Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a technical field regarding an airbag gas generator, more particular to a gas generator with a quick-release joint and an assembly method thereof, which is suitable for being installed in an airbag of a personal protective apparatus that fills the airbag with gas to make it expand to achieve the effects of the quick release and easy deflation.

Airbags are already standard equipment in vehicles. When a vehicle collision occurs, the gas generator inside the airbag can be instantly inflated within a very short period of time, so as to form a barrier layer with cushioning and protective functions, thereby protecting the safety of the driver and passengers. However, owing to the advantages of automobile gas generators such as fast speed, sufficient gas volume, small size, great safety, etc., many different industries are gradually using automobile gas generators as a power source for their products, such as personal protection, fire protection products, and the like.

The document <CIT> discloses an air-release trigger system for an inflatable body protector according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In particular, in terms of personal protection, based on the product features of a gas generator, if used for personal protection purposes, a joint is required to connect the gas generator to its pouch to ensure that the generator does not separate from the pouch during operation due to recoil forces, allowing the system to maintain airtight to achieve pouch expansion and to keep the pouch full until the end of protection. Most of the general joints are connected to gas generators through screw threads. However, tightening through screw threads requires rotating the generator several times, so there is a possibility of loosening without final tightening. Moreover, the process of replacing the gas generator is time-consuming, and after repeated use or under the over-tightening condition, the joint may not be used to tighten the gas generator normally due to the damage to the screw threads. Furthermore, when the screw threads are severely damaged, the gas generator may be out of control, resulting in disengagement. Not only does it fail to protect personnel, but it may even cause unexpected injuries to them.

Accordingly, the inventor of the present disclosure has designed a gas generator with a quick-release joint and an assembly method thereof in an effort to tackle deficiencies in the prior art and further improve practical implementation in industries.

The present disclosure aims to provide a gas generator with a quick-release joint and an assembly method to solve the problems that can be encountered in the prior art.

Based on the above subjects, the present disclosure provides a gas generator with a quick-release joint, including a gas generator body and a quick-release joint. Wherein, one end of the gas generator body has an assembly part; the assembly part is a cylindrical shape, and the assembly part has a gas discharge part and a fixed convex column protruding from the gas generator body in a radial direction. Wherein, the quick-release joint includes a socket member and a fixing ring. the socket member is rotatably positioned on the assembly part; the socket member has a first groove and a rotational groove; the first groove is disposed along an axial direction of the socket member; one end of the first groove is connected to one end of the socket member sleeved on the assembly part; another end of the first groove is connected to one end of the rotational groove; the rotational groove is disposed along a first rotational direction, and another end of the rotational groove is a terminal end; the fixing ring is rotatably positioned on the socket member; the fixing ring has a second groove and a rotational sliding surface; one end of the second groove is connected to one end of the fixing ring sleeved on the socket member; another end of the second groove is connected to one end of the rotational sliding surface; the rotational sliding surface is disposed along a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, and another end of the rotational sliding surface is a terminal end; another end of the rotational sliding surface adjacent to the rotational sliding surface is provided with a fixed convex part with a raised disposition.

Preferably, when the quick-release joint is assembled with the gas generator body, the fixed convex column is positioned between the terminal end of the rotational groove and the terminal end of the rotational sliding surface and between the terminal end of the rotational sliding surface and the fixed convex part.

Preferably, the fixed convex part is an arc shape, the fixed convex part has a maximum protrusion height, one side of the rotational groove relative to the rotational sliding surface has a concession distance from the fixed convex part, and the concession distance is greater than the maximum protrusion height of the fixed convex part.

Preferably, the assembly part has a neck part tapered from a circular diameter, the neck part is provided with a first elastic ring, and one end of the socket member has an insertion hole into which the assembly part reaches; the insertion hole is provided with a stop part corresponding to a position of the first elastic ring, and a gap between the stop part and the neck part is smaller than a thickness or diameter of the first elastic ring.

Preferably, a position of the stop part relative to the neck part is provided with an oblique part.

Preferably, another end of the socket member is provided with a gas flow port; a circular diameter of the gas flow port is larger than that of the assembly part.

Preferably, a position corresponding to the gas discharge part in the gas flow port is provided with a buffer groove, and the buffer groove is recessed inward from an inner surface of the gas flow port.

Preferably, a junction of the buffer groove and the inner surface of the gas flow port is provided with a diversion part.

Preferably, an outer periphery of the socket member adjacent to another end of the socket member is provided with a plurality of second elastic rings at intervals.

