Igniter and gas producing device

Abstract

To provide reduction in size of an igniter device and a gas generator by enhancing strength of a plug under high temperature and thereby reducing thickness of the plug, and to surely prevent electrode pins being burst forth from the plug. An igniter device comprising a resistance heating element, gunpowder to be ignited by heat generation of the resistance heating element, electrode pins connected to the resistance heating element, and a plug for holding the electrode pins, wherein material of the plug is a thermosetting resin. A gas generator comprising a cup packed with gas generant to generate gas by burning, an igniter device arranged in an interior of the cup, and a holder for holding the igniter device and the cup, wherein the holder has insertion holes for allowing the electrode pins to extend through them, respectively.

1 . An igniter device comprising a resistance heating element, gunpowder to be ignited by heat generation of the resistance heating element, electrode pins connected to the resistance heating element, and a plug for holding the electrode pins, and sealing a contact interface between the electrode pins and the plug, wherein material of the plug is an epoxy resin composition.  
   
   
       2 . The igniter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the epoxy resin composition comprises an epoxy resin and a curing agent.  
   
   
       3 . The igniter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the epoxy resin composition comprises 30-95 weight % filler of the total epoxy resin composition.  
   
   
       4 . The igniter device according to  claim 3 , wherein the filler comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of molten silica, crystallized silica, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The igniter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the epoxy resin composition comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of bisphenol type epoxy resin, novolak type epoxy resin, biphenyl type epoxy resin, naphthalene type epoxy resin, alicyclic epoxy resin, amines epoxy resin, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The igniter device according to  claim 2 , wherein the curing agent comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of phenol novolak resin, acid an hydride, amines, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The igniter device according to  claim 2 , wherein the epoxy resin composition further comprises a curing accelerator.  
   
   
       8 . The igniter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises, at a portion thereof on the electrode pin side, a small diameter stepped portion.  
   
   
       9 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A gas generator comprising a cup packed with gas generant to generate gas by burning, an igniter device arranged in an interior of the cup, and a holder for holding the igniter device and the cup, 
 the igniter device comprising a resistance heating element, gunpowder to be ignited by heat generation of the resistance heating element, electrode pins connected to the resistance heating element, and a plug for holding the electrode pins,    wherein material of the plug is an epoxy resin composition, and    wherein the holder has insertion holes for allowing the electrode pins to extend through them, respectively.    
   
   
       12 . The gas generator according to  claim 11 , wherein root portions of the electrode pins extending from the plug are sheathed with skirt portions formed to be integral with the plug and the skirt portions are inserted in the insertion holes.  
   
   
       13 . The gas generator according to  claim 11 , wherein the plug has, at a portion thereof on the electrode pin side, a small diameter stepped portion.  
   
   
       14 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . The gas generator according to  claim 11 , wherein the epoxy resin composition comprises an epoxy resin and a curing agent.  
   
   
       17 . The gas generator according to  claim 11 , wherein the epoxy resin composition comprises 30-95 weight % filler of the total epoxy resin composition.  
   
   
       18 . The gas generator according to  claim 11 , wherein the filler comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of molten silica, crystallized silica, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       19 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . The gas generator of  claim 11 , wherein the epoxy resin comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of bisphenol type epoxy resin, novolak type epoxy resin, biphenyl type epoxy resin, naphthalene type epoxy resin, alicyclic epoxy resin, amines epoxy resin, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The gas generator of  claim 16 , wherein the curing agent comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of phenol novolak resin, acid anhydride, amines, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       26 . The gas generator of  claim 11 , wherein the epoxy resin composition further comprises a curing accelerator.  
   
   
       27 . The gas generator of  claim 11 , wherein a cross-section area of the insertion hole ranges from more than one to ten times a cross-section area of the electrode pin.  
   
   
       28 . The gas generator of  claim 13 , further comprising a sealing material, arranged near the stepped portion, for sealing a space between the holder and the plug.