JPH09156455A - Inflator and discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) 【Abstract】 PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote reuse by separating a gas ejection means such as a gas generating agent from an inflator. SOLUTION: An upper case 12 of an inflator 10
And a predetermined portion of the lower case 14 (the gas generating agent storage chamber 26
Immediately above and immediately below), notches 44 are formed respectively. Therefore, the upper case 12 and the lower case 1
The portion of No. 4 where the notch 44 is formed has reduced rigidity and is weakened. Therefore, the gas generating agent 28 can be separated from the inflator 10 before entering the reuse step. As a result, reuse of the inflator 10 can be promoted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inflator which ejects gas by operating and an ejecting device for ejecting gas ejecting means contained in the inflator to the outside of the inflator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an occupant protection auxiliary device, for example, an air bag device is widely used. This type of airbag device is equipped with a mechanical ignition type or electric ignition type sensor that detects a collision state, and when this sensor detects a collision state, the inflator operates to eject gas and inflate the bag body. It is like this.

A structure of this type of inflator is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 213149/1993. Briefly, as shown in FIG. 8, the inflator 20 is
0 is an upper case 202 made of aluminum alloy or the like
And a lower case 204, which are integrated by welding the joints of both. Inflator 2
A mechanical ignition type sensor 206 for detecting a collision state is arranged at the axial center of 00. Immediately above the sensor 206, a detonator 207 that is ignited by a firing pin (not shown) piercing, and a transfer agent 208 that propagates the flame of the detonator 207 are arranged. Also, the sensor 2
A gas generating agent 210 that burns by the flame propagated through the transfer agent 208 is enclosed around 06, and a large amount of high-temperature gas is generated by the combustion of the gas generating agent 210. There is.

By the way, for example, the upper case 202 and the lower case 204 in the inflator 200 described above.
There is a request to reuse the etc. As an example of the recycling method, after compressing the whole body with the airbag device attached to the steering wheel, throw it into a shredder machine and crush it, and then reuse metal such as aluminum alloy and others There is a method to sort the metal.

However, the inflator 20 described above is used.
Since the upper case 202 and the lower case 204, which form the outer shell of 0, are relatively small and are made of high-strength members, they are hardly damaged even when they are put into a shredder machine. Therefore, when the inflator 200 is not operating, the gas generating agent 210 remains in the inflator 200 as it is, which hinders the reuse process including the dissolving process.

In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain an inflator and an exhaust device which can promote reuse by separating the gas ejecting means such as a gas generating agent from the inflator.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflator which ejects gas by operating the gas ejecting means housed in the inflator when the inflator is inoperative. It is characterized in that the inflator is provided with an ejecting means for ejecting to the outside of the inflator.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the discharge means is configured by providing a weakened portion that reduces the strength of a specific portion of the housing forming the inflator. It has a feature.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the discharging device,
The inflator, which is provided on the vehicle body side and which ejects gas when activated, is removed from the vehicle body side, so that the gas ejection means housed in the inflator is discharged to the outside of the inflator, or the gas ejection means is discharged to the outside of the inflator. It is characterized by having a discharging means that enables

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at the time of crushing or the like, the gas ejecting means housed in the inflator is discharged to the outside of the inflator by the discharging means provided in the inflator. As a result, the gas ejection means is separated from the inflator before entering the recycling process.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the fragile portion provided in the housing constituting the inflator constitutes the discharging means. Therefore, in the case of crushing or the like, the fragile portion due to the load applied to the inflator at that time. Breaks.
Therefore, the gas ejection means housed in the inflator is discharged to the outside of the inflator. As a result, the gas ejection means is separated from the inflator before entering the recycling process.

Further, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to configure the discharging means without using additional parts.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the inflator is detached from the vehicle body side, the gas ejection means housed in the inflator is exhausted to the outside of the inflator by the exhaust means provided on the vehicle body side. The ejection means can be discharged to the outside of the inflator. As a result, the gas ejection means is separated from the inflator before entering the recycling process.

Further, according to the present invention, the gas ejecting means can be discharged or can be discharged to the outside of the inflator by the operation of removing the inflator from the vehicle body side, so that the convenience is improved.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The first embodiment corresponds to one embodiment of the present invention described in claims 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional structure of an inflator 10 applied to an airbag device for a driver's seat. As shown in this figure, the inflator 10 includes an upper case 12 and a lower case 14 each formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape. The upper case 12 and the lower case 14 are made of aluminum alloy or the like.

