ASSEMBLY FORMED FROM A COVER CAP OF A DIFFUSER OF A PIPED GAS GENERATOR AND A DEFLECTOR ELEMENT, PIPED GAS GENERATOR, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PIPED GAS GENERATOR

Abstract

In an assembly group (12) consisting of a cap (14) of a diffusor of a tubular gas generator (10) and a deflector element (16), the cap (14) comprises an outflow opening for gas generated by the tubular gas generator (10) and the deflector element (16) comprises a discharge portion (34) having at least one discharge opening (42b) through which gas exits the cap (14). The deflector element (16) is inserted into the outflow opening so that the discharge portion (34) protrudes laterally outwardly through the outflow opening, projects there from the cap (14), and an edge portion of the deflector element (16) abuts on an edge of the outflow opening at an inner face of a wall of the cap (14). The discharge portion (34) of the deflector element (16) is pushed from an interior of the cap (14) through the outflow opening until the edge portion abuts on the inner face of the edge of the outflow opening, and subsequently the cap (14) is firmly fixed to the tubular gas generator (10).

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. An assembly group (12) comprising a cap (14) of a diffusor (18) of a tubular gas generator (10) and a deflector element (16), wherein the cap (14) comprises an outflow opening (30) for gas generated by the tubular gas generator (10) and the deflector element (16) comprises a discharge portion (34) having at least one discharge opening (42a, 42b) through which gas leaves the cap (14), wherein the deflector element (16) is inserted into the outflow opening (30) such that the discharge portion (34) protrudes laterally outwardly through the outflow opening (30), projects there from the cap (14), and an edge portion (36) of the deflector element (16) abuts at an edge of the outflow opening (30) on an inner face (23) of a wall of the cap (14).

14. The assembly group (12) according to claim 13, wherein the discharge portion (34) is pot-shaped and the edge portion (36) is disposed at a cap-side edge of the discharge portion (34), while the at least one discharge opening (42a, 42b) is provided in a sidewall (40) of the discharge portion (34).

15. The assembly group (12) according to claim 13, wherein the deflector element (16) is a one-piece component part separate from the cap (14).

16. The assembly group (12) according to claim 13, wherein the deflector element (16) is pushed from the inner face (23) of the cap (14) through the outflow opening (30).

17. The assembly group (12) according to claim 13, wherein a positioning structure (46) which permits to mount the deflector element (16) on the cap (14) only in a predetermined orientation is provided at the cap (14) and at the deflector element (16).

18. The assembly group (12) according to claim 13, wherein the deflector element (16) comprises two oppositely directed discharge openings (42a, 42b).

19. The assembly group (12) according to claim 18, wherein the two discharge openings (42a, 42b) have different cross-sectional areas.

20. The assembly group (12) according to claim 13, wherein the at least one discharge opening (42a, 42b) points along the axial direction (A).

21. The assembly group (12) according to claim 13, wherein a rattle protection (52) is provided at the deflector element (16).

22. The assembly group (12) according to claim 21, wherein the rattle protection (52) is formed by a radial projection (54) on the edge portion (36) which is provided for abutting on an outer circumference of the tubular gas generator (10) and/or is biased to press against the tubular gas generator (10).

23. A tubular gas generator (10) comprising a thrust-neutral diffusor (18) provided at an axial end (11) and having a plurality of gas outlet openings (20) on a circumferential wall of the diffusor (18), and comprising an assembly group (12) according to claim 13, wherein the cap (14) is slipped over the diffusor (18) and a collection chamber (28) through which gas flows to the deflector element (16) is formed between the diffusor (18) and the cap (14).

