Inflator, module including an inflator, vehicle safety system and method of operating a vehicle occupant protection system
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60R-021/26
B60R-021/264
출원번호
US-0615719
(2012-09-14)
등록번호
US-8794665
(2014-08-05)
우선권정보
DE-10 2011 115 518 (2011-10-11)
발명자
/ 주소
Biebl, Manfred
Gabler, Michael
Hofmann, Achim
Leier, Dieter
Wei, Ning
출원인 / 주소
TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
대리인 / 주소
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
8
초록▼
A vehicle safety system includes a module including an airbag and an inflator. The inflator includes a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which hot gas is generated and which housing includes at least one escape orifice (22) toward the
A vehicle safety system includes a module including an airbag and an inflator. The inflator includes a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which hot gas is generated and which housing includes at least one escape orifice (22) toward the environment of the inflator (10), as well as a coolant reservoir (24) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28′). The coolant outlet orifice (28) is arranged in direct vicinity of the outlet orifice (22). Upon activation of the inflator (10) coolant flows out of the inflator into the protection system and wets an adjacent wall (32) of the protection system against which also the hot gas is flowing.
대표청구항▼
1. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which combustion chamber hot gas can be generated and which includes at least one escape orifice (22) directed radially toward the
1. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which combustion chamber hot gas can be generated and which includes at least one escape orifice (22) directed radially toward the environment of the inflator (10), and a coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′; 28″),wherein at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is directed radially on the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) in direct vicinity of at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22); andwherein at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) in the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) and at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22) in the housing (12) are located at the same height in the axial direction (A) of the inflator (10). 2. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber (16) is separated from the area of the housing (12) containing the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) by a reduction of cross-section (20) in the housing (12) that includes a nozzle having a passage with a diameter which is smaller than an inner diameter of the housing (12). 3. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the coolant reservoir (124; 224) includes a wall (144) adapted to be compressed in the axial direction (A) at least in portions, especially by the generated hot gas. 4. A module comprising an inflator (10), an airbag inflatable by the inflator (10) and a fastening mechanism to mount the module to a vehicle, where the inflator (10) is configured according to claim 1. 5. A vehicle safety system, especially for the protection of a person, for instance a vehicle occupant or pedestrian, comprising an inflator (10), an airbag inflatable by the same, as part of the vehicle safety system, and an electronic control unit by means of which the inflator (10) is adapted to be activated when a trigger situation is provided, wherein the inflator (10) is configured according to claim 1. 6. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which combustion chamber hot gas can be generated and which includes at least one escape orifice (22) directed radially toward the environment of the inflator (10), and a coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′; 28″),wherein at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is directed radially on the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) in direct vicinity of at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22); andwherein the center of at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) and the center of at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22) in the axial direction (A) of the inflator (10) have a distance of not more than 5 mm. 7. A module comprising an inflator (10), an airbag inflatable by the inflator (10) and a fastening mechanism to mount the module to a vehicle, where the inflator (10) is configured according to claim 6. 8. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which combustion chamber hot gas can be generated and which includes at least one escape orifice (22) directed radially toward the environment of the inflator (10), and a coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′; 28″),wherein at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is directed radially on the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) in direct vicinity of at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22); andwherein the combustion chamber (16) and the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) are arranged axially one after another and/or that the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) is arranged in the radial direction at a distance from the inside of the housing (12). 9. A module comprising an inflator (10), an airbag inflatable by the inflator (10) and a fastening mechanism to mount the module to a vehicle, where the inflator (10) is configured according to claim 8. 10. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which combustion chamber hot gas can be generated and which includes at least one escape orifice (22) directed radially toward the environment of the inflator (10), and a coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′; 28″),wherein at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is directed radially on the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) in direct vicinity of at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22); andwherein plural coolant outlet orifices (28; 28′, 28″) successively arranged in axial direction (A) are provided in the coolant reservoir (24). 11. A module comprising an inflator (10), an airbag inflatable by the inflator (10) and a fastening mechanism to mount the module to a vehicle, where the inflator (10) is configured according to claim 10. 12. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which combustion chamber hot gas can be generated and which includes at least one escape orifice (22) directed radially toward the environment of the inflator (10), and a coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′; 28″),wherein at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is directed radially on the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) in direct vicinity of at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22); andwherein the at least one coolant orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is radially aligned with the at least one escape orifice (22) so that the coolant exits the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) and mixes with the hot gas, the mixture of the coolant and hot gas exiting the housing (12) radially through the at least one escape orifice (22). 13. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which combustion chamber hot gas can be generated and which includes at least one escape orifice (22) directed radially toward the environment of the inflator (10), and a coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′; 28″),wherein at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is directed radially on the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) in direct vicinity of at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22);wherein plural coolant outlet orifices (28; 28′, 28″) successively arranged in axial direction (A) are provided in the coolant reservoir (24); andwherein the plural coolant outlet orifices (28; 28′, 28″) are successively arranged in axial direction (A) along the circumference of the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224). 14. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which combustion chamber hot gas can be generated and which includes at least one escape orifice (22) directed radially toward the environment of the inflator (10), and a coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′; 28″),wherein at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is directed radially on the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) in direct vicinity of at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22); andwherein the coolant reservoir (24) has a piston (26; 26′) displaceable by the increasing internal pressure upon activation of the inflator (10) by means of which piston the coolant can be forced out of the coolant reservoir (24), and/or characterized in that an end face (30; 30′) of the piston (26; 26′) facing the combustion chamber (16) is curved either concavely or convexly, wherein the piston (26′) has a cavity (40) and an end face of the piston (26′) facing the inside of the coolant reservoir (24) is closed by a diaphragm (42) which seals the cavity (40). 15. A module comprising an inflator (10), an airbag inflatable by the inflator (10) and a fastening mechanism to mount the module to a vehicle, where the inflator (10) is configured according to claim 14. 16. An inflator for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising: a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant in which hot gas can be generated;a second chamber (18) including at least one escape orifice (22) that provides a direct line into the environment of the inflator (10);a nozzle that provides fluid communication between the combustion chamber (16) and the second chamber (18); anda coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) disposed within the second chamber (18), the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) including at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) for directing coolant into the second chamber (18) to cool the hot gas;wherein the at least one escape orifice (22) is arranged annularly about a side wall of the second chamber (18); the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is arranged annularly about a sidewall of the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224); and at least a portion of the at least one escape orifice (22) and the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) are radially aligned with each other. 17. The inflator of claim 16, wherein at least one of the at least one coolant outlet orifice (28; 28′, 28″) is arranged in direct vicinity of at least one of the at least one escape orifice (22). 18. The inflator of claim 16, wherein the coolant reservoir (24; 124; 224) defines an annular space within the second chamber (18), the nozzle directing hot gas from the combustion chamber (16) into the annular space.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Johnson Darrin L. ; Harris Bradley D. ; Lauritzen Donald R., Adaptive regenerative inflator.
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