The upper case 12 has a bottom wall 12A, a sensor accommodating portion 12B which is cylindrically bulged from the axial center of the bottom wall 12A to the lower case 14 side, and an outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall 12A to the lower case 14 side. A peripheral wall 12C protruding in an annular shape,
It has. On the other hand, the lower case 14 has a bottom wall 14A.
And a peripheral wall 14B annularly protruding from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall 14A toward the upper case 12 side. Further, the through hole 1 is formed in the axial center portion of the bottom wall 14A of the lower case 14.
6 is formed, and the sensor accommodating portion 12B of the upper case 12 is fitted into the through hole 16. And
In this state, the peripheral wall 12C of the upper case 12 and the peripheral wall 14B of the lower case 14 are welded to each other to form an outer shell of the inflator 10.

An annular retainer 18 having an L-shaped cross section is disposed at an inner peripheral corner portion of the upper case 12 described above. Inside the retainer 18, that is, on the upper case 12 side, a filter 20 for removing debris after combustion of the gas generating agent 28 described later is disposed. The filter 20 is arranged so as to face a plurality of gas ejection ports 22 formed on the peripheral wall 12C of the upper case 12. Further, below the retainer 18, that is, on the lower case 14 side, a coolant 24 for cooling the high temperature gas generated by the combustion of the gas generating agent 28 is provided.

The retainer 18 and the sensor housing 12 described above
In the annular gas generating agent storage chamber 26, which is separated by B, the gas generating agents 28 each formed in a ring plate shape and arranged in a stacked state are stored.

Further, the sensor housing portion 1 of the upper case 12
A transfer agent accommodating chamber 30 is formed at the bottom of 2B, and a transfer agent 32 is accommodated inside thereof. The transfer agent accommodating chamber 30 and the gas generating agent accommodating chamber 26 are the sensor accommodating portion 12B.
Are communicated with each other by a communication passage 34 penetrating the peripheral wall of the.

Further, a retainer 36 is arranged on the bottom side of the sensor housing portion 12B of the upper case 12.
A detonator 38 is housed in the bottom of the retainer 36. A sensor 40 having a substantially columnar shape is housed inside the retainer 18, and in this state, the sensor housing portion 12B.
The sensor 40 is fixed to the sensor accommodating portion 12B by attaching the support ring 42 to the open end of the sensor.

As the sensor 40 described above, a mechanical ignition type sensor is used. Briefly described, inside the sensor 40, a ball that is housed in a cylinder and that inertially moves when a predetermined high load is applied (that is, when the vehicle suddenly decelerates), and a trigger that swings by the inertial movement of the ball. The shaft, the bias pin that receives the biasing force of the trigger shaft and abuts against the trigger shaft in the direction opposite to the inertial movement direction, and the trigger shaft is locked under the biasing force and the trigger shaft swings. It is composed of a firing pin that comes off the trigger shaft and pierces the detonator.

Although the mechanical ignition type sensor 40 is used in this embodiment, an electric ignition type sensor may be used. Further, instead of the ring plate-shaped gas generating agent 28, a tablet-shaped gas generating agent may be used.

Here, at predetermined positions (positions directly above and directly below the gas generating agent storage chamber 26) on the bottom wall 12A of the upper case 12 and the bottom wall 14A of the lower case 14 described above,
A notch 44 is formed. The depth of the notch 44 is set so as not to be broken by the load (gas pressure) applied when the inflator 10 operates, and in the present embodiment, it is half or less of the plate thickness of the upper case 12 and the lower case 14. Is set to. By forming the notch 44, the rigidity of the notch forming portion of the bottom wall 12A of the upper case 12 and the bottom wall 14A of the lower case 14 is reduced and weakened.

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described. When a predetermined high load is applied, that is, when the vehicle rapidly decelerates, the ball in the sensor 40 inertially moves against the biasing force that presses the bias pin. Therefore, the trigger shaft swings and the firing pin disengages from the trigger shaft. Therefore, the firing pin moves by the biasing force and pierces the detonator 38. As a result, the gas generating agent 28 burns via the transfer agent 32, and a large amount of high temperature gas is generated. The gas is cooled by the coolant 24 and debris is removed by the filter 20, and then ejected from the gas ejection port 22 to flow into the bag body of the airbag device (not shown). As a result, the pad of the airbag device is deployed and the bag body is inflated to the side of the occupant sitting in the driver's seat.

