HYBRID INFLATOR

In a hybrid inflator, a housing houses a gas generator to generate a combustion gas in a housing recessed portion on a bottom portion side. A lid body provided at an outflow port of the housing and a lid body provided at a sealed portion side of a pressurized gas in a bottle in a gas discharge port portion separate the sealed portion of the pressurized gas in the bottle from outside. When the hybrid inflator is activated, the two lid bodies are broken by generation of the combustion gas from the gas generator, and whereby the pressurized gas is discharged from a discharge port of the gas discharge port portion. The gas generator is detachably assembled to the housing with respect to the housing recessed portion of the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-171808, filed on Oct. 20, 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hybrid inflator that is used in an airbag device mounted on an automobile or the like and supplies a pressurized gas to an airbag or the like when the hybrid inflator is activated.

BACKGROUND ART

A hybrid inflator used in a curtain airbag device or the like of a vehicle is known. In a hybrid inflator of the related art, a housing that houses a gas generator is connected to a bottle in which a pressurized gas such as argon gas is sealed. When the hybrid inflator is activated, a combustion gas is ejected from the gas generator, a lid body that blocks the pressurized gas in the bottle is broken due to shock waves and an increase in an internal pressure at that time, the pressurized gas is discharged from a discharge port of a gas discharge port portion provided in the bottle, and the curtain airbag and the like are inflated (see, for example, JP2011-201524A and JP2018-24915A). In addition, in the hybrid inflator of the related art, the gas generator includes a squib held by a holder and a gas generating agent that ignites the squib to generate the combustion gas. In the housing, the gas generator is housed in a housing recessed portion on a bottom portion side, and an outflow port through which the combustion gas can flow out is provided on a front end portion side. The bottle covers an outflow port side of the housing, holds the housing, and seals the pressurized gas. The bottle includes the gas discharge port portion provided with the discharge port that discharges the pressurized gas. Breakable lid bodies for sealing the pressurized gas in the bottle are respectively provided at the outflow port of the housing and a sealed portion side of the pressurized gas in the bottle in the gas discharge port portion. In this hybrid inflator, when the hybrid inflator is activated, the two lid bodies are broken by generation of the combustion gas of the gas generating agent by the ignition of the squib in the gas generator, and whereby the pressurized gas is discharged from the discharge port of the gas discharge port portion. Then, a locking edge provided on an edge of the housing recessed portion on the bottom portion side of the housing is caulked so as to be plastically deformed, the locking edge is locked to the edge on the bottom portion side of the holder of the gas generator housed in the housing recessed portion, and whereby the gas generator is assembled to the housing.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

From the viewpoint of resource saving and the like, it is conceivable to recover the hybrid inflator from the vehicle at the time of a waste vehicle and reuse the hybrid inflator. Since the pressurized gas for reuse is less likely to be deteriorated, it is conceivable that the bottle in which the pressurized gas is sealed or the housing is not discarded and reused, and the gas generator including the gas generating agent having a possibility of being deteriorated is replaced with anew one. However, in the gas generator of the related art, after the gas generator is housed in the housing recessed portion in the housing fixed to the bottle by welding or the like, a locking edge provided in the housing is caulked, the gas generator is fixed in the housing recessed portion, and thus the gas generator cannot be easily replaced. Even if the gas generator is removed by returning the caulking of the locking edge of the housing, a strength of the locking edge cannot be ensured and the housing cannot be reused again.

In order to solve the above problem, a hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment makes it easy to replace a gas generator, and makes it possible to reuse a pressurized gas, a bottle, and a housing.

A hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment includes.

a gas generator including a squib held by a holder and a gas generating agent that ignites the squib to generate a combustion gas:

a housing in which an outflow port through which the combustion gas is capable of flowing out is provided on a front end portion side;

a bottle configured to cover the outflow port side to hold the housing, and provided with a gas discharge port portion having a discharge port for discharging a pressurized gas, in which the pressurized gas is sealed; and

breakable lid bodies respectively provided at the outflow port of the housing and a sealed portion side of the pressurized gas in the bottle in the gas discharge port portion.

The housing houses the gas generator in a housing recessed portion on a bottom portion side.

The two lid bodies separate the sealed portion of the pressurized gas in the bottle from outside.

When the hybrid inflator is activated, the two lid bodies are broken by generation of the combustion gas of the gas generating agent by ignition of the squib in the gas generator, and whereby the pressurized gas is discharged from the discharge port of the gas discharge port portion.

The gas generator is detachably assembled to the housing with respect to the housing recessed portion of the housing.

An assembly structure of the gas generator and the housing is a structure in which the gas generator is attached to and detached from the housing so that the bottle and the housing held by the bottle are reusable.

