Igniter support, subassembly, gas generator, and process for manufacturing a gas generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11084453-B2
Application number	US-201816608228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2018
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

The invention describes an igniter support (22) for an igniter unit (20) of a gas generator (10), comprising a first holder element (30) made from a first material and a second holder element (32) made from a second material different from the first material. The two holder elements (30, 32) can be positively coupled to each other, especially can be at least partially positively nested. Further, a subassembly (16), a gas generator (10) as well as a method for manufacturing a gas generator (10) are described.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An igniter support ( 22 ) for an igniter unit ( 20 ) of a gas generator ( 10 ), comprising a first holder element ( 30 ) made from a first material and a second holder element ( 32 ) made from a second material different from the first material, wherein the two holder elements ( 30 , 32 ) can be at least partially positively nested in the circumferential direction to enable torque transmission between the two holder elements ( 30 , 32 ).

2. The igniter support ( 22 ) according to claim 1 , wherein both holder elements ( 30 , 32 ) can be positively coupled in the radial direction.

3. An igniter support ( 22 ) for an igniter unit ( 20 ) of a gas generator ( 10 ), comprising a first holder element ( 30 ) made from a first material and a second holder element ( 32 ) made from a second material different from the first material, wherein the two holder elements ( 30 , 32 ) can be at least partially positively nested, wherein the first holder element ( 30 ) has a first sawtooth profile ( 40 ) and the second holder element ( 32 ) has a second sawtooth profile ( 42 ) corresponding to the first sawtooth profile ( 40 ) of the first holder element ( 30 ).

4. The igniter support ( 22 ) according to claim 3 , wherein each of the two sawtooth profiles ( 40 , 42 ) is provided at an axial end section ( 44 , 46 ) of the corresponding holder element ( 30 , 32 ) and is formed to be annularly circumferential at least in some areas.

5. The igniter support ( 22 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the first holder element ( 30 ) has a first stop face ( 48 ) which is radially external by way of the first sawtooth profile ( 40 ) and axially reset, facing away from the second holder element ( 32 ), and in that the second holder element ( 32 ) has a second stop face ( 50 ) which is radially external by way of the second sawtooth profile ( 42 ) and axially projecting, facing the first holder element ( 30 ), the two stop faces ( 48 , 50 ) in the assembled condition of the two holder elements ( 30 , 32 ) being adjacent to each other and each being ring-shaped.

6. The igniter support ( 22 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the first holder element ( 30 ) has a first contact surface ( 52 ) which is radially internal by way of the first sawtooth profile ( 40 ) and axially projecting, facing the second holder element ( 32 ), and in that the second holder element ( 32 ) has a second contact surface ( 54 ) which is radially internal by way of the second sawtooth profile ( 42 ) and axially reset, facing away from the first holder element ( 30 ), the two contact surfaces ( 52 , 54 ) in an assembled condition of the two holder elements ( 30 , 32 ) being adjacent to each other and each being preferably ring-shaped.

7. A subassembly ( 16 ) comprising an igniter support ( 22 ) according to claim 1 and an igniter unit ( 20 ).

8. The subassembly ( 16 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the first holder element ( 30 ) is formed at least in some areas so that the igniter unit ( 20 ) is received at least partially by the first holder element ( 30 ), and/or in that the igniter unit ( 20 ), is bonded to the first holder element ( 30 ) at least in some areas, wherein the igniter unit ( 20 ) may include a socket ( 26 ) which is inserted in the second holder element ( 32 ).

9. A gas generator ( 10 ) comprising a subassembly ( 16 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a gas generator housing ( 12 ) is provided in which the subassembly ( 16 ) is at least partially received.

10. The gas generator ( 10 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the gas generator housing ( 12 ) comprises at least one closing member ( 14 ) to which the subassembly ( 16 ) is fastened.

11. The gas generator ( 10 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the gas generator ( 10 ) is a pyrotechnic gas generator, a hybrid gas generator, a belt tensioner or an actuator, with the gas generator housing ( 12 ) being tube-shaped or toroid-shaped.

12. A method for manufacturing a gas generator ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , comprising the following steps of:
a) providing a gas generator housing ( 12 ), a first holder element ( 30 ), a second holder element ( 32 ) and an igniter ( 24 ),
b) inserting the igniter ( 24 ) into the first holder element ( 30 ), optionally previously inserting a sealing element into the same, and fastening the igniter ( 24 ) to the first holder element ( 30 ) for forming a prefabricated assembly group,
c) inserting the prefabricated assembly group into an opening of the gas generator housing ( 12 ) and fastening the prefabricated assembly group at a portion of the first holder element ( 30 ) to the gas generator housing ( 12 ), and
d) inserting the second holder element ( 32 ) into the opening of the gas generator housing ( 12 ) in the direction of the prefabricated assembly group until the second holder element ( 32 ) is adjacent to the first holder element ( 30 ).

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the first holder element ( 30 ) and the second holder element ( 32 ) are fastened to each other by positive and/or non-positive engagement of a first sawtooth profile ( 40 ) of the first holder element ( 30 ) and a second sawtooth profile ( 42 ) of the second holder element ( 32 ).

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein a socket ( 26 ) is prefabricated and inserted into the second holder element ( 32 ) or manufactured by being injected in or attached by injection molding to the second holder element ( 32 ).

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the socket ( 26 ) includes a ground element ( 60 ) that is made to contact the first holder element ( 32 ) in an electrically conducting manner.

Assignees

• Trw Airbag Sys Gmbh

Inventors

• Weber Bernd

Classifications

• B29C45/14467

  Joining articles or parts of a single article (B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence) · CPC title

• B29C45/14639

  for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components · CPC title

• F42B3/26

  Arrangements for mounting initiators; Accessories therefor, e.g. tools · CPC title

• B29K2995/0007

  Insulating · CPC title

• B60R21/264 Primary

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