Here, in the case where a vehicle is scrapped while being mounted on the steering wheel without operating the airbag device, the entire vehicle body is compressed and then thrown into a shredder machine and crushed. At this time, the upper case 12 and the lower case 14 of the inflator 10 receive a crushing load, and both are broken at the weakened portion of the notch 44. Since the notch 44 is formed just above and directly below the gas generating agent storage chamber 26, when the upper case 12 and the lower case 14 are broken at the notch 44 forming portion, the gas generating agent storage chamber 26 communicates with the outside of the inflator 10. To be done. Therefore, a considerable amount or the whole amount of the gas generating agent 28 stored in the gas generating agent storage chamber 26 is discharged to the outside of the inflator 10. That is, the gas generating agent 28 is separated from the inflator 10.

The inflator 10 in which the gas generating agent 28 has been separated and crushed as described above is sorted with other metals to be reused and transferred to the reuse process.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the notches 44 are formed in the predetermined portions of the upper case 12 and the lower case 14 of the inflator 10 to weaken them, the gas generating agent 28 before the reuse process is performed. Can be separated from the inflator 10. As a result, reuse of the inflator 10 can be promoted.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the notches 44 are formed at predetermined portions of the upper case 12 and the lower case 14 of the inflator 10 to weaken them, it is not necessary to use any additional parts. Therefore, cost reduction can be achieved.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the inflator 10 of the airbag device for the driver's seat, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to the inflator of the airbag device for the passenger seat. It is possible and an example is given below.

FIG. 2 shows a vertical sectional structure of the inflator 46 described above. In addition, this inflator 46
Is a high pressure gas filled type inflator. The inflator 46 includes a cylindrical pressure vessel 50. At one end of the pressure vessel 50, a tubular housing 54 having a plurality of gas ejection ports 52 is fixed by welding. The front end opening of the housing 54 is closed by a pressure partition wall 56. A tubular housing 58 is similarly fixed to the inside of the housing 54 by welding. As a result, a gas outlet 59 is formed between the housing 54 and the housing 58. In addition, on the bottom side of the housing 58, the holding body 6 having a substantially cylindrical shape is formed.
0 is retained, and a gas heating agent (explosive) in the middle
62 are provided. A squib 64 is arranged at the axial center of the holding body 60, and the squib 64 and the gas heating agent 6 are provided.
An igniting agent 66 is provided between the two. Further, a piercing member 68 that moves by the ignition force of the gas heating agent 62 is provided at the tip of the housing 58.

A hemispherical closing member 70 is fixed to the other end of the pressure vessel 50 by welding. A mixed gas of argon and helium is sealed under pressure in an internal space 72 of the pressure container 50 formed between the closing member 70 and the housing 54.

Here, a notch 80 having the same structure as the notch 44 described above is formed at a predetermined position of the above-mentioned pressure vessel 50 (a position corresponding to the vicinity of the intermediate portion of the internal space 72). By forming this notch 80, the rigidity of the notch forming portion of the pressure vessel 50 is reduced and weakened.

According to the above construction, when a predetermined high load is applied, a predetermined current is passed through the squib 64 to heat the gas heating agent 62 via the ignition agent 66. For this reason,
The gas heating agent 62 ignites, and the ignition force at this time pressurizes the air in the housing 54. Therefore, the pressurized air acts on the piercing member 68, and the piercing member 68 moves to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line. As a result, the pressure partition wall 56 is broken, and the mixed gas in the internal space 72 is ejected from the gas ejection port 52 via the gas outlet 59.

Here, in the case where a vehicle is scrapped while being mounted on the instrument panel without operating the airbag device, the entire vehicle body is compressed and then thrown into a shredder machine and crushed. At this time, the pressure vessel 50 of the inflator 46 receives a crushing load, and the pressure vessel 50 breaks at the weakened portion where the notch 80 is formed. Since the notch 80 is formed in the vicinity of the intermediate portion of the internal space 72 in which a mixed gas of argon and helium is sealed under pressure, when the pressure vessel 50 is broken at the notch 80 forming portion, the internal space 72 is inflated. It communicates with the outside of 46. Therefore, the entire high pressure gas contained in the internal space 72 is discharged to the outside of the inflator 46. That is, the high pressure gas is separated from the inflator 46.