In the hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment, the gas generator is assembled to the housing recessed portion of the housing as a detachable assembly structure, and at the time of reuse, the already attached gas generator can be removed, and a new gas generator can be easily assembled to the housing recessed portion.

Therefore, in the hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment, the gas generator can be easily replaced, and the pressurized gas, the bottle, and the housing can be easily reused.

In the hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment, the assembly structure may be a screw structure in which screw portions corresponding to each other are provided in the holder of the gas generator and the housing recessed portion of the housing.

Since the hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment has such an assembly structure, the gas generator to be replaced can be easily removed from the housing by turning the holder of the gas generator to be replaced and removing the screw portion (male screw portion) of the holder from the screw portion (female screw portion) of the housing recessed portion of the housing. Further, when a screw portion (male screw portion) of a holder of a new gas generator is screwed into the screw portion (female screw portion) of the housing recessed portion of the housing, replacement of the gas generator is completed. As described above, since the gas generator can be easily attached to and detached from the housing, even when the gas generator of the hybrid inflator needs to be replaced, the bottle in which the pressurized gas is sealed and the housing can be easily reused.

In the hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment, the assembly structure may be a bayonet structure having a claw portion provided at the holder of the gas generator and a groove portion provided in the housing recessed portion of the housing and into which the claw portion is inserted and locked.

Since the hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment has such an assembly structure, the holder of the gas generator to be replaced is turned to move the claw portion of the holder from a locking position of the groove portion to a position where the claw portion can be pulled out, and the gas generator to be replaced is pulled out, so that the gas generator to be replaced can be removed from the housing. Further, by inserting the claw portion of the holder of the new gas generator from an insertion position of the groove portion and rotating the claw portion to the locking position, the new gas generator can be assembled to the housing to be reused. Therefore, the hybrid inflator in which the bottle in which the pressurized gas is sealed and the housing are reused can be easily formed.

In the hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment, a fixing screw to be screwed and inserted into the holder of the gas generator from an outer peripheral surface side of the housing may be disposed, and the fixing screw may be a set screw.

In such a configuration, the fixing screw makes it difficult for the gas generator to come off from the housing, and an assembly strength of the gas generator with respect to the housing can be improved. In addition, since the fixing screw is formed of a set screw, it is difficult to visually observe the fixing screw, and it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator from the housing.

In the hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment, the assembly structure may have a fitting shape in which the gas generator is fittable to the housing recessed portion of the housing, and include a coming-off preventing member configured to prevent the gas generator fitted to the housing recessed portion from coming off the housing recessed portion, and the coming-off preventing member may include a bottom wall portion that comes into contact with a bottom surface side of the gas generator, and a tubular portion that extends from an outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion and has an inner peripheral surface provided with a female screw portion that is screwed into a male screw portion provided on an outer peripheral side of the housing.

In such a configuration, when the coming-off preventing member is turned and removed from the housing, the bottom wall portion of the coming-off preventing member that has been in contact with the bottom surface side of the gas generator is removed and the gas generator can be taken out from the housing, and further, while a new gas generator is fitted to the housing recessed portion of the housing and the bottom wall portion of the coming-off preventing member is brought into contact with the bottom surface side of the new gas generator, when the female screw portion of the tubular portion of the coming-off preventing member is screwed into the male screw portion on the outer peripheral side of the housing, the new gas generator can be assembled to the housing to be reused, and the hybrid inflator in which the bottle in which the pressurized gas is sealed and the housing are reused can be easily formed.

In this case, a cap that is made of a synthetic resin and covers an outer periphery of an end portion of the bottle from an outer periphery of the tubular portion of the coming-off preventing member through an outer peripheral surface of the housing may be disposed.

In such a configuration, since the cap hides a vicinity of the male screw portion of the housing into which the coming-off preventing member is screwed, it is difficult to visually recognize an attachment state of the coming-off preventing member to the housing, and it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator from the housing. In order to reuse the hybrid inflator, during removal of the gas generator, the cap may be broken, and the gas generator may be removed, and after a new gas generator is replaced, the gas generator may be covered with anew cap. In addition, the cap may be disposed by molding.

In a case of using the coming-off preventing member, a fixing screw to be screwed and inserted into the housing from an outer peripheral surface side of the coming-off preventing member may be disposed, and the fixing screw may be a set screw.

In such a configuration, the fixing screw makes it difficult for the gas generator to come off from the housing, and the assembly strength of the gas generator with respect to the housing can be improved. In addition, since the fixing screw is formed of a set screw, it is difficult to visually observe the fixing screw, and it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator from the housing.

