Initiator for an automotive safety device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10857967-B2
Application number	US-201916287844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2019
Priority date	Feb 27, 2019
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

An initiator assembly for an automotive safety device includes a tubular housing with a first end and a second end. A cruciform formed in the second end of the tubular housing is designed to open when the initiator fires. A pyrotechnic load is disposed within the tubular housing at the second end, the pyrotechnic load is formed to define a void comprising an open end and a tip. The void includes sides that extend from the open end to the tip and angle toward the second end of the tubular housing and angle toward a longitudinal axis of the tubular housing. The sides of the void can transition into a tip portion of the void that comprises a geometry distinct from that of the sides.

First claim

Embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are as follows:

1. An initiator assembly for an automotive safety device comprising:
a tubular housing with a first end and a second end;
a cruciform formed in the second end of the tubular housing; and
a pyrotechnic load disposed within the tubular housing at the second end, the pyrotechnic load formed to define a void comprising an open end and a tip, the void further comprising sides that extend from the open end to the tip and angle toward the second end of the tubular housing and toward a longitudinal axis of the tubular housing, wherein the sides of the void transition into a tip portion of the void that comprises a geometry distinct from the sides.

2. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a primary pyrotechnic load disposed within the tubular housing at the first end and spaced apart from the pyrotechnic load.

3. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tip of the void aligns with a center of the cruciform.

4. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tip portion of the void comprises a conical shape, wherein the vertex of the conical shape is the tip of the void and aligns with a center of the cruciform.

5. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tip portion of the void comprises a dome shape, wherein an apex of the dome is the tip of the void and aligns with a center of the cruciform.

6. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic load defines at least two portions of the void that each comprise a distinct geometry.

7. The initiator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the at least two portions of the void include an opening portion that commences at a first end of the pyrotechnic load and comprises sides that angle toward the second end of the tubular housing and toward the longitudinal axis of the tubular housing.

8. The initiator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the at least two portions of the void include a flat portion that extends radially inward and is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tubular housing.

9. The initiator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the at least two portions of the void include a curved portion comprising sides that arc inward toward the longitudinal axis of the tubular housing and toward the second end of the tubular housing.

10. The initiator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the at least two portions of the void include a main portion defining a frustum shape.

11. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distance from a vertex of the void to the cruciform is less than 5 percent of a total length of the pyrotechnic load.

12. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distance from a vertex of the void to the cruciform is less than 5 mm.

13. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic load is free of air bubbles.

14. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic load is titanium hydride potassium perchlorate.

15. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein ignition of the pyrotechnic load is configured to consistently open the cruciform by directing an initial pressure wave through the tip of the void toward a center of the cruciform to open the cruciform outward.

16. The initiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the initiator assembly is disposed within an inflator.

17. The initiator assembly of claim 16 , wherein the inflator is a compressed gas inflator.

18. An initiator assembly for an airbag cushion comprising:
a tubular housing;
a cruciform disposed at a second end of the tubular housing; and
a pyrotechnic load disposed within the tubular housing at a distal end, the pyrotechnic load formed to define a void comprising an open end and a tip, the void further comprising a wall of a main portion extending from the open end to the tip and angling toward the distal end of the tubular housing and toward a longitudinal axis of the tubular housing, and wherein the wall of the void transitions into a tip portion of the void that comprises a geometric shape distinct from a geometric shape formed by the wall.

19. The initiator assembly of claim 18 , wherein the void has a generally frustoconical shape.

20. The initiator assembly of claim 18 , wherein the void has a circular cross-section, wherein the diameter of the cross-section decreases from the open end to the tip of the void.

Assignees

• Autoliv Asp Inc

Inventors

• Wayment Mason Chappell

Classifications

• B60R21/272 Primary

  with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators · CPC title

• B60R2021/26029

  Ignitors · CPC title

• B60R21/26 Primary

  characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow {(arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10)} · CPC title

• F42B3/10

  Initiators therefor (percussion fuzes F42C7/00; percussion caps F42C19/10; electric primers F42C19/12) · CPC title

• F42B3/198

  of electric initiator heads {e.g., testing, machines} · CPC title