter of the retainer. 4. The initiation assembly of claim 1, further comprising a body attached to the retainer such that the body encircles at least a portion of the initiator. 5. The initiation assembly of claim 4, wherein the retainer and the body are each constructed of polymeric materials, wherein the retainer is ultrasonically welded to the body. 6. The initiation assembly of claim 4, wherein the initiator comprises a center pin, a header eyelet encircling at least a portion of the center pin, a cup welded to the header eyelet to provide a hermetic seal, a bridge wire that electrically couples the center pin and the header eyelet together, and a quantity of ignition material positioned to ignite in response to combustion of the bridge wire. 7. The initiation assembly of claim 6, further comprising a cover attached to the body to electrically insulate the initiator from an inflator housing. 8. The initiation assembly of claim 1, further comprising a collar disposed to encircle at least a portion of the retainer, wherein the collar is shaped to be retained within a housing of the inflator. 9. The initiation assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer is shaped to interchangeably interlock with a nonremovable connector and with a removable connector comprising a main body and a locking bracket movable with respect to the main body between an unlocked position in which the connector is removable from the retainer and a locked position in which the connector is not removable from the retainer. 10. An initiation assembly for a pyrotechnic device, the initiation assembly comprising: an initiator that ignites in response to receipt of an activation signal; a body that encircles at least a portion of the initiator; and a retainer integrally formed with the body, the retainer comprising at least three splines shaped to mate with at least one rib of a connector such that the connector is engageable with the retainer in at least three orientations to enable conveyance of the activation signal from the connector to the initiator, wherein the splines and the rib mesh to prevent rotation of the connector between the orientations. 11. The initiation assembly of claim 10, further comprising a collar disposed to encircle at least a portion of the retainer and the body, wherein the collar is shaped to be retained within a housing of the inflator. 12. The initiation assembly of claim 11, wherein the collar comprises a first piece and a second piece attached to the first piece, wherein the body is insert molded into engagement with the first piece. 13. An inflation assembly for an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the inflation assembly comprising: a connector that delivers an electric activation signal; and an inflator comprising a receptacle shaped to receive the connector in any of at least three orientations in a manner that prevents rotation of the connector between the orientations to enable conveyance of the activation signal from the connector to the inflator, wherein the inflator produces inflation gas in response to receipt of the activation signal. 14. The inflation assembly of claim 13, wherein the receptacle comprises at least three splines disposed to mate with at least one rib of the connector. 15. The inflation assembly of claim 14, wherein the inflator comprises an initiator that ignites in response to receipt of the activation signal, wherein the receptacle comprises a retainer attached to the initiator to retain the connector, the retainer having a generally annular shape, wherein the splines are formed on an outside diameter of the retainer. 16. The inflation assembly of claim 14, wherein the inflator comprises an initiator that ignites in response to receipt of the activation signal, wherein the receptacle comprises a retainer attached to the initiator to retain the connector, the retainer having a generally annular shape, wherein the splines are formed on an inside diameter of the retainer. 17. The inflation assembly of claim 14, wherein the inflator comprises a housing, wherein the receptacle comprises a collar anchored in the housing to retain the connector, wherein the splines are formed on an inside diameter of the collar. 18. The inflation assembly of claim 14, wherein the receptacle comprises a washer disposed to retain the connector, wherein the splines are formed on an inside diameter of the washer. 19. The inflation assembly of claim 14, wherein the inflator comprises a housing shaped to retain the connector, wherein the splines are formed on an inside diameter of the housing. 20. The inflation assembly of claim 14, wherein the receptacle is a first receptacle and the connector is a first connector, the inflator further comprising a second receptacle comprising at least three splines disposed to mate with at least one rib of a second connector, wherein the splines of the first and second receptacles are configured differently from each other to prevent insertion of the first connector into the second receptacle and to prevent insertion of the second connector into the first receptacle. 21. The inflation assembly of claim 14, wherein the receptacle comprises at least twelve splines arrayed in a circle. 22. The inflation assembly of claim 13, wherein the receptacle comprises a geometric shape and the connector comprises a corresponding geometric shape sized to fit within the geometric shape of the receptacle. 