In the hybrid inflator according to the present embodiment, it is desirable that the holder or the coming-off preventing member to be assembled to the housing is formed by disposing an assembling operation portion corresponding to a dedicated tool so that the dedicated tool is used as a tool for an assembly operation.

In such a configuration, since the holder and the coming-off preventing member cannot be attached and detached unless the dedicated tool is used, it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator from the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An inflator10according to a first embodiment is a hybrid inflator that supplies an inflation gas to a curtain airbag of a curtain airbag device mounted on a vehicle.

As shown inFIGS.1to3B, the inflator10includes a gas generator30, a housing20that houses and holds the gas generator30, and a bottle11that holds the housing20. A pressurized gas G serving as an inflation gas for inflating an airbag is sealed in the bottle11.

Since the gas generator30is replaceable, the inflator10according to the first embodiment includes an inflator main body10a, which is a component of the inflator10other than the gas generator30, and the gas generator30. Specifically, the inflator main body10ais a portion of the inflator10other than the gas generator30, and includes the bottle11in which the pressurized gas G is sealed, and a housing20which is fixed to the bottle11and to which the gas generator30can be detachably assembled.

In the bottle11, the housing20is fixed to a bottom portion11aside, and a gas discharge port portion17is provided on a front end portion11bside. The gas discharge port portion17has a plurality of discharge ports18for discharging the pressurized gas G sealed in the bottle11. In the bottle11, the pressurized gas G such as an argon gas filled from a filling opening14ais sealed in a cylindrical main body portion14formed of metal such as steel. The filling opening14ais closed by a plug15that is welded after the pressurized gas G is filled into the main body portion14. The gas discharge port portion17is formed of a metal such as steel, includes a disk-shaped flange portion17aand a tubular portion17b, and is welded to a front end side of the main body portion14. The tubular portion17bhas a bottomed cylindrical shape and protrudes from the flange portion17a. The plurality of discharge ports18are provided in the tubular portion17bso as to penetrate the inner and outer peripheries. A gas flow path17cthrough which the pressurized gas G in the main body portion14passes is formed inside the tubular portion17b. A burst disk (lid body)27made of a breakable metal plate or the like is provided on an inflow port17dside of the gas flow path17cso as to partition the gas flow path17cand the main body portion14in which the pressurized gas G is sealed.

The housing20is provided on the bottom portion11aside of the bottle11in the main body portion14, and the housing20and the bottom portion11aof the bottle11are joined to each other by welding at a fixing portion12.

The housing20has a substantially cylindrical shape and is made of metal such as steel. A bottom portion20aside of the housing20protrudes from the bottle11, and a front end portion20bside of the housing20is inserted into the bottle11. The housing20includes a tubular peripheral wall portion21having an opening on the bottom portion20aside, and a ceiling portion22provided at the front end portion20b. The ceiling portion22is provided with an outflow port22a. An inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall portion21is a housing recessed portion21afor detachably housing the gas generator30, and in particular, a female screw portion53is formed on an inner peripheral surface21bof the housing recessed portion21aon the bottom portion20aside of the housing20(seeFIGS.3A and3B). The female screw portion53functions as an assembling portion25for assembling a holder40, which will be described later, in the gas generator30.

The outflow port22aof the ceiling portion22of the housing20allows the combustion gas ejected from the gas generator30to flow out into the bottle11, and a burst disk (lid body)28made of a breakable metal plate or the like is disposed so as not to cause the pressurized gas G sealed in the bottle11to flow back to the housing20side before outflow of the combustion gas.

The gas generator30includes a squib32held by the holder40, a gas generating agent34that ignites the squib32to generate the combustion gas, and a cup36that houses the gas generating agent34and is attached to the holder40.

The gas generating agent34is configured by forming a predetermined drug capable of generating a predetermined combustion gas at the time of combustion into a predetermined shape (a substantially cylindrical shape in the case of the present embodiment), and is filled in the cup36.

The cup36is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy that can be broken (ruptured) when the combustion gas of the gas generating agent34is generated, and includes a ceiling portion36ain a vicinity of the outflow port22aand a cylindrical peripheral wall portion36bextending from a peripheral edge of the ceiling portion36atoward the holder40side. An end portion36cof the peripheral wall portion36bis caulked and coupled to a cup coupling portion44of the holder40. The cup36is unnecessary when the housing20is directly filled with the gas generating agent34.

The squib32includes an ignition portion32ahaving a substantially truncated cone shape and two electrode pins32bextending from the ignition portion32a. In the squib32, when an operation current flows through the electrode pin32b, an ignition charge (not shown) in the ignition portion32ais ignited to generate a flame, and the gas generating agent34is ignited by the flame. The electrode pin32bprotrudes so as to be exposed in a connector recessed portion45on a bottom surface41cside of the holder40.