The inflator 46 in which the high-pressure gas has been separated and crushed as described above is sorted with other metals to be reused and transferred to the reuse process.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the notches 80 are formed in the pressure vessel 50 of the inflator 46 at predetermined portions to weaken them, the high pressure gas is separated from the inflator 46 before the reuse process. can do. As a result, the reuse of the inflator 46 can be promoted.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the inflator 10 of the driver airbag device and the inflator 46 of the passenger airbag device as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to apply the present invention to an airbag device.Furthermore, if the shape of the inflator is changed, the buckle device can be rapidly retracted at the time of a collision, or the take-up shaft of the webbing take-up device can be quickly moved in the webbing take-up direction. The present invention can also be applied to a rotating pretensioner. In addition, this point is the second
The same applies to the embodiments after the embodiment. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The second embodiment also corresponds to an embodiment of the present invention described in claims 1 and 2. The same components as those of the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 shows a vertical sectional structure of an inflator 100 applied to an airbag device for a driver's seat. As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, the notch 44 described above is replaced with the bottom wall 12A of the upper case 12.
Also, the step portion 10 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the bottom wall 14A of the lower case 14.
2 and 104 are formed respectively. The step 1
The depths of 02 and 104 are set so as not to be broken by the load (gas pressure) applied when the inflator 100 is operated, and in the present embodiment, it is less than half the plate thickness of the upper case 12 and the lower case 14. It is set. By forming the step portions 102 and 104, the bottom wall 12A of the upper case 12 and the bottom wall 14A of the lower case 14 are formed.
The rigidity of the step forming portion is reduced and weakened.

According to the above construction, when the vehicle is scrapped while being mounted on the steering wheel without operating the airbag device, the entire vehicle body is compressed and then thrown into the shredder machine and crushed. At this time, the inflator 1
The upper case 12 and the lower case No. 00 of 00 are subjected to a crushing load, and both are broken at the weakened portions where the step portions 102 and 104 are formed. These step portions 102 and 104
Is formed immediately above and below the gas generating agent storage chamber 26, and therefore, when the upper case 12 and the lower case 14 are broken at the formation portions of the step portions 102 and 104, the gas generating agent storage chamber 26 communicates with the outside of the inflator 100. To be done. Therefore, the gas generating agent 28 stored in the gas generating agent storage chamber 26 has a considerable amount or the entire amount thereof.
Is discharged to the outside. That is, the gas generating agent 28 is separated from the inflator 100.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the step portions 102 and 104 are formed in the predetermined portions of the upper case 12 and the lower case 14 of the inflator 100 to weaken them, the gas is discharged before the reuse process. Generator 28
Can be separated from the inflator 100. As a result, the reuse of the inflator 100 can be promoted.

Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, the stepped portion 102 is provided at a predetermined portion of the upper case 12 and the lower case 14 of the inflator 100.
Since the structure is made weak by forming 104, it is not necessary to use any additional parts, and the cost can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the inflator 100 of the airbag device for the driver's seat.
The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to an inflator of an airbag device for a passenger seat, and an example thereof will be shown below.

FIG. 4 shows a vertical cross-sectional structure of a gas generant type inflator 106 used in an airbag device for a passenger seat. As shown in this figure, the inflator 106 is a bottomed cylindrical inflator case 1.
08. At the open end of the inflator case 108, a plug 112 having a squib 110 arranged in the axial center is fitted. Also, the inflator case 1
A cylindrical filter 114 is arranged inside 08, and a ring-plate-shaped gas generating agent 116 that generates nitrogen gas is sealed in series inside thereof. A plurality of gas ejection ports 118 are formed on the peripheral wall of the inflator case 108 described above, and a step 120 is formed on the peripheral wall from the bottom side to the axially intermediate portion. Therefore, the rigidity of the step portion forming portion of the inflator case 108 is lowered and weakened.

According to the above construction, when a vehicle is scrapped while being mounted on the instrument panel without operating the airbag device, the entire vehicle body is compressed and then thrown into a shredder machine and crushed. At this time, the inflator case 108 of the inflator 106 receives a crushing load,
It breaks at the portion where the step portion 120 is weakened. Therefore, a considerable amount or the whole amount of the gas generating agent 116 is discharged to the outside of the inflator 106. That is, the gas generating agent 116 is separated from the inflator 106.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the step portion 120 is formed at a predetermined portion of the inflator case 108 of the inflator 106 to weaken it, the gas generating agent 116 is added to the inflator before the reuse process. 10
6 can be separated. As a result, reuse of the inflator 106 can be promoted. [Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that the third embodiment is defined by claim 1.
This corresponds to one embodiment of the present invention described above. The same components as those of the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional structure of the inflator 130 applied to the airbag device for the driver's seat. As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, a through hole 132 having an internal thread formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof is formed in the central portion of the bottom wall 14A of the lower case 14 of the inflator 130. A ring plate-shaped fixing ring 134 having an external thread formed on the outer peripheral surface is formed on the female thread of the through hole 132.
Is screwed. Rectangular protrusions 136 are integrally formed on the lower end surface of the fixing ring 134 at intervals of 90 degrees, for example.