23. The inflation assembly of claim 13, wherein the inflator comprises an initiator that ignites in response to receipt of the activation signal, the initiator comprising a center pin, a header eyelet encircling at least a portion of the center pin, a bridge wire that electrically couples the center pin and the header eyelet together, a quantity of ignition material positioned to ignite in response to combustion of the bridge wire, and a cup welded to the header eyelet to provide a hermetic seal. 24. The inflation assembly of claim 23, wherein the inflator further comprises a body that at least partially encircles the header eyelet and a cover attached to the body to electrically insulate the initiator from a housing of the inflator. 25. The inflation assembly of claim 24, wherein the body is insert molded around the header eyelet and the cover. 26. The inflation assembly of claim 24, wherein the cover is ultrasonically welded to the body. 27. The inflation assembly of claim 24, wherein the cover is snapped into engagement with the body. 28. The inflation assembly of claim 24, wherein the inflator comprises a housing, wherein the body is shaped to be retained directly by the housing. 29. The inflation assembly of claim 24, wherein the inflator comprises a housing and a collar shaped to be retained by the housing. 30. The inflation assembly of claim 29, wherein the collar comprises a first piece and a second piece attached to the first piece, wherein the body is insert molded into engagement with the first piece and is integrally formed with a retainer attached to the initiator to retain the connector. 31. The inflation assembly of claim 29, wherein the collar is formed of a metal shaped by stamping. 32. The inflation assembly of claim 29, wherein the inflator further comprises a washer disposed generally between the collar and the body to restrict relative motion between the collar and the body due to deformation of the body. 33. The inflation assembly of claim 29, wherein the inflator further comprises a washer, wherein the body is insert molded into engagement with the washer to restrict relative motion between the collar and the body due to deformation of the body. 34. The inflation assembly of claim 24, wherein the body is press fit into place to prevent moisture entry into the inflator and inflation gas exit out of the inflator through a region encircling the body. 35. The inflation assembly of claim 24, wherein the inflator comprises an o-ring encircling the body to prevent moisture entry into the inflator and inflation gas exit out of the inflator through a region encircling the body. 36. The inflation assembly of claim 24, wherein the inflator comprises an annular ridge disposed to press into the body to prevent moisture entry into the inflator and inflation gas exit out of the inflator through a region encircling the body. 37. The inflation assembly of claim 24, wherein the receptacle comprises a retainer ultrasonically welded to the body to retain the connector, the retainer having a generally annular shape. 38. The inflation assembly of claim 13, wherein the connector is shaped to interlock nonremovably with the receptacle. 39. The inflation assembly of claim 13, wherein the connector comprises a main body and a locking bracket movable with respect to the main body between an unlocked position in which the connector is removable from the receptacle and a locked position in which the connector is not removable from the receptacle. 40. The inflation assembly of claim 39, wherein the connector further comprises a shunting bar movably disposed within the main body to prevent transmission of the activation signal by the connector when the locking bracket is in the unlocked position, wherein the receptacle comprises a shunting clip disposed to prevent receipt of the activation signal by the initiator when the connector is disengaged from the receptacle. 41. An inflator for an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the inflator comprising: a housing; an initiator disposed at least partially within the housing, wherein the initiator ignites in response to receipt of an activation signal; and a retainer coupled to the initiator, the retainer comprising at least three splines shaped to mate with at least one rib of a connector such that the connector is engageable with the retainer in at least three orientations to enable conveyance of the activation signal from the connector to the initiator, wherein the splines and the rib mesh to prevent rotation of the connector between the orientations. 42. The inflator of claim 41, further comprising a body that encircles at least a portion of the initiator, wherein the retainer is ultrasonically welded to the body. 43. The inflator of claim 42, wherein the initiator comprises a center pin, a header eyelet encircling at least a portion of the center pin, a bridge wire that electrically couples the center pin and the header eyelet together, a quantity of ignition material positioned to ignite in response to combustion of the bridge wire, and a cup welded to the header eyelet to provide a hermetic seal. 44. The inflator of claim 43, further comprising a cover attached to the body to electrically insulate the initiator from the housing.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (17)
Graves Thomas J. (Parker CO) Longwell James A. (Elizabeth CO), All-glass header assembly used in an inflator system.
Gauker Bradford K. ; Rhein David J. ; Lapraik Scott J., Grounding plate for orientationless squib connector assembly for automotive air bag assemblies.
Hamilton Brian K. (Littleton CO) Haynes Kenneth E. (Parker CO) Kirk Doug R. (Parker CO) Blomberg William J. (Parker CO), Slurry-loadable electrical initiator.
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