The holder40is made of a metal such as steel or an aluminum alloy, and includes a substantially cylindrical tubular portion41and a ceiling portion42disposed on a front end side of the tubular portion41. In the ceiling portion42, the cup coupling portion44to which the end portion36cof the cup36is coupled is disposed, and a squib housing portion43that houses and holds the ignition portion32aof the squib32is disposed inside the cup coupling portion44. The connector recessed portion45into which a connector (not shown) to be coupled to the electrode pin32bis fitted is disposed on an inner peripheral surface41bside of the bottom surface41cside of the tubular portion41.

A male screw portion52serving as an assembling portion47to be assembled to the assembling portion25of the housing20is formed on an outer peripheral surface41aof the holder40in a vicinity of the bottom surface41cof the tubular portion41.

An outer shape of the holder40on the bottom surface41cside of the tubular portion41is formed such that the holder40cannot be rotationally operated unless a dedicated tool S having a fitting opening portion Sa into which an assembling operation portion48is fitted is used, as the assembling operation portion48having a pentagonal prism shape (seeFIGS.2to3B).

In the inflator10according to the first embodiment, at the time of assembly, the gas discharge port portion17to which the burst disk27is attached is welded to the main body portion14on the front end portion11bside of the bottle11, and the housing20to which the burst disk28is attached is welded to the bottom portion11aside of the bottle11, thereby assembling the housing20to the bottle11. Then, the pressurized gas G is filled from the filling opening14a, and the filling opening14ais closed by the plug15and welded. As a result, the housing20is connected to the bottle11, and the inflator main body10afilled with the pressurized gas G can be formed.

Thereafter, the squib32is assembled to the holder40, and the assembled gas generator30in which the cup36filled with the gas generating agent34is coupled to the holder40is assembled to the housing20of the inflator main body10aby assembling the assembling portions47and25to each other, and whereby the inflator10can be manufactured. The manufactured inflator10can be mounted on a vehicle by coupling the gas discharge port portion17side to a connection port portion of a curtain airbag (not shown), attaching the inflator10to a body of the vehicle using a predetermined bracket, and inserting a connector (not shown) for operation into the connector recessed portion45.

Further, when the inflator10is activated, the combustion gas of the gas generating agent34is generated by the ignition of the squib32in the gas generator30, so that the two burst disks27and28are broken (ruptured), and the pressurized gas G is discharged from the discharge port18of the gas discharge port portion17, thereby inflating the airbag.

When the inflator10is in an inoperative state with the disposal of the vehicle, the inflator10is removed from the vehicle, and the gas generator30is removed so as to reuse the inflator main body10aincluding the pressurized gas G, the bottle11, and the housing20in the inflator10. At this time, in an assembly structure50of the gas generator30and the housing20according to the first embodiment, the gas generator30is detachably assembled to the housing20. The assembly structure50according to the first embodiment is a screw structure, and the gas generator30is assembled to the housing20by fastening the male screw portion52of the gas generator30to the female screw portion53of the housing20.

Therefore, as shown inFIGS.3A and3B, the gas generator30before replacement can be removed from the housing20by fitting the fitting opening portion Sa of the dedicated tool S to the assembling operation portion48having a pentagonal prism shape and turning the assembling operation portion48. Then, when the male screw portion52on the outer peripheral surface41aside of the holder40in a new gas generator30is screwed into the female screw portion53on the inner peripheral surface21bside of the housing recessed portion21ain the housing20by using the dedicated tool S, the new gas generator30can be assembled to the inflator main body10a, and the inflator10reusing the inflator main body10acan be easily manufactured.

As described above, in the hybrid inflator10according to the first embodiment, the gas generator30is assembled to the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20as the detachable assembly structure50, and at the time of reuse, the already attached gas generator30can be removed, and a new gas generator30can be easily assembled to the housing recessed portion21a.

Therefore, in the hybrid inflator10according to the first embodiment, the gas generator30can be easily replaced, and the pressurized gas G, the bottle11, and the housing20can be reused.

In the hybrid inflator10according to the first embodiment, the assembly structure50is the screw structure in which the holder40of the gas generator30and the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20are respectively provided with the screw portions52and53corresponding to each other.

Therefore, in the hybrid inflator10according to the first embodiment, when the holder40of the gas generator30is turned and the screw portion (male screw portion)52of the holder40is removed from the screw portion (female screw portion)53of the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20, the gas generator30can be removed from the housing20, and when the screw portion (male screw portion)52of the holder40of the new gas generator30is screwed into the screw portion (female screw portion)53of the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20, the new gas generator30can be assembled to the housing20to be reused, and the inflator10in which the bottle11in which the pressurized gas G is sealed and the housing20are reused can be easily formed.