Further, annular grooves 138, 140 facing each other are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 132 and the outer peripheral surface of the sensor housing portion 12B of the upper case 12, respectively. A cover 142 formed of resin or the like in the shape of a thin ring plate is fitted into the grooves 138 and 140. By elastically deforming the cover 142,
It is mounted in the grooves 138, 140.

According to the above structure, first, the pad to which the airbag device is attached is removed from the steering wheel. Next, a finger is applied to the protrusion 136 of the fixing ring 134, and the fixing ring 134 is rotated and removed from the lower case 14. The fixing ring 134 may be removed after the inflator 130 is removed from the main body of the airbag device, or the inflator 130 may be removed.
May be performed in a state in which is attached to the main body of the airbag device.

When the fixing ring 134 is removed from the lower case 14, the cover 142 is exposed. Therefore, the cover 142 is elastically deformed and removed from the grooves 138 and 140.
Accordingly, the gas generating agent 28 can be extracted from the inflator 130 and separated from the inflator 130. The cover 142 may be omitted in this embodiment.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the fixing ring 134 which is detachable by screwing is provided on the bottom wall 14A of the lower case 14 of the inflator 130, the gas generating agent 28 is removed from the inflator 130 before the reuse process. Can be separated. As a result, the reuse of the inflator 130 can be promoted. Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In addition, in the fourth embodiment,
This corresponds to an embodiment of the present invention described in claim 3. Also,
The same components as those in the first and third embodiments described above are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 shows an airbag device 150 for the driver's seat.
The vertical cross-section structure of the inflator 152 included in the airbag device 150 is shown in FIG. As shown in these figures, a through hole 154 having an inner peripheral surface that is a smooth surface is formed at the center of the bottom wall 14A of the lower case of the inflator 152. The inner peripheral surface of the through hole 154 and the upper case 12
In the outer peripheral surface of the sensor housing portion 12B of
140 are formed respectively, and a thin ring plate-shaped cover 142 is fitted therein. The cover 142 is attached to the grooves 138 and 140 by elastically deforming.

On the other hand, the hub 156A of the steering wheel 156 to which the airbag device 150 is attached,
A discharge device 158 is provided. The discharge device 158 is
A support 160 formed in a drum shape and the support 160
And a ring plate-shaped closing ring 162 fixed to the upper flange portion 160A. Support 16
The lower flange portion 160B of 0 is fixed to the hub 156A by a screw 164. The airbag device 150 is not a center horn type in which the entire pad 166 is moved to the hub 156A side to operate the horn.
Since it is a switch horn type in which the horn is operated by pressing the switch 168, the support 160 does not act as a barrier when the horn is operated.

The overall structure of the airbag device 150 will be briefly described. The airbag device 150 is provided with a base plate 170 having a substantially box shape, and a bag body 174 to be described later is provided on both sides of the base plate 170. A pad 1 having a thin portion 172 that breaks due to expansion pressure
66 is attached. Furthermore, the base plate 1
A bag 174 is stored between the pad 70 and the pad 166 in a folded state. A ring plate 176 is arranged on the inner peripheral edge of the opening of the bag body 174, and the ring plate 176 is fixed to the base plate 170 so that the opening of the bag body 174 is located between the ring plate 176 and the base plate 170. It is pinched. The inflator 152 is fixed to the central portion of the base plate 170 with the upper case 12 penetratingly arranged in the opening of the bag body 174.

According to the above configuration, the airbag device 150
The pad 166 on which is attached is the steering wheel 1.
When fixed to the hub 156A of 56, the cover 142
Since the gas generator 28 is fitted in the grooves 138 and 140, the gas generating agent 28 will not be accidentally discharged to the outside of the inflator 152. By fixing the pad 166 to the hub 156A, the closing ring 162 of the discharging device 158 is fitted into the through hole 154 of the lower case 14. In the fitted state, the airbag device 150 is operated when a predetermined high load is applied.
Even when the gas is activated, the gas pressure is still reduced by the closing ring 162 and the support 1.
Since it is transmitted to the hub 156A via 60, there is no trouble in operating the airbag device 150.

