Igniter Retainer Embedding for Gas Generator Support Strength
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional igniter fixing structures for gas generators, such as those used in airbag systems, suffer from insufficient support strength when actuated, leading to potential dislodgment of igniter bodies under heat or pressure, due to inadequate contact surface area between the retainer and the base.
Innovation Solution
A retainer with embedded support portions and a connection plate, where the support portions and connection plate are partially or fully embedded in resin, ensuring the igniter bodies are securely fixed to a plate-like portion, with holes in the support portions allowing electroconductive pins to pass through while preventing the igniter bodies from falling out, even under heat or pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a retainer with limited contact surface area is used to fix igniter bodies, then the device complexity is reduced, but the support strength becomes insufficient under heat or pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the retainer and the base into a single integrated component. The retainer is formed with a base portion that directly contacts the igniter bodies, eliminating the need for separate fixing structures. This integration increases the contact surface area between the retainer and igniter bodies, thereby enhancing support strength under heat and pressure without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is designed with a three-dimensional structure that extends in multiple dimensions. The base portion of the retainer contacts the igniter bodies at multiple points and over an extended surface area, utilizing vertical and horizontal dimensions to maximize contact. This dimensional approach allows the fixing structure to achieve high support strength while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
2Strength
If the contact surface area between retainer and base is increased, then support strength is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer and base are manufactured as a single integrated component through unitary formation. This merging eliminates the need for separate manufacturing processes for the base and retainer, and eliminates assembly steps. The integrated structure achieves increased contact surface area while simplifying manufacturing, as the entire component can be formed in a single molding or fabrication process
Solution Approach 2:
The base portion of the retainer serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, increases contact surface area with igniter bodies, and acts as the mounting interface. This multi-functionality allows a single component to achieve enhanced fixing strength without requiring additional specialized parts or complex manufacturing processes
3Ease of manufacture
If a single integrated fixing member is used, then the fixing process is simplified, but the support strength under thermal or pressure stress is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed as a single integrated component that combines the base and fixing structure. This merging simplifies the fixing process by eliminating multiple assembly steps while simultaneously enhancing reliability through increased contact surface area with the igniter bodies. The integrated structure maintains igniter position stability under thermal and pressure stress through its extended base portion that distributes loads over a larger area
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer's base portion is designed with specific geometric parameters that optimize both simplicity and reliability. The base portion extends in specific dimensions and contacts the igniter bodies at optimized locations, changing the physical parameters of the fixing structure to achieve both process simplicity and high reliability under stress conditions
Data Source
AI summary
An igniter fixing structure includes a plurality of igniter bodies having an ignition portion and an electroconductive pin, each of the igniter bodies being fixed, by a resin, to a peripheral edge of a port formed in a plate-like portion serving as a fixing object, the number of the port being the same as that of the plurality of the igniter bodies, and a single retainer as a support member for the plurality of igniter bodies.The retainer has a plurality of support portions each having a hole for passing the electroconductive pin therethrough and a connection plate portion that connects the plurality of support portions, at least the support portions are embedded in the resin in a state in which the electroconductive pin passes through the hole, and at least the connection plate portion is disposed to abut against the plate-like portion.