Initiator assembly and gas generator using the same

Abstract

The present invention provides an initiator assembly in which the number of constituent parts is reduced, manufacturing facilitation of the constituent parts themselves is enhanced, the initial performance can be maintained even if the initiator assembly is used for a long term, and the conductive pins can reliably be held even if the initiator assembly is exposed to a high temperature. The initiator assembly comprises an electric type initiator and a metal collar for holding the electric type initiator, head portions of the conductive pins of the electric type initiator are electrically insulated from each other but are integral with each other, and the head portions are a disk in shape as a whole.

1 . An initiator assembly comprising an electric type initiator and a metal collar for holding the electric type initiator, wherein 
 the electric type initiator comprises a molded member made of an insulating material, and a pair of conductive pins disposed to pass through the molded member, a pair of the conductive pins being disposed such that head portions of the conductive pins existing at one axial end are exposed from the molded member and the other ends of the conductive pins in their axial directions project from the molded member, and the head portions being electrically insulated from each other but integral with each other,    the metal collar is formed with an inward flange-like portion for holding the molded member of the electric type initiator, and    the head portions of the conductive pins are integral with each other and a disk in shape as a whole.    
     
     
         2 . An initiator assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal collar has a supporting portion for preventing the integral head portions of the conductive pins from passing through a central opening of the flange-like portion.  
     
     
         3 . An initiator assembly according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a thickness of the head portions of the conductive pins which are electrically insulated from each other but integral with each other in a disk shape is 0.5 to 2 mm.  
     
     
         4 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the electric type initiator includes an eyelet having a disk-shaped metal portion, the metal portion being connected to any one of the conductive pins such that the metal portion can electrically be connected to the conductive pin, and forming a head portion of the one conductive pin.  
     
     
         5 . An initiator assembly comprising an electric type initiator and a metal collar for holding the electric type initiator, wherein 
 the electric type initiator comprises a molded member made of an insulating material, a pair of conductive pins disposed to pass through the molded member, and an eyelet for electrically insulating both conductive pins from each other but integrally forming the conductive pins,    the metal collar is formed with an inward flange-like portion for holding the molded member of the electric type initiator, and    the eyelet of the electric type initiator includes a disk-shaped metal portion.    
     
     
         6 . An initiator assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the metal collar includes a supporting portion for preventing the eyelet from passing through a central opening of the flange-like portion.  
     
     
         7 . An initiator assembly according to  claim 5  or  6 , wherein a thickness of the metal portion of the eyelet is 0.5 to 2 mm.  
     
     
         8 . An initiator assembly according to any one of claims  5  to  7 , wherein the eyelet includes at least one through hole passing through the eyelet in its thickness direction, any one of the conductive pins passes through the through hole, and the conductive pin is electrically insulated from the other conductive pin by an insulating material charged into the through hole.  
     
     
         9 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein an inner peripheral surface of the flange-like portion is formed with a projection projecting radially towards the inside of the flange-like portion, and this projection is the supporting portion.  
     
     
         10 . An initiator assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the molded member has a portion shaped to receive the projection.  
     
     
         11 . An initiator assembly comprising an electric type initiator and a metal collar for holding the electric type initiator, wherein 
 the electric type initiator comprises a molded member made of an insulating material, and the metal collar includes an inward flange-like portion for holding the molded member of the electric type initiator, an inner peripheral surface of the flange-like portion is formed with a projection projecting radially towards the inside of the flange-like portion, and the molded member receiving the projection.    
     
     
         12 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 9  to  11 , wherein the projection is formed such that an inner diameter of an inner peripheral surface of the flange-like portion is reduced from opposite end surfaces of the flange-like portion in its thickness direction radially toward the inside of the flange-like portion.  
     
     
         13 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , wherein the metal collar comprises a flange-like portion which is formed into an inward flange-like shape, and a cylindrical portion which is integrally connected to an outer periphery of the flange-like portion, the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion is not covered with an insulating material and the metal collar is exposed.  
     
     
         14 . An initiator assembly comprising an electric type initiator and a metal collar for holding the electric type initiator, wherein 
 the electric type initiator comprises a molded member made of an insulating material, a charge holder which is coupled to the molded member to form a cavity, and a priming charged into the cavity under pressure,    a coupled portion between the molded member and the charge holder in the cavity is formed with a groove which spreads radially and outwardly, the groove being provided between the molded member and the charge holder.    
     
     
         15 . An initiator assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the charge holder includes a notched portion which is annularly formed by notching the inner peripheral in one opening end is notched, the molded member including a circular portion fitted into the notched portion of the charge holder, and 
 the groove is provided between a bottom surface of the notched portion and an end surface of the circular portion.    
     
     
         16 . An initiator assembly according to  claim 14  or  15 , wherein the electric type initiator includes an eyelet which electrically insulates a pair of conductive pins from each other but integrally forms the conductive pins, the eyelet is fitted into the circular portion of the molded member, and an end surface of the eyelet is exposed in the cavity side.  
     
     
         17 . A gas generator comprising a housing which forms an outer container, an initiator assembly disposed in the housing, and a gas generating agent which is ignited and burnt upon activation of the initiator assembly, wherein the initiator assembly is one described in any one of  claims 1  to  16 .  
     
     
         18 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein in the electric type initiator, an amount of change in a conductive resistance between a pair of the conductive pins after standing for 1000 hours in a state of flowing an electric current of 50 mA to the bridge wire at the temperature of 80° C. under the humidity of 95% is within ±0.2 Ω before standing.  
     
     
         19 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein, in the electric type initiator, an ignition starting time of the priming after standing for 1,000 hours in a state of flowing an electric current of 50 mA to a pair of conductive pins at the temperature of 80° C. under the humidity of 95% is 2 msec or less after ignition current for starting the activation of the electric type initiator is applied.  
     
     
         20 . An initiator assembly according to any one of claims  1  to  19 , wherein the insulating material forming the molded member is a resin material, a glass material or a ceramic material.  
     
     
         21 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  20 , wherein the insulating material forming the molded member is a resin material.  
     
     
         22 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  21 , wherein the molded member is made of a resin material, and a maximum radial direction between the conductive pin of bubble generated in a contact surface, in the molded member, between the conductive pins and the resin is 0.10 mm or less.  
     
     
         23 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  22 , wherein the molded member is made of a resin material, and bubble generated in a contact surface, in the molded member, between the conductive pins does not pass axially through the molded member.  
     
     
         24 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  23 , wherein a moisture-proof means is provided between the conductive pin and the molded member.  
     
     
         25 . An initiator assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the moisture proofing means is concave and convex surfaces formed circumferentially on the periphery on part of the conductive pin existing inside the molded member.  
     
     
         26 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  25 , wherein the molded member includes a pair of the conductive pins, and is formed by injection-molding a resin material.  
     
     
         27 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  26 , wherein the molded member is made of a resin material, a coefficient of water absorption of the resin material after being submerged in water for 24 hours at 23° C. is between 0.005 and 3.0%, and a tensile strength of the resin material is 100 to 250 MPa.  
     
     
         28 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  27 , wherein the molded member is made of an insulating material, a tensile strength of the insulating material is 100 MPa or higher and a dielectric breakdown voltage of the insulating material is 10 MV/m or higher.  
     
     
         29 . An initiator assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  28 , wherein the molded member is made of an insulating material, a coefficient of linear expansion of the insulating material is 8×10 −5 /° C. or less, the tensile strength of the insulating material is 100 MPa or higher and a dielectric breakdown voltage of the insulating material is 10 MV/m or higher.