Unitary header/base/shorting bar holder for a micro gas generator, and micro gas generator using it

Abstract

A unitary header/base/shorting bar holder for a micro gas generator; and a micro gas generator containing it.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A micro gas generator comprising: 
 an output can;    a first charge in the output can;    a unitary body shaped to include a header, a base, and a shorting bar holder, said unitary body having at least one bore for receiving an electrode and wherein the base has a diameter greater than a diameter of the header;    a second charge coupled to the electrode; and    seals for maintaining a hermetic environment within the output can, said seals consisting of a first seal between the can and the unitary body and a second seal between the electrode and the unitary body.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the unitary body is made of a polymer.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the unitary body is made of a fiber-reinforced polymer.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the unitary body is made of a glass fiber-reinforced polybutylene terephthalate.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a primary charge holder that is unitary with the unitary body.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a pair of contact pins sealed hermetically through the header.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a shorting bar mounted within the shorting bar holder to short out the contact pins when the unitary body is not interlocked with a connector.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one vent defined by the base to permit free escape of gas from a non-sealed volume of the output can into which the unitary body is assembled.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising an interlocking feature in the base to interlock the unitary body with a connector.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20 , further comprising a keying feature to orient the unitary body with the connector.  
   
   
       22 . A micro gas generator comprising: 
 a output can;    a pair of electrodes;    a unitary body shaped to include a header, a base, and a shorting bar holder, said unitary body having at least two bores for receiving the electrodes and wherein the base has a diameter greater than a diameter of the header;    a primary charge coupled to the electrodes;    a secondary charge in the output can;    wherein there are only three sealing paths into a hermetic environment defined by the output can and the unitary body, said sealing paths consisting of: a first path between one of the electrodes and the unitary body, a second path between the other one of the electrodes and the unitary body, and a third path between the unitary body and the output can.    
   
   
       23 . The generator of  claim 22  wherein the unitary body is made of a material selected from one of the following: a polymer, a fiber-reinforced polymer, or a glass fiber-reinforced polybutylene terephthalate.  
   
   
       24 . The generator of  claim 22 , further comprising a primary charge holder that is unitary with the unitary body.  
   
   
       25 . The generator of  claim 22 , further comprising a shorting bar mounted within the shorting bar holder to short out electrodes in the unitary body when the unitary body is not interlocked with a connector.  
   
   
       26 . The generator of  claim 22 , further comprising a keying feature to orient the unitary body with a connector.  
   
   
       27 . The generator of  claim 22 , wherein each electrode has a head protruding above the top of a header portion of the unitary body and a body protruding through a base portion thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The generator of  claim 22 , further comprising an ignition element connecting the heads of the electrodes.  
   
   
       29 . A micro gas generator comprising: 
 (a) a unitary body shaped to include a header, a base, and a shorting bar holder;    (b) a pair of parallel contact pins extending through the unitary body and sealed there within, so that each pin has a head protruding above the top of a header portion of the unitary body and a body protruding through a base portion thereof;    (c) a shorting bar, mounted on the base and shorting the bodies of the contact pins;    (d) an ignition element connecting the heads of the contact pins;    (e) a primary charge adjacent to the ignition element and adapted to be ignited thereby;    (g) an output can, mounted over the unitary body from the direction of the header;    (h) a secondary charge in the output can to be ignited by the primary charge and    (i) seals for maintaining a hermetic environment within the output can, said seals consisting of a first seal between the can and the unitary body and a second seal between one of the pair of parallel contact pins and the unitary body, and a third seal between the other one of the parallel contact pins and the unitary body.    
   
   
       30 . The generator of  claim 29  wherein the unitary body is made of a material selected from one of the following: a polymer, a fiber-reinforced polymer, or a glass fiber-reinforced polybutylene terephthalate.  
   
   
       31 . The generator of  claim 29 , further comprising a primary charge holder that is unitary with the unitary body.  
   
   
       32 . The generator of  claim 29 , further comprising a shorting bar mounted within the shorting bar holder to short out contact pins in the unitary body when the unitary body is not interlocked with a connector.  
   
   
       33 . The generator of  claim 29 , further comprising a keying feature to orient the unitary body with a connector.  
   
   
       34 . The generator of  claim 29 , wherein each of the contact pins has a head protruding above the top of a header portion of the unitary body and a body protruding through a base portion thereof.  
   
   
       35 . The generator of  claim 29 , further comprising an ignition element connecting the heads of the contact pins.