GRAIN RETAINER CONSTRUCTION FOR AIR BAG INFLATOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a grain retainer construction for an air bag inflator and, more particularly, to such a construction that creates an increased gap between the propellant and the surrounding pressure vessel so that there is reduced heat transfer between them.

Description of the Background Art

[0002] To secure propellant grains in place in a pressure vessel of an air bag inflator, it is a common practice to utilize "fingers" or elongated retainers which extend through holes in the grains. When the grains are mounted on the retainers, they are normally in contact with or closely adjacent to the wall of the pressure vessel where they are subject to significant heat transfer from the pressure vessel wall when the pressure vessel is exposed to external heat, such as from welding or being exposed to external heat for any other reason. In such known constructions, the propellant grains mounted in the pressure vessel may be subject to auto ignition if the external heat on the pressure vessel exceeds a certain value.

[0003] It is important, therefore, to find ways of reducing the heat transfer from the pressure vessel wall to the propellant grains mounted therein to increase the safety of the inflator and also to reduce operating pressures in the pressure vessel by reducing the temperature and burn rate of the propellant grain. The new and improved grain retainer construction of the present invention is not subject to the above described disadvantages and fills the need for a new and improved grain retainer construction that increases the safety of the air bag inflator.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The grain retainer construction of the present invention generally comprises one or more cantilevered fingers or beams which support propellant grains in the pressure vessel by extending through apertures in the grains. During the assembly of the pressure vessel, the fingers or beams are deformed inwardly away from the wall of the pressure vessel to increase the gap between the pressure vessel wall and the propellant grains mounted on the fingers or beams. In this manner, the increased gap insures minimal heat transfer as air is a poor conductor of heat compared to metals. This in turn reduces operating pressures in the pressure vessel by reducing the temperature and burn rate of the generant thus increasing the safety margin in the air bag inflator.

[0005] The fingers or beams may be deformed inwardly during assembly of the pressure vessel in various ways, such as intentional bending of the cantilevered fingers or beams, contact of the pressure vessel wall with the fingers or beams during assembly to deform them inwardly, or contact of the pressure vessel wall during assembly with some of the mounted propellant grains to deform the finger or beam supporting them inwardly. Within the scope of the present invention, it is noted that the fingers or beams may be deformed inwardly in any other suitable manner during the assembly of the pressure vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing the propellant grains mounted on a cantilevered finger or beam before assembly of the pressure vessel;

[0007] FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the inward deformation of the supporting finger or beam to increase the air gap between the propellant grains and the wall of the pressure vessel;

[0008] FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view in section of another embodiment of the present invention prior to assembly of the pressure vessel wherein the supporting finger or beam extending through the propellant grains has a laterally extending end portion;

[0009] FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 after assembly of the pressure vessel wherein the laterally extending end portion of the finger or beam in engaged by the pressure vessel wall during assembly to deform the finger or beam inwardly and increase the air gap between some of the propellant grains mounted on the finger or beam and the pressure vessel;

[0010] FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of the present invention prior to assembly of the pressure vessel wherein the propellant grains are mounted on a cantilevered finger or beam; and

[0011] FIGURE 6 is side elevational similar to FIGURE 5 wherein, after assembly of the pressure vessel, the wall of the pressure vessel is in engagement with a portion of one of the propellant grains to bend the finger or beam inwardly and increase the air gap between the pressure vessel wall and the propellant grains mounted on the finger or beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, one ore more propellant grains 10 are mounted on a cantilevered finger or beam 12 which extends upwardly in the combustion chamber 14 enclosed by the pressure vessel wall 16.

[0013] During the assembly of the pressure vessel, the air gap between the propellant grains 10 and the adjacent pressure vessel wall 16 is increased to reduce heat transfer therebetween by deforming the supporting finger or beam laterally inwardly as shown in Figure 2. The finger or beam 12 may be deformed inwardly in any suitable manner, such as by manual deformation thereof or by contact of the finger or beam, or the propellant grains mounted thereon with the pressure vessel wall 16 or other contact surfaces in the pressure vessel. The increase in the air gap G between the propellant grains and the pressure vessel wall 16 reduces heat transfer therebetween which in turn reduces operating pressures in the pressure vessel by reducing the temperature and burn rate of the gas generant to increase the safety margin of the air bag inflator. The increased air gap G also reduces the possibility of auto ignition of the propellant grains when the exterior of the pressure vessel is subject to increased heat by reduced heat transfer between the pressure vessel wall 16 and the adjacent propellant grains 10.

[0014] Figure 3 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the finger or beam 1 12 supporting the propellant grains 1 10 has a laterally extending end portion 120 at the upper end thereof. During assembly of the pressure vessel, the wall 1 16 thereof engages the laterally extending end portion 120 of the finger or beam 1 12 to deform it inwardly as shown in Figure 4 to increase the air gap between the propellant grains 1 10 mounted on the finger or beam and the adjacent pressure vessel wall 1 16. [0015] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention. Prior to the assembly of the pressure vessel, the propellant grains 210 are mounted on a cantilevered finger or beam 212 disposed within the combustion chamber 214. Upon assembly of the pressure vessel, the wall 216 of the pressure vessel engages the corner of the lower propellant grain 210 to deform the finger or beam 212 inwardly as shown in Figure 6 wherein the gap between the propellant grains 210 and the pressure vessel wall 216 is increased to reduce heat transfer between the pressure vessel wall and the propellant grains.

[0016] Within the scope of the present invention, the cantilevered finger or beam 12, 1 12, 212 may be deformed inwardly during assembly of the pressure vessel in any suitable manner to increase the air gap between the propellant grains and the adjacent wall of the pressure vessel to reduce heat transfer therebetween and increase the safety margin of the air bag inflator.

[0017] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.