Inflator protection device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an inflator protection device, the inflator protection device comprising: an inflator in which an air hole is formed, the air hole being formed around an outer surface of the inflator and configured to discharge gas; and a protector configured to surround the inflator and configured to have a gas discharge space defined therein, the gas discharge space configured to include a closed cross-sectional structure to conform to the gas hole, therefore, the gas is supplied to the airbag cushion through the corresponding openings at the two ends of the gas discharge space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an inflator protection device that improves the assembly structure between the inflator and the protector to effectively suppress damage to the airbag cushion caused by high-temperature gas. Background Technology

[0002] An inflator configured to supply gas to the inside of the airbag is installed in the airbag module.

[0003] Therefore, when a vehicle collision occurs, the sensors detect the accident and quickly supply gas to the airbag cushion via an inflator, thereby immediately deploying the airbag cushion and protecting passengers from the impact of the vehicle.

[0004] In addition, when the inflator detects a signal from the sensor, the inflator immediately surges and ignites the gas generator through the ignition device to produce gas.

[0005] However, since the gas produced by the inflator is a high-temperature, high-pressure gas, there is a problem that the airbag may be damaged if the gas comes into direct contact with the airbag.

[0006] Therefore, a protector can be installed at the connection between the inflator and the airbag cushion to prevent the gas from coming into direct contact with the airbag cushion.

[0007] The descriptions in this Background section are intended only to enhance understanding of the background of this disclosure and should not be construed as an admission that they correspond to prior art known to those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0008] This utility model summary is provided to introduce some concepts in a simplified form, which will be further described in the detailed embodiments below. This utility model summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to help determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0009] In general, an inflator protection device is provided, the inflator protection device comprising: an inflator having vents formed therein, the vents being formed around an outer surface of the inflator and configured to release gas; and a protector configured to surround the inflator and configured to have a gas release space defined therein, the gas release space being configured to include a closed cross-sectional structure to correspond to the vents, thereby supplying gas to the airbag cushion through corresponding openings at both ends of the gas release space.

[0010] The protector may include: a central support member configured to be supported by an outer surface of a first side of the inflator; side covers connected to both ends of the central support member and configured to cover the air vent at a location spaced apart from the air vent; and end supports respectively connected to the respective side covers and configured to be supported by an outer surface of a second side of the inflator.

[0011] The central support member may be formed in a flat plate shape, with its center configured to support the inflator. The side cover may be formed in a shape that bends from the central support member along the inflator to surround the outer surface of the inflator. The end supports may be formed in a shape that bends from the side cover toward the inflator, with the outer surface of the inflator configured to support the respective ends of the end supports.

[0012] The protector is configured such that a flange can be formed at the corner where the central support and the side cover connect.

[0013] The side cover can be formed in an arc shape corresponding to the curvature of the outer surface of the inflator, such that the gas discharge space is formed in the arc shape.

[0014] The inner surface of the connection between the side cover and the end support can be formed into a concave curved shape.

[0015] The outer diameter of the inflator can be greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the inscribed circle in the ends of the central support and the end support.

[0016] The outer diameter of the inflator may be greater than or equal to the width of the slot formed between the end supports.

[0017] The outer diameter of the protector can be greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the inflator.

[0018] A stud can be attached to the inflator, and the protector can include a stud hole formed in the protector, and the stud can be inserted into the stud hole when the inflator and the protector are assembled together. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the inflator and protector, which are separated from each other according to this disclosure;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the assembled inflator and protector according to this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the components of the inflator and protector according to this disclosure;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the flange and stud hole formed in the protector according to the present disclosure.

[0023] Throughout the accompanying drawings and detailed description, unless otherwise described or provided, the same or similar reference numerals may be construed as referring to the same or similar elements, features, and structures. The drawings may be drawn not to scale, and for clarity, illustration, and convenience, the relative dimensions, scale, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a full understanding of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely illustrative and is not limited to the order set forth herein, but rather, changes may be made that will become apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application, except for operations that must occur in a specific order.

[0025] The features described herein may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples provided herein are merely to illustrate some of the many feasible ways of implementing the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein, which will become apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application.

