Gas Generator Partition Wall Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual-type gas generators for air bags face challenges in preventing erroneous actuation and gas leakage between combustion chambers, where the ignition of a gas generating agent in one chamber can affect the other, leading to inefficient deployment and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A gas generator design featuring a cylindrical housing with two axially adjacent combustion chambers separated by a partition wall, fixed by discontinuous protrusions and sealed by a retainer, which prevents actuation of one chamber from affecting the other by maintaining an air-tight state through a unique fixing and sealing mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a partition wall is disposed almost in the center of an elongated housing to separate two combustion chambers, then the combustion chambers are separated, but the sealing performance against the opposite combustion chamber may be compromised and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is divided into multiple segments with gaps between them, allowing independent positioning and sealing of each segment. This segmentation enables the partition wall to be assembled separately from the housing without requiring complex integrated sealing structures, thus improving sealing performance while reducing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
A retainer component is introduced as an intermediary element to hold the partition wall in position and provide sealing against the housing. The retainer acts as a mediator between the partition wall and housing, enabling reliable sealing while simplifying the overall assembly process through modular construction
2Reliability
If annular crimps are formed on both sides of the partition wall to fix it and maximize sealing performance, then sealing performance is improved, but the housing structure becomes more complex and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from the housing structure itself and transferred to a separate retainer component. This eliminates the need for complex annular crimps in the housing, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining sealing performance through the dedicated sealing feature of the retainer
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer component is designed with self-sealing features that automatically provide sealing when the partition wall is assembled. The retainer's elastic deformation upon assembly creates its own sealing action without requiring additional sealing structures or complex housing modifications
3Ease of manufacture
If the partition wall is fixed by discontinuous protrusions in two rows, then assembly is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but sealing performance must be maintained through additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The discontinuous protrusions segment the fixing function into multiple discrete points rather than requiring continuous sealing structures. This simplifies assembly and manufacturing while the retainer component compensates for sealing by providing continuous contact with the housing
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the simplified discontinuous protrusion fixing system and the requirement for reliable sealing. It translates the simple mechanical fixation into effective sealing through its elastic deformation and continuous contact with the housing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures reliable and independent operation of each combustion chamber, preventing gas leakage and ensuring consistent air bag deployment, enhancing safety by preventing high-temperature gas transfer between chambers.
Implementation Method 1
an ignition device and a gas generating agent stored in each of the combustion chambers
Data Source
AI summary
A gas generator that can prevent erroneous operation in which the combustion of a gas generating agent inside one combustion chamber is caused by the combustion of a gas generating agent in the other combustion chamber. Two combustion chambers 30, 50 are separated by a partition wall 35. The partition wall 35 is fixed by discontinuous protrusions 61, 62 formed in a housing 11. Air tightness between two combustion chambers 30, 50 is ensured by two retainers80, 90.