24. A method for manufacturing a tubular gas generator (10) according to claim 23, comprising the following steps: the discharge portion (34) of the deflector element (16) is pushed from an interior (44) of the cap (14) through the outflow opening (30) until the edge portion (36) abuts on the inner face (23) of the edge of the outflow opening (30), and subsequently the cap (14) is firmly fixed to the tubular gas generator (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] In the following, the invention shall be described in detail by means of plural embodiments with reference to the attached figures, where in the drawings:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a tubular gas generator according to the invention comprising an assembly group according to the invention in the completely mounted state;

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the assembly group and of an axial end of the tubular gas generator from FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a completely mounted assembly group according to the invention consisting of a cap and a deflector element;

[0053] FIG. 4 shows the assembly group from FIG. 3 in a different view;

[0054] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a cap of an assembly group according to the invention;

[0055] FIGS. 6 and 7 show schematic perspective views of different deflector elements of an assembly group according to the invention; and

[0056] FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective view of the arrangement of a deflector element in relation to the tubular gas generator in the tubular gas generator from FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

[0057] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a tubular gas generator 10 comprising an assembly group 12 attached to an axial end 11 and consisting of a cap 14 and a deflector element 16.

[0058] As is shown in FIG. 2, the tubular gas generator 10 comprises at the axial end 11 a diffusor 18 that includes an outflow region having a plurality of circumferentially spread gas outlet openings 20.

[0059] All of the gas outlet openings 20 are radially directed (relating to an axial direction A that coincides with the longitudinal direction of the tubular gas generator 10) so that the tubular gas generator 10 per se is preferably thrust-neutral.

[0060] The cap 14 in the example shown here is a tube length having a somewhat larger diameter than the diffusor 18 of the tubular gas generator 10 with an open end 22 and a closed end 24 (see also FIG. 5). The open end 22 is attached onto the diffusor 18 of the tubular gas generator 10 and is adjacent to a circumferential wall of the tubular gas generator 10 to which it is also fastened in a firm and gastight manner.

[0061] There is a free space between the diffusor 18 and an inner face 23 of a circumferential wall 26 of the cap 14, the free space forming a collection chamber 28 for gas exiting the tubular gas generator 10 when the latter is activated. The closed end 24 of the cap 14 in the shown embodiment is spaced a little from the axial end of the diffusor 18 in the axial direction A. The collection chamber 28 therefore extends in the circumferential direction around the diffusor 18 and in the axial direction A extends a little beyond the axial end of the diffusor 18.

[0062] In the circumferential wall 26, the cap 14 in this case includes one single outflow opening 30 that is located in direct vicinity to the closed end 24. In this example, the outflow opening 30 is substantially circular and significantly larger than one single gas outlet opening 20 in the diffusor 18.

[0063] The deflector element 16 is inserted in the outflow opening 30 so that it projects from the cap 14 in the radial direction rG (in relation to the axial direction A).

[0064] In the configuration shown here, the deflector element 16 is a one-piece component part and is fabricated separately from the cap 14.

[0065] The deflector element 16 consists of a pot-shaped discharge portion 34 and an edge portion 36 that projects radially outwardly from a cap-side open end 38 of the discharge portion 34 (in this case the radial direction rD is related to a longitudinal direction of the discharge portion 34).

[0066] The discharge portion 34 has a peripheral sidewall 40 and a lid 41 which seals the sidewall 40 in a gastight manner at the longitudinal end of the deflector element 16 opposite to the open end 38.

[0067] In this example, the deflector element 16 includes two discharge openings 42a, 42b in the sidewall 40.

[0068] Gas that flows out of the diffusor 18 of the tubular gas generator 10 into the cap 14 flows through the outflow opening 30 into the deflector element 16 and, from there, through the two discharge openings 42a, 42b to the outside.

[0069] For example, an inflatable chamber of an airbag which can be filled via the tubular gas generator 10 (not shown) is connected to each of the discharge openings 42a, 42b. The gas can be directed from the discharge openings 42a, 42b also to any other applications.

[0070] In the examples shown here, exactly two discharge openings 42a, 42b are provided in the deflector element 16, but the number could also be chosen differently.

[0071] The two discharge openings 42a, 42b are opposed to each other in this case and are oriented so that each of their surface areas points to the axial direction A of the tubular gas generator 10. This arrangement is suited, for example, to fill a side airbag which is initially deployed in two directions thanks to the opposite outflow openings 42a, 42b.

[0072] It is conceivable to choose the cross-sectional areas of the two discharge openings 42a, 42b to be of equal size. As a result, the gas flowing out of the tubular gas generator 10 is divided into two gas flows which comprise equal amounts of gas.

