EP0620140A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Inflatable restraint system reaction canister
Assignee: Autoliv ASP Inc
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Filing: 1994-03-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-03-22
Abstract
Abstract An extruded aluminium trough-shaped body part (10) for a vehicle occupant inflatable air bag restraining system has side walls (30,32) defining a cavity for accommodating an air bag (60), side wall portions (20,22) defining an integral open generally circular inflator holder and end plate attachment preparations in the form of screw slots. The body part (10) also includes internal attachment sleeves (94) for mounting an air bag retainer/diffuser (90) and gas cooling cavities (108) containing thermally conductive material (109) and provided with rearwardly facing vent holes (106). An inflator is held in the inflator holder (18) by end plates screwed to the attachment preparations at each end of the body part (10). A separate end base may project through each end plate to engage an end of an inflator by means of a projection.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R. Lauritzen
- 👤 Larry D. Rose
- 👤 David J. Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/217; B60R21/2171; B60R21/201; B60R21/26; B60R21/276
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A trough-shaped body part (10) for a lightweight reaction canister (12) for an inflator-containing, inflatable passive restraint system, said body part (10) being form by extrusion fabrication and comprising: an integrally shaped inflator holder (18) of partial, generally circular cross section, said body part having first and second opposite ends (36, 38) and first and second opposite side walls (30, 32) with a plurality of end plate attachment preparations (78) at each opposite end (36, 38).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
The trough-shaped body part (10) of claim 1 wherein said inflator holder (18) comprises first and second side wall portions (20, 22) joined together by way of a concave base portion (24) and wherein said inflator holder (18) defines a gap opening (26).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The trough-shaped body part (10) of claim 2 wherein said gap opening (26) is of at least about 45°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The trough-shaped body part of any preceding claim wherein said inflator holder (18') comprises first and second side wall portions (20', 22') joined together by way of a diffuser portion (130) which permits the passage of gas therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The trough-shaped body part of claim 4 wherein said diffuser portion (130) bridges an arc of at least about 30° between said first and second side wall portions (20', 22') of said inflator holder (18').
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The trough-shaped body part of claim 4 wherein said diffuser portion (130) bridges an arc of at least about 120° between said first and second side wall portions (20', 22') of said inflator holder (18').
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The trough-shaped body part of any preceding claim wherein said body part side walls (30, 32) are joined to said inflator holder (18) by connecting portions (42, 44), wherein said body part (10) forms at least one gas cooling cavity (108) adjacent one of said connecting portions (42, 44) with said adjacent connecting portion including at least one gas vent hole (106) permitting the venting of gas from said cooling cavity (108).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The trough-shaped body part of claim 7 wherein said cooling cavity contains a thermal conductive material (109).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The trough-shaped body part (10) of any preceding claim wherein at least one of said first and second opposite side walls (30, 32) additionally comprises at least one attachment sleeve preparation (94) adapted for the attachment to said body part (10) of at least one device selected from the group consisting of an air bag retainer, a diffuser, and an air bag retainer/diffuser (90).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The trough-shaped body part (10) of any preceding claim additionally comprising at least one integrally formed mounting portion (126A) of an external type for mounting of said reaction canister body part (10) into a vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The trough-shaped body part (10) of any preceding claim additionally comprising at least one integrally formed mounting portion (126B) forming a shielded cavity (128) within said reaction canister body part (10).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
A lightweight reaction canister assembly (16'') for an inflatable passive restraint system, comprising: an extruded trough-shaped body part (10'') having an integral shaped inflator holder (18''), opposite ends (36, 38), opposite side walls (30, 32), and a plurality of end closure attachment preparations (78'',118'') at each opposite end; an elongated inflator gas generator having an inflator chamber (140) within the inflator holder (18'') of said body part (10''); and first and second end closure (144, 154, 148, 158) attached to a respectively associated opposite end of said body part by means (124A'', 124B'') positioned in cooperative relation with the respective end closure attachment preparations (78'',118''), each of said first and second end closures further having an inflator chamber mating portion (166) positioned to receive and support an associated one of the ends (160, 162) of said inflator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The lightweight reaction canister assembly (16'') of claim 12 wherein said inflator chamber (140) comprises a seamless extruded tube and wherein at least one of said end closures comprise an end base (154,158).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The lightweight reaction canister assembly (16'') of claim 12 wherein said inflator chamber (140) comprises a drawn tube chamber and wherein at least one of said end closures comprises an end base (154, 158).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The lightweight reaction canister assembly (16'') of claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein said inflator chamber (140) comprises an aluminium alloy of high strength.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The lightweight reaction canister assembly (16'') of any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein said inflator holder comprises first and second side wall portions (20, 22) joined together by way of a concave base portion (24) with said inflator holder (18) defining a gap opening (26) and wherein said inflator is of a thrust neutral type.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
The lightweight reaction canister assembly of any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein said inflator holder (18') comprises first and second side wall portions (20',22') joined together by way of a diffuser portion (130) which bridges an arc of at least about 30° between said first and second side wall portions (20', 22') of said inflator holder (18') and which permits the passage of gas therethrough and wherein said inflator is of a directional type.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
The lightweight reaction canister assembly of any of claims 12 to 16 wherein said inflator holder comprises first and second side wall portions (20, 22) joined together by way of a concave base portion (24) and wherein said inflator holder (18) defines a gap opening (26) of at least about 45° and wherein said assembly (16) additionally comprises an air bag retainer/diffuser (90) and wherein said body part (10) additionally comprises at least one attachment sleeve preparation (94) adapted for the attachment of said air bag retainer/diffuser (90) to said body part (10).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
The lightweight reaction canister assembly of any one of claims 12 to 18 additionally comprising an air bag assembly protective cover (112), wherein said inflator holder (18) additionally comprises at least one integrally formed protective cover retaining preparation (110) and wherein said cover (112) is retained to said assembly by means (114) in cooperative relation with said cover retaining preparation (110).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The lightweight reaction canister assembly of claim 19 wherein the retaining means (114) comprises an elastomeric band placed about the outer edge of the cover and secured within said cover retaining preparation (110).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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