[0026] The advantages and features of this disclosure, as well as the methods for achieving these advantages and features, will become clear from the following detailed description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but will be implemented in various forms. Embodiments of this disclosure are provided to fully disclose the disclosure, and those skilled in the art will fully understand the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, the terminology used in this specification is for explaining the embodiments and not for limiting the disclosure.

[0027] This document may use terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) to describe components. Each of these terms is not used to define the nature, order, or sequence of the corresponding component, but only to distinguish the corresponding component from other components. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may be referred to as a first component.

[0028] Throughout the specification, when a component is described as "connected to" or "attached to" another component, that component may be directly "connected to" or "attached to" the other component, or there may be one or more other components in between. Conversely, when an element is described as "directly connected to" or "directly attached to" another element, there may be no other elements in between.

[0029] In the description of the embodiments, when any element is described as being formed above or below another element, such a description includes cases where the two elements are formed in direct contact with each other and cases where the two elements are in indirect contact with each other and one or more other elements are inserted between the two elements. Additionally, when an element is described as being formed above or below another element, such a description can include cases where one element is formed on the upper or lower side relative to the other element.

[0030] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well. It will be further understood that the terms “comprising” and / or “including” as used herein specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0031] The inflator protection device according to this disclosure includes an inflator 100 and a protector 200. The inflator 100 is configured to have vents 110 formed around its outer surface to discharge gas. The protector 200 is assembled around the shape of the inflator 100 and configured to have a gas discharge space A with a closed cross-sectional structure having vents 110, so as to supply gas to the airbag cushion through openings at both ends of the gas discharge space A.

[0032] Reference Figures 1 to 3 The inflator 100 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of air holes 110 are formed at regular intervals in some length sections of the inflator 100, so that gas is discharged through each air hole 110.

[0033] The protector 200 is configured to cover the shape of the vent 110 at a predetermined distance from the vent 110 in the region where the vent 110 is formed, thereby forming a gas discharge space A between the vent 110 and the protector 200.

[0034] In particular, since the inner surface of the gas discharge space A formed by the protector 200 is supported by the outer surface of the inflator 100, the gas discharge space A can have a closed cross-sectional shape.

[0035] In addition, openings are formed at both ends of the gas emission space A, and gas is emitted through the openings and supplied to the airbag cushion.

[0036] In other words, the gas discharged from the inflator 100 is first discharged into a gas discharge space A with a closed cross section, and then supplied to the airbag cushion, thereby preventing the airbag cushion from being damaged by the high-temperature gas. Furthermore, the gas is cooled as it flows through the gas discharge space A, so as to more stably prevent damage to the airbag cushion.

[0037] Additionally, in this disclosure, the protector 200 includes: a central support 200a supported by an outer surface on one side of the inflator 100; a side cover 200b connected to both ends of the central support 200a and shaped to cover the air hole 110 at a location spaced apart from the air hole 110; and an end support 200c connected to the side cover 200b and supported by an outer surface on the other side of the inflator 100.

[0038] Furthermore, in this disclosure, the central support member 200a is formed in a flat plate shape such that the inflator 100 is supported by its center, the side cover 200b is formed in a shape that bends along the inflator 100 from the central support member 200a to surround the outer surface of the inflator 100, and the end support member 200c is formed in a shape that bends from the side cover 200b toward the inflator 100 such that the end of the end support member 200c is supported by the outer surface of the inflator 100.

[0039] Reference Figure 3 The protector 200 is formed with a generally C-shaped cross section, and a flat central support member 200a is formed in the middle of the protector 200. The center of the inner surface of the central support member 200a is supported in a state of linear contact with the outer surface of one side of the inflator 100.

[0040] The side cover 200b is formed to extend from both ends of the central support 200a in a shape symmetrical to each other, and the connection between the central support 200a and the side cover 200b is bent such that the side cover 200b bends along the outer surface of the inflator 100 to surround the left and right outer surfaces of the inflator 100 at a position spaced apart from the air hole 110.

[0041] In addition, the end support 200c is formed to extend from the side cover 200b in a shape symmetrical to each other, and the connection between the side cover 200b and the end support 200c is bent such that the ends of the end support 200c (i.e. the left and right ends of the protector 200) are bent toward the outer surface of the inflator 100, and the end support 200c is supported in a state of linear contact with the outer surface of the other side of the inflator 100.