In the hybrid inflator10according to the first embodiment, the holder40to be assembled to the housing20is formed by disposing the assembling operation portion48corresponding to the dedicated tool S so that the dedicated tool S is used as a tool for an assembly operation. In the case of the first embodiment, since the outer shape of the assembling operation portion48on the bottom surface41cside of the tubular portion41of the holder40is a pentagonal prism shape, a spanner or the like cannot be used, and the holder40can be attached and detached by using the dedicated tool S having the fitting opening portion Sa that is fittable to the assembling operation portion48having a pentagonal prism shape.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, since the holder40cannot be attached and detached unless the dedicated tool S is used, it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator30from the housing20.

In the illustrated example, the assembling operation portion48corresponding to the dedicated tool S is illustrated as having a pentagonal prism shape, but the assembling operation portion48is not limited to the pentagonal prism shape as long as the assembling operation portion48corresponds to a predetermined dedicated tool, may have a triangular prism shape or the like, and may have a shape having a concave portion or a concave-convex portion corresponding to a dedicated tool instead of a prism shape.

When the gas generator30is screwed into and assembled to the housing20, a hybrid inflator10A according to a second embodiment shown inFIGS.4to6Bmay be configured so as to prevent the gas generator30from being removed by an outsider.

In the hybrid inflator10A, an assembly structure50A of the gas generator30and the housing20A is a screw structure in which a holder40A of the gas generator30and the housing recessed portion21aof a housing20A are respectively provided with the screw portions52and53corresponding to each other, similarly to the first embodiment. Further, in the hybrid inflator10A, a through hole57is formed in the housing20A, and a screw hole58is formed in the holder40A at a position corresponding to the through hole57(seeFIGS.6A and6B). A fixing screw56is inserted into the through hole57and the screw hole58from an outer peripheral surface21cside of the housing20A. In the second embodiment, the fixing screw56is a set screw, and the fixing screw56inserted from the outer peripheral surface21cside of the housing20A passes through the through hole57and is screwed into the screw hole58.

In the assembly structure according to the second embodiment, the through hole57and the screw hole58are formed on both sides of the substantially cylindrical gas generator30in a radial direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the holder40A and the housing20A. Two fixing screws56are used to be inserted into the through holes57and the screw holes58on both sides. In addition, in the case of the second embodiment, the fixing screw56formed of a set screw is provided with an operation portion56ahaving a cross-shaped hole on an end surface side. The number of the fixing screws56is not limited to two, and one fixing screw56may be used.

In the hybrid inflator10A, during removal of the gas generator30, the fixing screw56is turned by using a jig corresponding to the operation portion56a, the fixing screw56is pulled out from the screw hole58or the through hole57, and the holder40A is further turned to remove the screw portion (male screw portion)52of the holder40A from the screw portion (female screw portion)53of the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20A, so that the gas generator30can be removed from the housing20A. Further, the screw portion (male screw portion)52of the holder40A of anew gas generator30is screwed into the screw portion (female screw portion)53of the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20A, and further, the fixing screw56is turned by using a jig corresponding to the operation portion56aand screwed into the screw hole58through the through hole57, so that the new gas generator30can be assembled to the housing20A to be reused, and the hybrid inflator10A in which the bottle11in which the pressurized gas G is sealed and the housing20A are reused can be easily formed.

In the hybrid inflator10A, in addition to the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment, the fixing screw56makes it difficult for the gas generator30to come off from the housing20A, so that an assembly strength of the gas generator30with respect to the housing20A can be improved. In addition, since the fixing screw56is formed of a set screw, it is difficult to visually observe the fixing screw56, and it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator30from the housing.

If this point is not taken into consideration, a normal screw such as a countersunk screw may be used as the fixing screw instead of the set screw.

In the first and second embodiments, the assembly structures50and50A of the gas generator30and the housings20and20A is exemplified as a screw structure, but an assembly structure50B may be a bayonet structure as in a hybrid inflator10B shown inFIGS.7to9B.