[0073] FIGS. 6 and 7, however, show variants in which the discharge opening 42a has a larger cross-sectional area than the discharge opening 42b, thus causing the two gas flows exiting through the respective discharge opening 42a, 42b to provide different amounts of gas. The gas flows can be divided at a ratio of 60/40 or 70/30, for example. Of course, the exact division is left to the skilled person's choice.

[0074] The shape of the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening 42a, 42b can also be selected at will. In this example, in FIG. 6 a rectangular cross-sectional shape is selected for each of the two discharge openings 42a, 42b, whereas in FIG. 7 the smaller discharge opening 42b has a circular shape.

[0075] The deflector elements 16 of FIGS. 6 and 7 merely differ by the shape of the discharge openings 42a, 42b and otherwise are identical as to their dimensions and their geometry.

[0076] Thus, for the respective application, from a choice of different deflector elements having suitable discharge openings 42a, 42b a deflector element 16 can be selected which is then mounted to the cap 14, while only one single variant of the cap 14 has to be provided which is adapted to the tubular gas generator 10.

[0077] The two discharge openings 42a, 42b are the only openings in this case through which gas flows out of the tubular gas generator 10 into the environment.

[0078] For mounting, initially the deflector element 16 is pushed from an interior 44 of the cap 14, with the lid 41 first, through the outflow opening 30, until the edge portion 36 abuts on the inner face of the circumferential wall 26 peripherally around the edge of the outflow opening 30. This is evident from FIG. 2, for example. The edge portion 36 follows the curvature of the circumferential wall 26, as is visible in FIGS. 6 and 7. This connection seals the transition from the cap 14 to the deflector element 16 and prevents a noteworthy escape of gas.

[0079] The discharge portion 34 now protrudes in the radial direction rG from the circumferential wall 26 of the cap 14 so that gas exiting through the discharge opening 42a, 42b flows into the environment of the tubular gas generator 10 for the intended application.

[0080] In the example shown here, a positioning structure 46 is provided which predetermines an exact orientation of the deflector element 16 relative to the cap 14 and which also prevents the deflector element 16 from rotating relative to the cap 14. The positioning structure 46 is formed in this case by a projection 48 at the edge of the outflow opening 30 which protrudes into the outflow opening 30, as well as by a corresponding groove 50 in the sidewall 40 of the deflector element 16. This ensures that the deflector element 16 can only be pushed through the outflow opening 30 when the projection 48 engages in the groove 50.

[0081] It is conceivable to select the dimensions of the deflector element 16 and the outflow opening 30 such that the deflector element 16 is held in the outflow opening 30 by a certain clamping effect. However, the deflector element 16 is not provided to be significantly deformed while it is mounted to the cap 14.

[0082] In order to prevent undesired movements of the deflector element 16 which might result in noise development, for example, and, optionally, to fix a position of the deflector element 16 with respect to the cap 14 and the diffusor 18 of the tubular gas generator 10, in this example a rattle protection 52 is configured in the form of a projection 54 on the edge portion 36 which projects from the remaining edge portion 36 in the radial direction rD (see FIGS. 2, 6 and 8).

[0083] After mounting the deflector element 16 from inside to the cap 14, the cap 14 is attached onto the axial end 11 of the tubular gas generator 10 along the axial direction A and is slipped over the diffusor 18 so that the diffusor 18 comes to be located in the interior 44 of the cap 14.

[0084] The outflow opening 30 and the deflector element 16 in this case are located in the radial direction rG directly above the collection chamber 28. In this example, the outflow opening 30 in the axial direction A extends partially beyond the axial end of the diffusor 18.

[0085] The rattle protection 52 is now adjacent to the outer circumference of the tubular gas generator 10 and may be biased against the tubular gas generator 10 so that the deflector element 16 is retained at a fixed position between the tubular gas generator 10 and the cap 14.

[0086] Finally, the cap 14 is rigidly fastened at its open end 22 to the circumferential wall of the tubular gas generator 10, for example by crimping, flaring or, where appropriate, roller-burnishing or welding.

[0087] The assembly group 12 consisting of the cap 14 and the deflector element 16 now forms a unit with the tubular gas generator 10 and can be installed together with the latter.