[0042] That is, the inner surface of the center of the inner surface of the central support member 200a and the two ends of the end support member 200c are supported by the outer surface of the inflator 100, and the side cover 200b is disposed at a position spaced apart from the outer surface of the inflator 100, thereby forming a gas discharge space A with a closed cross section structure between the inner surfaces of the central support member 200a, the side cover 200b and the end support member 200c and the outer surface of the inflator 100.

[0043] Therefore, since the gas emitted from the inflator 100 is first discharged into the gas discharge space A and then supplied to the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion is prevented from being damaged by the high-temperature gas.

[0044] in addition, Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the flange and stud hole formed in the protector according to the present disclosure. In this disclosure, a flange 210 may be formed at the corner connecting the central support 200a and the side cover 200b of the protector 200.

[0045] The flange 210 can be formed by pressing the corner portion into the interior of the protector 200, and with the formation of the flange 210, the bending or breakage of the side cover 200b relative to the central support 200a can be mitigated.

[0046] Therefore, it is possible to prevent the gap between the side covers 200b from widening due to the discharge pressure of the gas discharged through the vent 110, thereby preventing high-temperature gas from directly contacting the airbag cushion and preventing damage to the airbag cushion caused by high-temperature gas.

[0047] Here, multiple flanges 210 can be formed along the corner where the central support 200a and the side cover 200b connect, and the flanges 210 can be formed in symmetrical positions on both sides of each other, or in some cases, in asymmetrical positions.

[0048] Furthermore, in this disclosure, the side cover 200b can be formed into an arc shape corresponding to the curvature of the outer surface of the inflator 100, so that the gas discharge space A can be formed in an arc shape.

[0049] In other words, the inner surface of the side cover 200b is formed at a position concentric with the outer surface of the inflator 100, so the gas discharge space A formed between the side cover 200b and the inflator 100 can be formed in an arc shape.

[0050] Therefore, the gas discharged through the vent 110 is discharged while flowing along the inner surface of the gas discharge space A, thereby exhibiting a cooling effect on the gas.

[0051] However, the gas discharge space A can be formed such that the area near the end support 200c is narrower than the area near the central support 200a, or conversely, by changing the shape of the protector 200, the area near the central support 200a is narrower than the area near the end support 200c, and the end support 200c can be configured to withstand the gas discharge pressure more firmly by adjusting the shape of the gas discharge space A, without widening the gap between the end supports 200c due to the gas discharge pressure.

[0052] Furthermore, in this disclosure, the inner surface of the connection portion between the side cover 200b and the end support 200c can be bent into a concave bending shape.

[0053] Therefore, when the gas discharged through the vent 110 flows along the inner surface of the side cover 200b to the end support 200c, the gas flows along the concave inner surface of the end support 200c, thereby minimizing the widening of the gap between the end supports 200c due to the gas discharge pressure.

[0054] Furthermore, in this disclosure, the outer diameter D of the inflator 100 is... inf The inner diameter D of the inscribed circle in the ends of the central support 200a and the end support 200c can be greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the circle inscribed in the ends of the end support 200c. in .

[0055] Additionally, the outer diameter D of the protector 200 out The outer diameter D of the inflator can be greater than or equal to 100. inf .

[0056] The relationship between these diameters can be expressed as the following inequality.

[0057] D out ≥D inf ≥D in

[0058] D out Outer diameter of the protector

[0059] D inf Outer diameter of the air compressor

[0060] D in The inner diameter of the inscribed circle in the protector

[0061] Specifically, the outer diameter D of the inflator 100 inf It should be larger than the inner diameter D of the inscribed circle. in .

[0062] Therefore, when the inflator 100 is connected to the interior of the protector 200, the central support 200a and the end support 200c can be supported while pressing against the outer surface of the inflator 100, so that the inflator 100 and the protector 200 can be firmly connected.

[0063] Additionally, the outer diameter D of the protector 200 out It should be greater than the outer diameter D of the air inflator by 100. inf .

[0064] Therefore, the inflator 100 can be connected to the protector 200 while being inserted into the protector 200.

[0065] In addition, the outer diameter D of the inflator 100 inf It can be greater than or equal to the width W of the slot S formed between the end supports 200c.

[0066] Specifically, the outer diameter D of the inflator 100 inf It should be greater than the width W of the groove S.

