Igniter with a locked consolidated powder charge

Abstract

An igniter is described comprising a defined space filled with at least an ignition charge; a bridge wire that is at least partially in heat transmitting contact with the ignition charge; and a means for locking the ignition charge into place with respect to the bridge wire such that any substantial relative motion between the ignition charge and the bridge wire is prevented. This prevents movement of an ignition charge within an igniter, particularly movement of an ignition charge relative to a bridge wire in order to protect the bridge wire from failure such as detaching or breaking.

1 . An igniter comprising:
 an output can comprising a bottom and a cylindrical wall;   a header that is inserted at least partially into the output can and comprises a bridge wire; and   a consolidated ignition and output powder charge retained within the output can between the bottom and the cylindrical wall and the inserted header such that the bridge wire is at least partially embedded into the ignition and output powder charge; wherein   the bottom comprises at least one of a protrusion embedded into consolidated ignition and output powder charge and a dimple filled with the consolidated ignition and output powder charge.   
     
     
         2 . The igniter of  claim 1 , wherein the output can is manufactured by deep-drawing and the at least one of a protrusion and a dimple in the bottom of the output can is formed by a die during the deep-drawing process. 
     
     
         3 . An igniter comprising:
 an output can comprising a bottom and a cylindrical wall;   a header that is inserted at least partially into the output can and comprises a bridge wire; and   a consolidated ignition and output powder charge retained within the output can between the bottom and the cylindrical wall and the inserted header such that the bridge wire is at least partially embedded into the ignition and output powder charge; wherein   the header comprises at least one of an eccentric retention sleeve and a flat on the header that is embedded in the consolidated ignition and output powder charge.   
     
     
         4 . The igniter of  claim 3 , wherein the eccentric retention sleeve is welded to the header. 
     
     
         5 . The igniter of  claim 3 , wherein the header comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall and the flats are coined into the cylindrical wall at an end of the cylindrical outer wall facing the consolidated ignition and output powder charge. 
     
     
         6 . The igniter of  claim 3 , wherein the header comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall and the flats are milled into the cylindrical wall at an end of the cylindrical outer wall facing the consolidated ignition and output powder charge. 
     
     
         7 . An igniter comprising:
 a charge sleeve comprising a through hole comprising a cylindrical wall;   a bridge wire extending at least partially within the through hole; and   a consolidated ignition powder charge retained within the through hole of the charge sleeve such that the bridge wire is at least partially embedded in the ignition powder charge; wherein   the cylindrical wall comprises at least one of a protrusion embedded into consolidated ignition powder charge and a dimple filled with the consolidated ignition powder charge.   
     
     
         8 . The igniter of  claim 7 , wherein the through hole comprises in a longitudinal direction thereof at least a first cylindrical wall section of a first shape and a second cylindrical wall section of a second shape that differs from the first shape. 
     
     
         9 . The igniter of  claim 8 , wherein the first cylindrical wall section has a smaller inner diameter than the second cylindrical wall section. 
     
     
         10 . The igniter of  claim 9 , wherein the first cylindrical wall section comprises teeth. 
     
     
         11 . The igniter of  claim 9 , wherein the second cylindrical wall section comprises indentations. 
     
     
         12 . The igniter of  claim 9 , wherein the first cylindrical wall section is eccentric in relation to the second cylindrical wall section. 
     
     
         13 . An igniter comprising:
 a defined space filled with at least an ignition charge;   a bridge wire that is at least partially in heat transmitting contact with the ignition charge; and   a means for locking the ignition charge into place with respect to the bridge wire such that any substantial relative motion between the ignition charge and the bridge wire is prevented.   
     
     
         14 . The igniter according to  claim 13 , wherein the defined space is an interior space defined by an output can comprising a bottom and a wall. 
     
     
         15 . The igniter of  claim 14 , wherein the output can is manufactured by deep-drawing and the means for locking the ignition charge into place are corrugations formed by a die during the deep-drawing process. 
     
     
         16 . The igniter of  claim 14 , wherein the means for locking the ignition charge into place are deformations in the wall of the output can. 
     
     
         17 . The igniter according to  claim 13 , wherein the defined space is an interior space defined by a charge sleeve comprising a cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         18 . The igniter of  claim 17 , wherein the cylindrical wall comprises in a longitudinal direction thereof at least a first cylindrical wall section and a second cylindrical wall section and a step extending between the first and second cylindrical wall sections. 
     
     
         19 . The igniter of  claim 18 , wherein the step between the first cylindrical wall section and the second cylindrical wall section is formed by at least one of the first and second cylindrical wall sections comprising different diameters and being eccentric with respect to each other. 
     
     
         20 . The igniter of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first and second cylindrical wall sections and the step between the first and second cylindrical wall sections comprises teeth or indentations.