Inflator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10005420-B2
Application number	US-201615270102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

An inflator includes an inflator body that produces an inflation gas by burning a gas generating agent and a sensor that is mounted on the inflator body and is capable of detecting a degradation of the gas generating agent. The sensor is preferably composed of at least either one of a gas sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inflator comprising an inflator body that produces an inflation gas by burning a gas generating agent and a sensor that is mounted on the inflator body and is capable of detecting a degradation of the gas generating agent, wherein:
the inflator body comprises:
an ignition device that ignites and burns the gas generating agent for producing a combustion gas; and
a housing that stores the gas generating agent and the ignition device and is provided with a gas discharge port via which the inflation gas, which is composed of the combustion gas, is discharged; and

the sensor is disposed on an inner surface of a region of the housing where the gas generating agent is stored, at a position remote from a straight line connecting an ignition region of the gas generating agent by the ignition device and the gas discharge port.

2. The inflator according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is composed of at least either one of a gas sensor, a pressure sensor or a temperature sensor.

3. The inflator according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed proximate to the ignition device.

4. The inflator according to claim 1 , wherein a detecting unit of the sensor, which detects a degradation of the gas generating agent, is disposed on an inner surface of the inflator body in such a fashion as to be exposed to the gas generating agent.

5. An inflator comprising an inflator body that produces an inflation gas by burning a gas generating agent and a sensor that is mounted on the inflator body and is capable of detecting a degradation of the gas generating agent, wherein:
the inflator body comprises:
an ignition device that ignites and burns the gas generating agent for producing a combustion gas;
a compressed gas that is mixed with the combustion gas of the gas generating agent at actuation of the inflator for producing the inflation gas; and
a housing that stores the gas generating agent, the ignition device and the compressed gas;

the housing comprises:
a combustion chamber that stores the gas generating agent and the ignition device;
a compressed gas chamber that stores the compressed gas and is provided with a gas discharge port via which the inflation gas is discharged; and
a gas outflow port that provides gas communication between the combustion chamber and the compressed gas chamber such that the combustion gas flows out of the combustion chamber into the compressed gas chamber via the gas outflow port, and is mixed with the compressed gas for producing the inflation gas; and
the sensor is disposed on an inner surface of a region of the combustion chamber where the gas generating agent is stored, and at a position remote from a straight line connecting an ignition region of the gas generating agent by the ignition device and the gas outflow port.

6. The inflator according to claim 5 , wherein the sensor is disposed proximate to the ignition device.

Assignees

• Toyoda Gosei Kk

Inventors

• Sato Makoto
• Kuriyama Yuji
• Ono Yoshio
• Mori Keisuke
• Fuki Shinichiro

Classifications

• B60R2021/01129

  Problems or faults · CPC title

• B60R21/2644 Primary

  using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder · CPC title

• B60R21/01

  Electrical circuits for triggering {passive} safety arrangements, {e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners,} in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents {(electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343)} · CPC title

• B60R21/264 Primary

  using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic (B60R21/268 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R2021/26029

  Ignitors · CPC title