US 6,485,051 B1 · Gas generator

Abstract

A gas generator that can controllably allow the airbag to inflate and expand slowly at an initial stage of the inflation and thereafter inflate and expand rapidly so that the intended function of the airbag can be fulfilled. In the gas generator, an enclosed space (S) in a housing (1) is partitioned into two combustion chambers (3, 4), in which gas generating agents (6), a filtering member (7) and an igniter (8, 9) are arranged, respectively. The combustion chambers (3, 4) are communicated to each other through the filtering member (7). The igniters are operated with time difference so that the airbag can be inflated and expanded moderately by a small amount of gas generated in one combustion chamber at the initial stage of inflation and then is inflated and expanded rapidly by a large amount of gas generated in the respective combustion chambers, thus achieving multistage control of the expansion of the airbag.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A gas generator comprising a housing having a plurality of gas discharging holes and forming an enclosed space in an interior thereof,

wherein the housing is composed of a short, cylindrical, outer casing and upper and lower lids and for closing the outer casing at upper and lower ends thereof,
wherein the enclosed space is partitioned into two, upper and lower, combustion chambers by a partition member arranged between the upper lid and the lower lid and in the combustion chambers, gas generating agents for generating high temperature gas by burning are packed and at least one filtering member is arranged to surround the gas generating agents,
wherein the lower lid forms thereon a long, cylindrical, inner casing extending through the partition member into the upper combustion chamber and a short, cylindrical, inner casing extending into the lower combustion chamber,
wherein igniters for burning the gas generating agents in their combustion chambers are arranged in the inner casings, respectively.

1 more element

A gas generator comprising a housing having a plurality of gas discharging holes and forming an enclosed space in an interior thereof, wherein

the housing is formed by an elongated, cylindrical, outer casing with closed openings at both ends thereof,
the enclosed space is partitioned into two combustion chambers by a partition member,
in the combustion chambers, gas generating agents for generating high temperature gas by burning are packed and at least one filtering member is arranged to surround the gas generating agents,
two igniters for burning the gas generating agents in their combustion chambers are respectively arranged at both ends of the outer casing, and
the combustion chambers communicate with each other so that gas generated in one chamber of the two combustion chambers flows into the other chamber of the two combustion chambers by means of passing through at least one filtering member.

2 more elements

A gas generator comprising a housing having a plurality of gas discharging holes and forming an enclosed space in an interior thereof, wherein

the enclosed space is partitioned into a plurality of combustion chambers,
gas generating agents for generating high temperature gas by burning are respectively packed in the combustion chambers,
at least one filtering member is arranged so as to surround the gas generating agents,
ignites for burning the gas generating agents in their combustion chambers are arranged in the housing, and
the combustion chambers communicate with one another so that gas generated in one chamber of the plurality of combustion chambers flows into another chamber of the plurality of combustion chambers by means of passing through at least one filtering member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gas generator

Life of this patent

Gas generator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43