That is, the assembly structure50B is configured as a bayonet structure including claw portions61provided at a holder40B of the gas generator30and groove portions62provided in the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20B and into which the claw portions61are inserted and locked. The claw portions61are disposed at two positions on the outer peripheral surface41ain the diameter direction orthogonal to an axial center of the substantially cylindrical holder40B, and protrude from the outer peripheral surface41aas a curved plate-like shape. In addition, each of the groove portions62includes an insertion groove63in which an insertion opening62ainto which the claw portion61can be inserted is opened on the bottom portion20aside of the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20B, that extends along the axial direction of the housing20B, and into which the claw portion61can be inserted, and a locking groove64that extends in a peripheral direction of the housing20B from a front end63aof the insertion groove63, and can lock the claw portion61to an edge64bon the bottom portion20aside. A receiving surface21dthat receives an outer peripheral edge42aof the ceiling portion42of the holder40B is formed on the front end63aside of the insertion groove63of the housing recessed portion21aso that the claw portion61does not enter further in an insertion direction. Further, the locking groove64has such a dimension that the claw portion61is fitted so as to restrict a movement of the holder40B along the axial direction of the housing20B and so as to be movable along the peripheral direction of the housing20B, and the claw portion61has such a dimension that when the claw portion61is rotated by 90° from a disposition position of the insertion groove63and disposed in a vicinity of a front end64aof the locking groove64, fitting strength is increased and the claw portion61is fitted to the locking groove64to such an extent that the claw portion61does not rotate reversely.

In the hybrid inflator10B, during the removal of the gas generator30from the housing20B, the holder40B of the gas generator30is turned to move the claw portion61of the holder40bfrom a locking position on the front end64aside of the locking groove64of the groove portion62to a position of the insertion groove63where the claw portion61can be pulled out (inFIG.8C, the claw portion61is rotated in a counterclockwise direction), and the gas generator30is pulled out, so that the gas generator30can be removed from the housing20B. Further, the claw portion61of the holder40B of a new gas generator30is inserted from the insertion opening62aat an insertion position in the groove portion62of the housing20B (seeFIGS.8A and8B), the holder40B is brought into contact with the receiving surface21d, and then the holder40B is rotated to rotate the claw portion61to the locking position in the vicinity of the front end64aof the locking groove64(rotated by 90° in a clockwise direction as shown inFIGS.8B and8C), so that the new gas generator30can be assembled to the housing20B to be reused, and the hybrid inflator10B in which the bottle11in which the pressurized gas G is sealed and the housing20B are reused can be easily formed.

In the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the assembling operation portion48that can be rotated using the dedicated tool S may be provided on the bottom surface41cside of the holder40B, or the fixing screw62formed of the set screw of the second embodiment may be provided.

The assembly structure of the gas generator and the housing may be configured as in a hybrid inflator10C according to a fourth embodiment shown inFIGS.10to12B. An assembly structure50C of the hybrid inflator10C has a fitting shape in which the gas generator30is fittable to the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20C, and includes a coming-off preventing member67that prevents the gas generator30fitted to the housing recessed portion21afrom coming off the housing recessed portion21a. The housing recessed portion21aof the housing20C includes the receiving surface21dthat receives the outer peripheral edge42aof the ceiling portion42of the holder40C when the gas generator30is housed, and has a shape to which the holder40C is fittable.

The coming-off preventing member67is made of a metal such as steel, and includes a bottom wall portion68that comes into contact with the bottom surface41cside of the gas generator30at the time of fitting to the housing recessed portion21a, and a tubular portion69that extends from an outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion68and has an inner peripheral surface provided with a female screw portion73that is screwed into a male screw portion72provided on an outer peripheral side of the housing20C. The bottom wall portion68includes an insertion hole68athrough which the connector recessed portion45of the holder40C is opened. Further, an assembling operation portion76having a pentagonal prism shape protrudes from a peripheral edge of the insertion hole68aof the bottom wall portion68, and the coming-off preventing member67is rotatable by using a dedicated tool SC (seeFIGS.12A and12B) having the fitting opening portion Sa that is fittable to the assembling operation portion76.

In the hybrid inflator10C according to the fourth embodiment, when the fitting opening portion Sa of the dedicated tool SC is fitted to the assembling operation portion76of the coming-off preventing member67, the dedicated tool SC is operated, and the coming-off preventing member67is turned and removed from the housing20C, the bottom wall portion68of the coming-off preventing member67which has been in contact with the bottom surface41cside of the gas generator30is removed, and the gas generator30can be taken out from the housing20C. Further, while anew gas generator30is fitted into the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20C, and the bottom wall portion68of the coming-off preventing member67is brought into contact with the bottom surface41cside of the new gas generator30, the female screw portion73of the tubular portion69of the coming-off preventing member67is screwed into the male screw portion72on the outer peripheral surface21cside of the housing20C while fitting the fitting opening portion Sa of the dedicated tool SC to the assembling operation portion76and turning the dedicated tool SC, whereby the new gas generator30can be assembled to the housing20C to be reused, and the hybrid inflator10C in which the bottle1I in which the pressurized gas G is sealed and the housing20C are reused can be easily formed.

In the hybrid inflator10C according to the fourth embodiment, the coming-off preventing member67can also be reused.

