Gas generator and airbag device

A method of operating a gas generator, the gas generator being configured to be incorporated in an airbag device and to supply gas to an airbag for inflating the airbag, the gas generator including:

• an igniter;
• a gas generation source configured to generate the gas upon actuation of the igniter;
• a housing accommodating the igniter and the gas generation source inside the housing;
• and
• a plurality of gas discharge ports formed in the housing, the plurality of gas discharge ports being closed by a closing structure prior to the actuation of the igniter, and opened when the closing structure is ruptured by a pressure of the gas generated by the actuation of the igniter, to allow an inside and an outside of the housing to connect with each other, the method comprising:
• forming the plurality of gas discharge ports in the housing, the plurality of gas discharge ports including a plurality of first gas discharge ports and one or a plurality of second gas discharge ports, the one or each of the plurality of the second discharge ports having a higher opening pressure than each of the plurality of the first gas discharge ports,
• arranging the plurality of first gas discharge ports in the housing such that, in an assembled state in which the gas generator is incorporated in the airbag device, a structure of the airbag device prevents some of the plurality of first gas discharge ports from opening by the pressure of the gas,
• arranging the one or the plurality of second gas discharge ports in the housing such that, in the assembled state, the structure of the airbag device does not prevent the one or at least some of the plurality of second gas discharge ports from opening by the pressure of the gas, and
• causing, among the plurality of gas discharge ports, only the plurality of first gas discharge ports to open by the pressure of the gas when the igniter is actuated in a stand-alone state prior to the incorporation of the gas generator into the airbag device, and causing, among the plurality of gas discharge ports, the first gas discharge ports, excluding the some of the plurality of the first gas discharge ports, and the one or the at least some of the plurality of the second gas discharge ports to open by the pressure of the gas when the igniter is actuated in the assembled state.

A gas generator, comprising:

• a gas generation source configured to generate the gas upon actuation of an igniter;
• a housing accommodating the igniter and a gas generation source therein;
• and
• a plurality of gas discharge ports formed in the housing, each of the plurality of gas discharge ports being closed by a closing structure prior to actuation of the igniter, and opened when the closing structure is ruptured by a pressure of the gas generated by the actuation of the gas generation source, the plurality of gas discharge ports including:
• first gas discharge ports formed in a first region covered by a structure of an airbag device when the gas generator is assembled in the airbag device and in a second region other than the first region, in an assembled state in which the gas generator is incorporated in the airbag device, the structure of the airbag device prevents some of the first gas discharge ports in the first region from opening by the pressure of the gas, and
• a second gas discharge port formed at least in the second region, the second gas discharge port having a higher opening pressure than each of the first gas discharge ports, in the assembled state, the structure of the airbag device does not prevent the second gas discharge port in the second region from opening by the pressure of the gas, wherein
• an opening pressure of the first gas discharge ports are set so as only the first gas discharge port formed in the first region and the second region to open by the pressure of the gas when actuated in a stand-alone state prior to incorporating the gas generator into the airbag device, and
• an opening pressure of the second gas discharge port in the second region is set so as to open by the pressure of the gas when the igniter is actuated in the assembled state.