Rupture feature for inflator of vehicle airbag
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0687353
(2010-01-14)
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등록번호 |
US-8371611
(2013-02-12)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Young, Anthony M.
- Young, Andrew J.
- Gamill, Kurt L.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
▼
A rupture feature releases pressurized gas into a diffuser through an egress opening in an inflator wall responsive to a pressure impulse in the inflator. A sturdy rupture fragment is positioned opposite the egress opening. A thin rupture membrane continuously circumscribes and sealingly interconnec
A rupture feature releases pressurized gas into a diffuser through an egress opening in an inflator wall responsive to a pressure impulse in the inflator. A sturdy rupture fragment is positioned opposite the egress opening. A thin rupture membrane continuously circumscribes and sealingly interconnects the rupture fragment to the inflator about the egress opening. Rupture membrane thickness is less than rupture fragment thickness or inflator wall thickness at the egress opening. The rupture membrane is upstanding from the inflator wall about the egress opening to a constant height. The rupture fragment and the rupture membrane are integrally-formed with each other and with the inflator wall at the egress opening. The pressure impulse impacts the rupture fragment, urges the rupture fragment away from the inflator, detaches the rupture fragment from the inflator by fully transversely fracturing the rupture membrane, and drives the rupture fragment into containment within the diffuser.
대표청구항
▼
1. A rupture feature for releasing pressurized gas from an inflator for a vehicle passenger safety airbag, the rupture feature discharging the pressurized gas into a diffuser through an egress opening having predetermined dimensions in a wall of the inflator responsive to a predetermined pressure im
1. A rupture feature for releasing pressurized gas from an inflator for a vehicle passenger safety airbag, the rupture feature discharging the pressurized gas into a diffuser through an egress opening having predetermined dimensions in a wall of the inflator responsive to a predetermined pressure impulse arising in the inflator, the rupture feature comprising: (a) a sturdy rupture fragment of reliably stable configuration having an inner surface positioned opposite the egress opening in an orientation to be impacted by the predetermined pressure impulse through the egress opening; and(b) a relatively thin rupture membrane having a length extending away from the inner surface transverse to and continuously circumscribing the rupture fragment and the egress opening, the rupture membrane being integrally formed with the wall of the inflator and the rupture fragment and sealingly interconnecting the rupture fragment to the wall of the inflator about the egress opening such that a gas flow orifice created upon rupture of the rupture membrane a long a transverse fracture line has substantially the same dimensions as the egress opening. 2. A rupture feature as recited in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the rupture membrane is less than a thickness of the rupture fragment and less than a thickness of the wall of the inflator at the egress opening. 3. A rupture feature as recited in claim 1, wherein the length of the rupture membrane measured between the wall of the inflator and a periphery of the rupture fragment is constant about the egress opening. 4. A rupture feature as recited in claim 1, wherein the rupture membrane is integrally formed with the wall of the inflator and with the rupture fragment. 5. A rupture feature as recited in claim 1, wherein the rupture fragment is circularly symmetric. 6. A rupture feature as recited in claim 1, wherein the rupture fragment is substantially planar. 7. A rupture feature as recited in claim 1, wherein impact of the predetermined pressure impulse against the rupture fragment urges the rupture fragment away from the inflator, detaching the rupture fragment from the inflator by fully fracturing the rupture membrane along the transverse fracture line. 8. A rupture feature as recited in claim 7, wherein the fracturing of the rupture membrane permits the predetermined pressure impulse to drive the rupture fragment into the diffuser. 9. A pressurized gas release and diffusion assembly for a gas egress opening having predetermined dimensions in a wall of an inflator for a vehicle passenger safety airbag, the assembly comprising: (a) a gas guide secured to an exterior of the wall of the inflator about the egress opening;(b) a generally planar rupture fragment of reliably stable configuration having an inner surface mechanically associated with the wall of the inflator and disposed interior of the gas guide, the rupture fragment being positioned generally parallel to a transverse plane of the egress opening intermediate the egress opening and the gas guide; and(c) a continuous rupture membrane integrally formed with the inflator wall and with the rupture fragment and sealingly interconnecting a periphery of the rupture fragment to the wall of the inflator, the rupture membrane having a length extending away from the inner surface transverse to and circumscribing the egress opening such that a gas flow orifice created upon rupture of the rupture membrane a long a transverse fracture line has substantially the same dimensions as the egress opening. 10. An assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the gas guide comprises: (a) an end wall separated from and opposing the egress opening;(b) a continuous skirt having a first edge circumscribing a periphery of the end wall and a second edge opposite therefrom attached to the exterior of the wall of the inflator about the egress opening; and(c) a plurality of circumferentially-spaced diffusion apertures formed through the skirt, the diffusion apertures affording escape radially outwardly from the assembly for pressurized gas from the inflator. 11. An assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein a thickness of the rupture membrane is less than a thickness of the rupture fragment and less than a thickness of the wall of the inflator at the egress opening. 