Housing structure for gas generating system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9914425-B1
Application number	US-201514590939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2008
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

A sub-assembly for a housing of a gas generating system is provided. The sub-assembly includes a housing portion and an insert attached to the housing portion such that at least a portion of a force applied to one of the housing portion and the attached insert is transferred through the attachment to the other one of the housing portion and the attached insert. A housing, a gas generating system, and a vehicle occupant protection system incorporating the sub-assembly are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sub-assembly for a housing of a gas generating system, comprising:
an outer housing portion including a first portion, a first opening formed in the first portion, and a wall extending from a circumference of the outer housing portion first portion in a first direction, the outer housing portion first portion and wall defining a first receptacle opening from the first portion in the first direction; and
an insert including a first portion, a second opening formed in the insert first portion, and a wall extending from a circumference of the insert first portion in the first direction, the insert first portion and wall defining another receptacle opening from the insert first portion in the first direction, the insert first portion being attached directly to the outer housing portion first portion such that at least a portion of a force applied to the outer housing portion first portion is transferred through the attachment to the insert first portion,
and such that the first and second openings are aligned so as to enable insertion of a portion of an initiator assembly through the first and second openings, wherein no part of the insert extends past the outer housing portion first portion in a second direction opposite the first direction, and, wherein the insert contacts the outer housing portion only at said first portion of said outer housing portion.

2. The sub-assembly of claim 1 wherein the direct attachment between the insert first portion and the outer housing first portion is spaced apart from an edge of the first opening.

3. A gas generating system comprising a sub-assembly according to claim 1 and a second housing portion attached to the outer housing portion so as to form a gas-tight seal therebetween, the second housing portion including a first portion and a wall extending from a circumference of the second housing first portion in the second direction, the second housing portion first portion and second housing portion wall defining a receptacle opening from the second housing portion first portion in the second direction.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a second insert attached to the second housing portion, the second insert including a first portion and a non-perforated wall extending from a circumference of the second insert first portion in the second direction, the second insert first portion and second insert wall defining another receptacle opening from the second insert first portion in the second direction, the second insert first portion being attached directly to the second housing portion first portion such that at least a portion of a force applied to the second housing portion first portion is transferred through the attachment to the second insert first portion,
wherein said second housing wall has at least one gas exit aperture formed therealong.

5. The sub-assembly of claim 1 wherein both the outer housing first portion and the insert first portion are flat.

6. A sub-assembly for a housing of a gas generating system, comprising:
an outer housing portion including a first portion and a wall extending from a circumference of the first portion in a first direction, the outer housing portion first portion and wall defining a first receptacle opening opposing the outer housing portion first portion in the first direction, the outer housing portion wall including at least one gas exit aperture formed therealong; and
an insert including a first portion and a non-perforated wall extending from a circumference of the first portion in the first direction, the insert first portion and non-perforated wall defining a second receptacle opening opposing the insert first portion in the first direction, the insert first portion being attached directly to the outer housing portion first portion such that at least a portion of a force applied to the outer housing portion first portion is transferred through the attachment to the insert first portion;
wherein an end of the non-perforated insert wall opposite the insert first portion is positioned at a first distance from the outer housing first portion, wherein the at least one gas exit aperture is positioned at a second distance from the outer housing portion first portion, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

7. The sub-assembly of claim 6 wherein the insert first portion is welded directly to the outer housing portion first portion prior to attachment of the outer housing portion to another element of the gas generating system.

8. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising a gas generating system including a sub-assembly in accordance with claim 6 , and an airbag module operatively coupled to the gas generating system.

9. The sub-assembly of claim 4 wherein the non-perforated insert wall extends opposite the at least one gas exit aperture, so as to form a gas flow passage between the non-perforated insert wall and the second housing portion wall.

10. The sub-assembly of claim 6 wherein the direct attachment between the insert first portion and the outer housing portion first portion is a weld.

11. The sub-assembly of claim 6 further comprising a second housing portion including a first portion, a first opening formed in the first portion, and a wall extending from a circumference of the second housing portion first portion in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second housing portion first portion and wall defining a third receptacle opening from the second housing portion first portion in the second direction; and
a second insert including a first portion, a second opening formed in the second insert first portion, and a wall extending from a circumference of the second insert first portion in the second direction, the second insert first portion being attached directly to the second housing portion first portion such that at least a portion of a force applied to the second housing portion first portion is transferred through the attachment to the second insert first portion, and such that the first and second openings are aligned so as to enable insertion of a portion of an initiator assembly through the first and second openings.

12. A sub-assembly for a housing of a gas generating system, comprising:
an outer housing portion including a first portion and a wall extending from a circumference of the first portion in a first direction, the outer housing portion first portion and wall defining a first receptacle opening opposing the outer housing portion first portion in the first direction, the outer housing portion wall including at least one gas exit aperture formed therealong;
a first insert including a first portion and a wall extending from a circumference of the first portion in the first direction, the first insert first portion and wall defining a second receptacle opening opposing the first insert first portion in the first direction, the first insert first portion being attached directly to the outer housing portion first portion such that at least a portion of a force applied to the outer housing portion first portion is transferred through the attachment to the first insert first portion;
a second housing portion including a first portion, a first opening formed in the first portion, and a wall extending from a circumference of the second housing portion first portion in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second housing portion first portion and wall defining a third receptacle opening from the second housing portion first portion in the second direction; and
a second insert including a first portion, a second opening formed in the second insert first portion, and a wall extending from a cir

Assignees

• Tk Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Quioc Eduardo L
• Cole Bryan T

Classifications

• C06D5/00

  Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets (explosive compositions containing an oxidizer, fuels for rocket engines intended for reaction with an oxidant other than air C06B) · CPC title

• B60R21/264 Primary

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

• B60R21/2644 Primary

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

• B60R2021/26076

  characterised by casing · CPC title

• B60R2021/2648

  comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers · CPC title