Also in the fourth embodiment, the coming-off preventing member67to be assembled to the housing20C is formed by disposing the assembling operation portion76corresponding to the dedicated tool SC so that the dedicated tool SC is used as a tool for an assembly operation. In the assembling operation portion76, an outer shape of a peripheral edge of the insertion hole68aof the bottom wall portion68is a pentagonal prism shape, a spanner or the like cannot be used, and the coming-off preventing member67can be attached and detached by using the dedicated tool SC having the fitting opening portion Sa that is fittable to the assembling operation portion76having a pentagonal prism shape. Also in the fourth embodiment, since the coming-off preventing member67cannot be attached and detached unless the dedicated tool S is used, it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator30from the housing20C.

In a case of using the coming-off preventing member, a hybrid inflator may be configured as a hybrid inflator10D according to a fifth embodiment shown inFIGS.13to15B.

In the hybrid inflator10D, a coming-off preventing member67D similar to the coming-off preventing member67of the inflator10C according to the fourth embodiment is used, and a cap79that is made of a synthetic resin and covers an outer peripheral surface11cof the end portion (bottom portion)11aof the bottle11from an outer peripheral surface69aof the tubular portion69of the coming-off preventing member67D through the outer peripheral surface21cof the housing20D is disposed.

In the case of the fifth embodiment, the cap79is disposed so as to be fitted to the outer peripheral surface69aside of the coming-off preventing member67D as a tubular member having a slight elongation made of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal or polyamide.

In the hybrid inflator10D according to the fifth embodiment, when the cap79is broken and then the coming-off preventing member67D is turned to be removed from the housing20D, the bottom wall portion68of the coming-off preventing member67D which has been in contact with the bottom surface41cside of the gas generator30is removed, and the gas generator30can be taken out from the housing20D. Further, while anew gas generator30is fitted into the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20D, and the bottom wall portion68of the coming-off preventing member67D is brought into contact with the bottom surface41cside of the new gas generator30, the female screw portion73of the tubular portion69of the coming-off preventing member67D is screwed into the male screw portion72on the outer peripheral surface21cside of the housing20D, whereby the new gas generator30can be assembled to the housing20D to be reused. Next, when a new cap79is covered from the outer peripheral surface69aof the tubular portion69of the coming-off preventing member67D to the outer peripheral surface1cof the end portion (bottom portion)11aof the bottle11through the outer peripheral surface21cof the housing20D, the hybrid inflator10D in which the bottle11in which the pressurized gas G is sealed and the housing20D are reused can be easily formed.

In the hybrid inflator10D according to the fifth embodiment, since the cap79hides a vicinity of the male screw portion72of the housing20D into which the coming-off preventing member67D is screwed, it is difficult to visually recognize an attachment state of the coming-off preventing member67D to the housing20D, and it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator30from the housing20D.

The cap79of the fifth embodiment is broken and the gas generator is removed during the removal of the gas generator30, and a new cap79is covered after the new gas generator30is replaced, in order to reuse the inflator main body10aof the hybrid inflator10D, but the cap79may be disposed by molding at the beginning of manufacture of the hybrid inflator10D. Then, even after the subsequent replacement of the gas generator30, the cap79may be disposed by molding, or the cap79in a tube shape may be disposed in advance so as to be fitted to the outer peripheral surface69aside and the outer peripheral surface11cside of the coming-off preventing member67D and the bottle11.

In the case of using the coming-off preventing member, a hybrid inflator may be configured as a hybrid inflator10E according to a sixth embodiment shown inFIGS.16to18B. The hybrid inflator10E also has a fitting shape in which the gas generator30is fittable to the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20E, and includes a coming-off preventing member67E that prevents the gas generator30fitted to the housing recessed portion21afrom coming off the housing recessed portion21a. The housing recessed portion21aof the housing20E includes the receiving surface21dthat receives the outer peripheral edge42aof the ceiling portion42of the holder40E when the gas generator30is housed, and has a shape to which the holder40E is fittable.

In the hybrid inflator10E, the front end portion20bside of the housing20E is joined to the bottom portion11aside of the bottle11by welding at the fixing portion12. Such a joining mode in which the front end portion20bside of the housing20E is joined to the bottom portion11aside of the bottle11may be applied to the hybrid inflators10,10A, and10B of a type in which the gas generator30is screwed and assembled to the housings20,20A, and20B as in the first to third embodiments.