12. An assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein pressurized gas in the inflator is released and diffused responsive to a predetermined pressure impulse arising in the inflator, the predetermined pressure impulse urging the rupture fragment away from the inflator, detaching the rupture fragment from the inflator along the transverse fracture line of the rupture membrane, and driving the rupture fragment against an inner surface of the gas guide. 13. A release structure for pressurized gas in an inflator for a vehicle passenger safety airbag, the release structure opening responsive to a predetermined pressure impulse arising in the inflator, and the release structure comprising: (a) a gas egress opening having predetermined dimensions formed through a wall of the inflator;(b) a barrier having an inner surface and positioned opposite the egress opening in an orientation to be impacted by the predetermined pressure impulse; and(c) a frangible sleeve sealingly interconnecting a periphery of the barrier to the wall of the inflator about the egress opening, the frangible sleeve having a length extending away from the inner surface transverse to and circumscribing the egress opening such that a gas flow orifice created upon rupture of the frangible sleeve along a transverse fracture line has substantially the same dimensions as the egress opening. 14. A release structure as recited in claim 13, wherein a thickness of the frangible sleeve is less than a thickness of the barrier and less than a thickness of the wall of the inflator at the egress opening. 15. A release structure as recited in claim 13, wherein impact of the predetermined pressure impulse against the barrier urges the barrier outwardly from the inflator, detaching the barrier from the inflator by fully transversely fracturing the frangible sleeve along the transverse fracture line. 16. A release structure as recited in claim 13, further comprising a gas guide secured to an exterior of the wall of the inflator enclosing the barrier and the frangible sleeve, the gas guide comprising: (a) an end wall separated from and opposing the barrier;(b) a continuous skirt having a first edge circumscribing a periphery of the end wall and a second edge opposite therefrom attached to the exterior of the wall of the inflator about the frangible sleeve; and(c) a plurality of circumferentially-spaced diffusion apertures formed through the skirt of the gas guide, the diffusion apertures affording escape radially outwardly from the release structure for the pressurized gas from the inflator. 17. A method for manufacturing a rupture feature for an inflator for a vehicle passenger safety airbag, the method comprising the steps of: (a) developing a gas egress opening having predetermined dimensions through a wall of the inflator;(b) enclosing the egress opening from an exterior of the inflator in a hollow boss having a closed top and an inner surface remote from the inflator and a continuous sidewall, the continuous sidewall having a length extending away from the inner surface transverse to the top of the boss and circumscribing the egress opening and sealingly connecting the top of the boss to the wall of the inflator about the egress opening; and(c) thinning the sidewall of the boss to such an extent that a predetermined pressure impulse arising in the inflator will, by urging the top of the boss away from the inflator, detach the top of the boss from the wall of the inflator by fully fracturing the sidewall of the boss along a transverse fracture line. 18. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of securing to the exterior of the wall of the inflator about the boss a gas guide comprising: (a) an end wall separated from and opposing the top of the boss;(b) a continuous skirt having a first edge circumscribing the end wall of the gas guide and a second edge opposite therefrom attached to the exterior of the wall of the inflator about the sidewall of the boss; and(c) a plurality of circumferentially-spaced diffusion apertures formed through the skirt of the gas guide, the diffusion apertures affording escape radially outwardly from the gas guide for pressurized gas from the inflator. 19. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the step of developing and the step of enclosing are performed simultaneously in a step of integrally forming the portion of the wall of the inflator at the intended an intended location of the egress opening into the boss.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (10)
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Rink Karl K. (Liberty UT) Beus Glen S. (Ogden UT) Johnson Kelly B. (Layton UT) Monk David B. (Kaysville UT), Fluid fuel-containing initiator device for an air bag inflator.
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Smith Bradley W. (Ogden UT) Clark Randall J. (Pleasant View UT) Kort Leland B. (Lakewood CO) Wong Michael H. (Ogden UT), Hybrid (augmented) gas generator.
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Storey J. Kirk (Farmington UT) Olson Brent K. (Clearfield UT), Hybrid inflator with pop-out diffuser.
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Sparks Tracy S. (Lapeer MI) Faigle Ernst M. (Dryden MI), Inflator.
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Swann Timothy A. ; Al-Amin Ahmad K. ; Cuevas Jess A. ; Shirk Bryan W. ; Van Wynsberghe Roy D., Initiator for air bag inflator.
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Hay Charles N. (Sandusky OH), Occupant restraint system.
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Buermann Henry, Pressure release safety cap.
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Rink Karl K. ; Green David J. ; Harris Bradley D. ; Johnson Darrin L., Pressure vessel inflator having a preformed opening feature.
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Rink Karl K. ; Green David J. ; Smith Bradley W. ; Clark Marcus T., Pressurized fluid containing airbag inflator.
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Headley Paul S. (Mesa AZ) Cisney Lindsay S. (Higley AZ) Bailey Todd R. (Higley AZ) Hake Daniel R. (Scottsdale AZ) Amherdt Tom (Gilbert AZ), Side impact air bag inflator.
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