[0067] Therefore, when the inflator 100 is pressed into the slot S to connect the inflator 100 to the protector 200, as the width W of the slot S expands through elastic deformation, the inflator 100 is inserted into the protector 200. During the insertion process, the width W of the slot S, which has already expanded, narrows, and the end support 200c is pressed and supported by the inflator 100, thereby maintaining a firm connection between the inflator 100 and the protector 200.

[0068] Furthermore, in this disclosure, the stud 120 can be connected to the inflator 100, the stud hole 220 can be formed in the protector 200, and when the inflator 100 and the protector 200 are assembled together, the stud 120 can be inserted into the stud hole 220.

[0069] In other words, while the inflator 100 is connected to the interior of the protector 200, the stud 120 is inserted into and connected to the stud hole 220, thereby improving the convenience of assembling the inflator 100 and the protector 200.

[0070] For reference, in this disclosure, the protector 200 may be configured to remove the end support 200c and the side cover 200b in the region corresponding to the portion of the inflator 100 where the air hole 110 is not formed.

[0071] In this case, the tightening force required to insert the inflator 100 into the protector 200 is reduced, thus improving the assemblability between the protector 200 and the inflator 100.

[0072] As described above, in this disclosure, the gas discharged from the inflator 100 is first discharged into a gas discharge space A formed with a closed cross section, and then supplied to the airbag cushion, thereby preventing the airbag cushion from being damaged by the high-temperature gas, and the gas is cooled as it flows through the gas discharge space A to more stably prevent damage to the airbag cushion.

[0073] The various embodiments disclosed herein do not list all available combinations, but are used to describe representative aspects of the disclosure, and the descriptions of the various embodiments may be applied independently or in combination of two or more.

[0074] Several implementation methods have been described above. However, it should be understood that various modifications can be made. For example, suitable results can be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and / or if the components in the described system, architecture, apparatus, or circuit are combined in a different manner and / or if the components in the described system, architecture, apparatus, or circuit are replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.

[0075] While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application that various changes in form and detail may be made to these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. The examples described herein are to be considered descriptive only and not for limiting purposes. The description of features or aspects in each example should be considered applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and / or if the components in the described system, architecture, apparatus, or circuit are combined in a different manner and / or if the components in the described system, architecture, apparatus, or circuit are replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.

[0076] Cross-references to related applications

[0077] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0070266, filed on May 29, 2024, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Claims

1. A protective device for an air inflator, characterized in that, The inflator protection device includes: An inflator having air vents formed therein, the air vents being formed around the outer surface of the inflator and configured to release gas; and A protector configured to surround the inflator and configured to have a gas venting space defined within the protector, the gas venting space being configured to include a closed cross-sectional structure to correspond to the vent, thereby supplying gas to the airbag cushion through corresponding openings at both ends of the gas venting space.

2. The air compressor protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protector includes: A central support member, the central support member being configured to be supported by the outer surface of a first side of the inflator; Side covers, the side covers being connected to both ends of the central support member, and being configured to cover the air vents at locations spaced apart from the air vents; and End supports, each connected to a corresponding side cover, and configured to be supported by the outer surface of the second side of the inflator.

3. The air compressor protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The central support member is formed in the shape of a flat plate, and the central structure of the central support member is configured to support the inflator. The side cover is formed to bend from the central support along the inflator to surround the outer surface of the inflator, and The end support is configured to bend from the side cover toward the inflator, and the outer surface of the inflator is configured to support the corresponding end of the end support.

4. The air compressor protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The protector is configured such that a flange is formed at the corner where the central support and the side cover connect.

5. The air compressor protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side cover is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the curvature of the outer surface of the inflator, such that the gas discharge space is formed in the arc shape.

6. The air compressor protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner surface of the connection between the side cover and the end support is formed into a concave curved shape.

7. The air compressor protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the inflator is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the inscribed circle in the ends of the central support and the end support.

8. The air compressor protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the inflator is greater than or equal to the width of the slot formed between the end supports.

9. The air compressor protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the protector is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the inflator.

10. The air compressor protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stud is connected to the inflator. The protector includes a stud hole formed therein, and When the inflator and the protector are assembled together, the stud is inserted into the stud hole.

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