Similar to the coming-off preventing member67according to the fourth embodiment, the coming-off preventing member67E is made of a metal such as steel, and includes the bottom wall portion68that comes into contact with the bottom surface41cside of the gas generator30when the gas generator30is fitted to the housing recessed portion21a, and the tubular portion69that extends from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion68and has the inner peripheral surface provided with the female screw portion73that is screwed into the male screw portion72provided on the outer peripheral side of the housing20E. The bottom wall portion68includes the insertion hole68athrough which the connector recessed portion45of the holder40E is opened. Further, the tubular portion69itself extending from the bottom wall portion68serves as an assembling operation portion76E having a pentagonal prism shape, and the coming-off preventing member67E is rotatable by using a dedicated tool SE (seeFIGS.18A and18B) having the fitting opening portion Sa that is fittable to the assembling operation portion76E.

Also in the hybrid inflator10E according to the sixth embodiment, when the fitting opening portion Sa of the dedicated tool SE is fitted to the assembling operation portion76E of the coming-off preventing member67E, the dedicated tool SE is operated, and the coming-off preventing member67E is turned and removed from the housing20E, the bottom wall portion68of the coming-off preventing member67E which has been in contact with the bottom surface41cside of the gas generator30is removed, and the gas generator30can be taken out from the housing20E. Further, while a new gas generator30is fitted into the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20E, and the bottom wall portion68of the coming-off preventing member67E is brought into contact with the bottom surface41cside of the new gas generator30, the female screw portion73of the tubular portion69of the coming-off preventing member67E is screwed into the male screw portion72on the outer peripheral surface21cside of the housing20E while fitting the fitting opening portion Sa of the dedicated tool SE into the assembling operation portion76E and turning the dedicated tool SE, whereby the new gas generator30can be assembled to the housing20E to be reused, and the hybrid inflator10E in which the bottle11in which the pressurized gas G is sealed and the housing20E are reused can be easily formed.

Of course, also in the hybrid inflator10E according to the sixth embodiment, the coming-off preventing member67E can be reused.

Although the assembling operation portion76E is also illustrated as having a pentagonal prism shape, the assembling operation portion76E is not limited to the pentagonal prism shape as long as the assembling operation portion76E corresponds to a predetermined dedicated tool, may have a triangular prism shape or the like, and may have a shape having a concave portion or a concave-convex portion corresponding to a dedicated tool instead of a prism shape.

In the case of using the coming-off preventing member, as in a hybrid inflator10F according to a seventh embodiment shown inFIG.19, a fixing screw81formed of a set screw which is screwed and inserted into the housing20F from the outer peripheral surface69aside of the coming-off preventing member67F may be disposed. A through hole82through which the fixing screw81passes is disposed in the tubular portion69of the coming-off preventing member67F, and a screw hole83into which the fixing screw81is screwed is formed in the housing20F. The fixing screw81is provided with an operation portion81ahaving a cross-shaped hole on an end surface side, and is used as a single screw.

In the hybrid inflator10F, during the removal of the gas generator30, the fixing screw81is turned by using a jig corresponding to the operation portion81ato pull out the fixing screw81from the screw hole83or the through hole82, and the coming-off preventing member67F is further turned to remove the female screw portion73of the coming-off preventing member67F from the male screw portion72of the housing20F, so that the bottom wall portion68of the coming-off preventing member67F which has been in contact with the bottom surface41cside of the gas generator30is removed, and the gas generator30can be taken out from the housing20F. Further, while the new gas generator30is fitted into the housing recessed portion21aof the housing20F and the bottom wall portion68of the coming-off preventing member67F is brought into contact with the bottom surface41cside of the new gas generator30, the female screw portion73of the tubular portion69of the coming-off preventing member67F is screwed into the male screw portion72on the outer peripheral surface21cside of the housing20F while fitting the fitting opening portion Sa of the dedicated tool SE (seeFIGS.18A and18B) to the assembling operation portion76E and turning the dedicated tool SE, and the fixing screw81is turning by using a jig corresponding to the operation portion81a, and is inserted into the screw hole83through the through hole82, whereby the new gas generator30can be assembled to the housing20F to be reused, and the hybrid inflator10F in which the bottle11in which the pressurized gas G is sealed and the housing20E are reused can be easily formed.

Further, in the hybrid inflator10F, in addition to the same operation and effect as those of the sixth embodiment, the fixing screw81makes it difficult for the gas generator30to come off from the housing20F, and the assembly strength of the gas generator30with respect to the housing20F can be improved. In addition, since the fixing screw81is formed of a set screw, it is difficult to visually observe the fixing screw81, and it is possible to prevent an outsider from removing the gas generator30from the housing.

Although the hybrid inflators10,10A,10B,10C,10D,10E, and10F used in the curtain airbag device have been described in the respective embodiments, the hybrid inflator according to the present invention is not limited to the curtain airbag device, and may be used in a knee protection airbag device, a side airbag device, a pedestrian protection airbag device, and the like.