Obturating element, gas generator provided with the latter and method for manufacturing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9493138-B2
Application number	US-201314648520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2013
Priority date	Nov 30, 2012
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A metal obturating element is capable of being resistance-welded to the outer side of an edge of a hole of a metal wall of a pressurized gas reservoir of a gas generator, including on a first side, a portion dimensioned for covering the hole and having an end intended to be inserted into the hole, and a portion for connecting the portion to the peripheral edge, having a surface tilted rearwards relatively to the end and around the portion, this surface intended to be welded to the outer side of the edge of the hole. The element is formed with a deep-drawn part. The tilted surface forms around the central portion an angle greater than or equal to 50° and less than or equal to 80° relatively to the axis. The part includes in a second side located opposite to the first side another surface tilted rearwards relatively to the end and this by at least one angle greater than or equal to 10° and less than or equal to 80° relatively to the axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A metal obturating element capable of being resistance-welded to the outer side of a first peripheral edge of a hole of a metal wall of a pressurized gas reservoir of a gas generator, the obturating element comprising:
on a first side, from a central geometrical axis of the element towards a second peripheral edge of the element:
a first central portion dimensioned in order to cover the hole and having a front end intended to be at least partly inserted into the hole,
a second portion for connecting the first central portion to the second peripheral edge, the second connecting portion, having on the first side, a surface tilted rearwards relatively to the front end of the first central portion and around the first central portion, this tilted surface being welded directly to the outer side of the first edge of the hole of the metal wall of the pressurized gas reservoir, in order to obturate the hole,

wherein the metal obturating element is a deep-drawn part formed of a metal sheet,
wherein the tilted surface of the second connecting portion in the first side is tilted around the first central portion by at least one first angle greater than or equal to 50° and less than or equal to 80° relatively to the central geometrical axis,
wherein the metal obturating element includes a second side located opposite to the first side, another tilted surface tilted rearwards relatively to the front end of the first central portion and at least one second angle greater than or equal to 10° and less than or equal to 80° relatively to the central geometrical axis.

2. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tilted surface of the second connecting portion on the first side and the other tilted surface on the second side is substantially conical around the central geometrical axis.

3. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tilted surface on the first side and the other tilted surface on the second side is dome-shaped.

4. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first angle and the at least one second angle increases from the first central portion towards the second peripheral edge.

5. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first angle and the second angle is greater than or equal to 55°.

6. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first angle and the second angle is greater than or equal to 60°.

7. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first angle and the second angle is less than or equal to 75°.

8. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first angle and the second angle is less than or equal to 70°.

9. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein the other tilted surface of the second side delimits a recess surrounded by the second peripheral edge.

10. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein the tilted surface of the first side extends both on the second connecting portion and on the first central portion.

11. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein the other tilted surface of the second side is of a shape mating the tilted surface of the first side.

12. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein the first central portion and the second connecting portion are in one piece.

13. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 in combination with a gas generator, the gas generator including at least one pressurized gas reservoir having at least one metal wall in which is found at least one hole delimited by a first edge, the first edge of the hole being obturated by an obturating element welded to the first edge of the wall, wherein
the front end of the first central portion of the obturating element is inserted into the hole, the first central portion covering the hole,
a surface for welding to the first edge of the hole of the metal wall of the pressurized gas reservoir being present on the first side in said tilted surface of the second connecting portion of the obturating element, and
the second peripheral edge of the obturating element protruding above the wall.

14. The gas generator according to claim 13 , wherein the wall is curved.

15. A method for manufacturing a gas generator according to claim 13 , the method comprising:
during a first step for manufacturing the obturating element, a metal part is deep-drawn in order to form said obturating element, the tilted surface of which of the second connecting portion on the first side forms the first angle greater than or equal to 50° and less than or equal to 80° relatively to the central geometrical axis and the other surface of which, on a second side located opposite to the first side, is tilted rearwards relatively to the front end of the first portion by at least one second angle greater than or equal to 10° and less than or equal to 80° relatively to the central geometrical axis, and
during a second step for assembling the gas generator, said tilted surface of the second connecting portion located on the first side of the obturating element is resistance-welded to an the outer side of the first edge of the hole of the metal wall of the gas reservoir, in order to obturate the hole.

16. The manufacturing method according to claim 15 , wherein during said second step for assembling the gas generator, at least the gas reservoir of the gas generator is filled with pressurized gas through the hole of the metal wall of the gas reservoir and said tilted surface of the second connecting portion located on the first side of the obturating element is resistance-welded to the outer side of the first edge of the hole of the metal wall of the gas reservoir, in order to obturate the hole.

17. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein the metal obturating element is discoidal.

18. The metal obturating element according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides are substantially parallel.

19. A metal obturating element capable of being resistance-welded to an outer side of a first edge of a hold of a metal wall of a pressurized gas reservoir of a gas generator, the metal obturating element comprising:
on a first side, from a central geometrical axis of the element towards a second peripheral edge of the element:
a first central portion dimensioned in order to cover the hole and having a front end intended to be at least partly inserted into the hole,
a second portion for connecting the first central portion to the second peripheral edge, the second connecting portion, having on the first side, a surface tilted rearwards relatively to the front end of the first central portion and around the first central portion, this tilted surface being intended to be welded to the outer side of the first edge of the hole of the metal wall of the pressurized gas reservoir, in order to obturate the hole,

wherein the tilted surface of the second connecting portion in the first side is tilted around the first central portion by at least one first angle greater than or equal to 50° and less than or equal to 80° relatively to the central geometrical axis,
wherein the metal obturating element includes a second side located opposite to the first side, another tilted surface tilted rearwards relatively to the front end of the first central portion and this by at least one second angle greater than or equal to 10° and less than

Assignees

• Autoliv Dev

Inventors

• Chauvin Aurélie
• Le Gall Dominique

Classifications

• B23K11/002

  specially adapted for particular articles or work · CPC title

• B60R21/274 Primary

  characterised by means to rupture or open the fluid source · CPC title

• B60R21/268

  using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas {(B60R21/26005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B21D22/20

  Deep-drawing (special deep-drawing arrangements in, or in connection with, presses B21D24/00) · CPC title

• F17C5/06

  for filling with compressed gases · CPC title