Methods and apparatus for supplying gas under high pressure to weldable air bag vessels with a gas passage formed therein, and like products, and then weld-sealing the passage

A method for supplying gas under extreme pressure to a weldable air bag canister, having an opening in a wall thereof through which gas may be charged to the canister, and weld sealing the opening with a welding insert, after the canister has been charged with an inert gas under a heavy pressure measured in thousands of pounds per square inch, the method employing an electrode welding head and weld insert supplying assembly having a lower tubular end surrounding an insert dispensing opening therein and an electrode movable through said tubular end from retracted to welding position, a ball delivery part having an insert receiving opening and operable in an insert passageway system having an upstream and downstream portion in said assembly, and a deformable seal system in said passageway system and forming a part thereof for sealing said insert delivery part, the insert delivery part having a first retention position in the downstream portion of said passageway system in which its insert accommodating opening is inboard of said seal system and being movable to a second insert releasing position communicating with said tubular end of the assembly comprising the steps of:

• (a). relatively axially moving the canister and said welding head and weld insert supplying assembly to dispose said lower tubular end in abutting sealing relationship with the canister around the opening therein;
• (b). separating individual inserts from a supply thereof and furnishing one at a time to said part opening;
• (c). maintaining said insert delivery part in said retention position while supplying gas under pressure to said assembly to communicate with the insert dispensing opening and the opening in the canister;
• (d). then moving said insert delivery part from its retention to second insert releasing position to supply an insert from said insert receiving opening to said tubular end and the canister opening;
• (e). moving said electrode to welding position and supplying a welding current to said electrode to weld the insert in said opening and seal said opening;
• and
• (f). depressurizing the said assembly and restoring the electrode to retracted position.

Apparatus for delivering inserts singly to an air bag canister having a weldable wall with an opening therein for admitting gas to the canister, and for welding an insert in position in said opening to seal it after the gas has been charged comprising:

• (a). a pressure sealed welding head and insert delivery assembly having a tubular portion for engaging around a gas charging opening in said wall of the gas bag canister, said assembly including a welding electrode movable from a removed position down said tubular portion to contact an insert which has been delivered to said opening;
• (b). said assembly being connected to a supply of gas under high pressure and having a gas passage leading to said tubular portion with a gas control operable to supply gas to said opening at a predesignated time;
• (c). said assembly further having an insert delivery passage system, defined by a marginal wall with an upstream and downstream portion, leading from outside said assembly to said tubular portion;
• (d). a deformable seal system in said assembly associated with said insert delivery passage system to form a part of the marginal wall thereof;
• (e). insert delivery mechanism for said insert delivery passage system including a part having an insert accommodating portion movable from a position outside said assembly past said seal system to a position in said insert delivery passage system downstream from said seal system, said insert delivery mechanism being operable to retain an insert in said passage system until gas has been charged to said opening, and then operable to release said insert to said tubular portion to permit it to move to close said opening;
• (f). electrical elements for supplying a welding current to said electrode;
• and
• (g). a control system operable to operate said insert delivery mechanism to deliver an insert to said insert delivery passage system inboard of said seal system before said gas control is operated to charge said gas to said opening, and then, after gas has been charged to said canister through said opening, to deliver an insert to said opening to close it;
• and to then operate said element for moving said welding electrode to contact said insert and weld it in said opening to trap said gas charge therein.

Apparatus for delivering weldable inserts singly to an air bag canister having a weldable wall with a gas charging opening therein for charging gas to the canister, and for welding an insert in position in said opening to seal it after the gas has been charged, comprising:

• (a). a pressure sealed welding head and insert delivery assembly having a head portion for engaging the canister around said gas charging opening, said assembly including a welding electrode for contacting an insert which has been delivered to said gas charging opening;
• (b). said assembly having a gas passage communicating with a supply of gas under high pressure and with said head portion, and an openable and closeable gas control operable to supply gas from said supply to said gas passage at a predesignated time;
• (c). said assembly further having an insert delivery passage system with an upstream and downstream portion defined by a marginal wall, leading from outside said assembly to said head portion;
• (d). a deformable seal system for said assembly associated with said insert delivery passage system and forming a part of said marginal wall thereof;
• (e). an insert delivery mechanism for said insert delivery passage system having an insert delivery part movable in said passage system, the insert delivery part having an insert accommodating passage with an insert therein movable from a retention position in said passage system in which the insert accommodating passage is inboard of said seal system to a second position in which said insert accommodating passage communicates with said head portion to release an insert thereto and permit the released insert, while exposed to the pressure of said gas, to move to close said canister opening;
• (f). electrical elements for supplying a welding current to said electrode;
• and
• (g). a control system operable to maintain said insert delivery part in said retention position while opening said gas control to supply gas to said head portion and, only after gas has been charged to said canister, to move said insert delivery part from retention to second position to deliver an insert to said gas charging opening;
• and to then operate said element for moving said welding electrode from retracted position to contact said insert and energize said electrical elements and electrode to weld the insert in said opening and trap the gas charged.

Apparatus for delivering weldable inserts singly to an air bag canister having a weldable wall with a gas charging opening therein for charging gas to the canister, and for welding an insert in position in said opening to seal it after the gas has been charged;

• comprising:
• (a) a pressure sealed welding head and insert delivery assembly having a tubular head portion with a tubular seal for engaging the canister around said gas charging opening, said assembly including a welding electrode and an element for moving it from a retracted position through said tubular head portion to an extended welding position;
• (b) said assembly having a gas passage communicating with a supply of gas under high pressure and with said tubular head portion, and a gas control operable to supply gas from said supply to said gas passage at a predesignated time;
• (c) said assembly further having an insert delivery passage system with an upstream and downstream portion defined by a marginal wall, leading from outside said assembly to said tubular head portion;
• (d) a deformable seal system for said assembly associated with said insert delivery passage system and forming a part of said marginal wall thereof;
• (e) an insert delivery mechanism for said inert delivery passage system having an insert delivery part movable in said passage system, the insert delivery part having an insert accommodating member movable from a retention position in said passage system in which the insert accommodating member is inboard of said seal system to a second position in which said insert accommodating member releases an insert;
• (f) electrical elements for supplying a welding current to said electrode;
• and
• (g) A control system operable to maintain said insert delivery part in said retention position while opening said gas control to supply gas to said tubular portion and then operating said element for moving said welding electrode from retracted position to energize said electrical elements and electrode to weld the insert in said opening and trap the gas charged.