On the other hand, at the time of disposal, the pad 166 to which the airbag device 150 is assembled is first removed from the steering wheel 156. At this time, the through hole 154 of the lower case 14 of the inflator 152 is not attached to the discharge device 1
Since it is only closed by the closing ring 162 of 58, the pad 166 is removed at the same time as the through hole 154.
Is released. As a result, the gas generating agent 28 can be discharged to the outside of the inflator 152. Therefore, as described above, the cover 142 is elastically deformed to cause the grooves 138,
After removing from the inflator 152, the gas generating agent 28 is removed from the inflator 152 and separated from the inflator 152.

In the present embodiment, the pad 16
6 is attached to the steering wheel 156, the cover 142 is provided in order to eliminate the troublesomeness of the operator to pay attention so that the gas generating agent 28 is not discharged.
If the gas generating agent 28 can be held by another structure, the gas generating agent 28 can be discharged simultaneously with the removal of the pad 166.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the exhaust device 158 is provided on the hub 156A of the steering wheel 156 and the pad 166 is detached so that the gas generating agent 28 can be exhausted, the gas before the recycling process is started. The generant 28 can be separated from the inflator 152. As a result, the reuse of the inflator 152 can be promoted.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the pad 16
The gas generating agent 28 can be discharged to the outside of the inflator 152 by the removal operation of the steering wheel 6 from the steering wheel 156 (as described above, when the cover 142 is removed, the gas generating agent 28 is automatically discharged to the outside of the inflator 152). Therefore, the convenience can be improved.

[0060]

As described above, the inflator according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1 has the following features:
Since the inflator is provided with the discharging means for discharging the gas ejecting means housed in the inflator to the outside of the inflator, the gas ejecting means can be separated from the inflator before entering the reuse step. This has the excellent effect of promoting reuse.

In the inflator according to the present invention described in claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1, the discharge means is configured by providing a fragile portion that reduces the strength of a specific portion of the housing constituting the inflator. The gas ejecting means can be separated from the inflator before entering the recycling process, which has an excellent effect of promoting recycling.

In addition, according to the present invention of claim 2,
Since it becomes possible to configure the discharging means without using additional parts, an excellent effect that the cost can be reduced can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the discharging device,
The inflator, which is provided on the vehicle body side and which ejects gas when activated, is removed from the vehicle body side, so that the gas ejection means housed in the inflator is discharged to the outside of the inflator, or the gas ejection means is discharged to the outside of the inflator. Since the gas ejecting means can be separated from the inflator before entering the reuse step, it has an excellent effect that the reuse can be promoted.

In addition, in the discharging device according to the present invention as defined in claim 3, the gas ejecting means can be discharged or discharged to the outside of the inflator by the operation of removing the inflator from the vehicle body side, so that the convenience is improved. The excellent effect of being able to be obtained is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an inflator of a driver seat airbag apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an inflator of the passenger seat airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an inflator of a driver-seat airbag device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an inflator of a passenger seat airbag apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an inflator of a driver-seat airbag device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a driver seat airbag apparatus according to a fourth embodiment in a state of being attached to a steering wheel.

7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an inflator of the airbag device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an inflator of an airbag device according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Inflator 12 Upper Case (Housing) 16 Lower Case (Housing) 28 Gas Generating Agent (Gas Injecting Means) 44 Notch (Discharging Means, Weak Section) 46 Inflator 50 Pressure Vessel (Housing) 80 Notch (Discharging Means, Weak Section) 100 Inflator 102 stepped portion (discharging means, fragile portion) 104 stepped portion (discharging means, fragile portion) 106 inflator 108 inflator case (housing) 116 gas generating agent (gas ejection means) 120 stepped portion (discharging means, fragile portion) 130 inflator 134 Fixed ring (discharging means) 152 Inflator 158 Discharging device 162 Closing ring (discharging means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An inflator which ejects gas by operating, wherein the ejecting means for ejecting the gas ejecting means housed in the inflator to the outside of the inflator when the inflator is not in operation. An inflator characterized by being provided in. 2. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the discharge means is configured by providing a fragile portion that reduces the strength of a specific portion of the housing that constitutes the inflator. 3. An inflator, which is provided on the vehicle body side and ejects gas when operated, is detached from the vehicle body side, whereby the gas ejection means accommodated in the inflator is discharged to the outside of the inflator or the gas ejection means is operated. An ejector comprising: an ejector capable of ejecting to the outside of the inflator.