Based on the above subjects, the present disclosure also provides an assembly method of a gas generator with a quick-release joint, applied to the gas generator with a quick-release joint according to the aforementioned description, including the following steps: aligning the fixed convex column with the first groove and the second groove and then disposing the quick-release joint on the assembly part; fixing rotational freedom of the quick-release joint and rotating the gas generator body along the first rotational direction to make the fixed convex column reach the terminal end of the rotational groove; fixing rotational freedom of the gas generator body and the socket member and rotating the fixing ring along the first rotational direction to make the fixed convex column reach a position of the fixed convex part; fixing rotational freedom of the fixing ring and rotating the gas generator body along the second rotational direction to make the fixed convex column pass over the fixed convex part; and rotating the gas generator body to make the fixed convex column reach the terminal end of the rotational groove.

The gas generator with a quick-release joint and the assembly method thereof may achieve the following beneficial effects.

The gas generator with a quick-release joint and the assembly method thereof may achieve the effect of higher safety by appropriately or effectively replacing old-type joints based on the aforementioned effects.

The technical features of the present disclosure are to be illustrated in detail below with specific embodiments and accompanying drawings to make a person with ordinary skills in the art effortlessly understand the purposes, technical features, and advantages of the present disclosure.

The drawings required for the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure are to be briefly described below to illustrate more clearly the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It is obvious that the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For a person with ordinary skills in the art, additional drawings can be obtained according to these drawings.

The advantages, features, and technical methods of the present disclosure are to be explained in detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments and the figures for the purpose of being easier to be understood. Moreover, the present disclosure may be realized in different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Conversely, for a person with ordinary skills in the art, the embodiments provided shall make the present disclosure convey the scope more thoroughly, comprehensively, and completely. In addition, the present disclosure shall be defined only by the appended claims.

It should be noted that although the terms "first," "second," and the like may be used in the present disclosure to describe various elements, components, regions, sections, layers, and/or parts, these elements, components, regions, sections, layers and/or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, sections, layer, and/or part from another element, component, region, sections, layer, and/or part.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present disclosure have the same meaning as those commonly understood by a person with ordinary skills in the art. It should be further understood that, unless explicitly defined herein, the terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having definitions consistent with their meaning in the context of the related art and the present disclosure, and should not be construed as idealized or overly formal.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG> together. <FIG> is an exploded schematic diagram of the gas generator with a quick-release joint according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the gas generator with a quick-release joint according to the present disclosure. The gas generator with a quick-release joint <NUM> of the present disclosure may be applied to personal protection, fire protection products, household equipment, and the like; preferably, the gas generator with a quick-release joint <NUM> of the present disclosure is mainly applied to personal protective apparatus, such as helmets and protective clothes. As shown in the figure, the gas generator with a quick-release joint <NUM> of the present disclosure mainly includes a gas generator body <NUM> and a quick-release joint <NUM>.

Wherein, the material of the bottle, the internal structure, and the contents contained therein of the gas generator body <NUM> may be technical means known or commonly used by a person with ordinary skills in the art, which is not to be described herein. One end of the gas generator body <NUM> has an assembly part <NUM>. Wherein, the assembly part <NUM> is preferably a cylindrical shape, and the assembly part <NUM> has a gas discharge part <NUM> and a fixed convex column <NUM> protruding from the surface of the gas generator body <NUM> in a radial direction; preferably, the fixed convex column <NUM> may be a cylinder, an ellipsoid, or the like; alternatively, the fixed convex column <NUM> may be a column having a structure with rounded corners, oblique corners, and the like at special sections (corresponding to the position of the fixed convex part <NUM> described below).

Wherein, the quick-release joint <NUM> includes a socket member <NUM> and a fixing ring <NUM>. The socket member <NUM> may be made of general steel iron metal but may also be made of aluminum alloy to reduce the overall weight. The socket member <NUM> may be rotatably positioned or disposed on the assembly part <NUM>. The fixing ring <NUM> is made of general steel iron metal to ensure the characteristics of wear resistance and better rigidity. The fixing ring <NUM> is rotatably positioned on the socket member <NUM>.

Further, the socket member <NUM> may be substantially a cylindrical or tubular shape to have an insertion hole <NUM>, so that the socket member <NUM> may be positioned or disposed on the assembly part <NUM> by using the insertion hole <NUM>. Wherein, the socket member <NUM> has a first groove <NUM> and a rotational groove <NUM>. The first groove <NUM> is disposed along an axial direction of the socket member <NUM>; one end of the first groove <NUM> is connected to one end of the socket member <NUM> sleeved on the assembly part <NUM>, and another end of the first groove <NUM> is connected to one end of the rotational groove <NUM>; that is, the first groove <NUM> is extended and connected to the rotational groove <NUM> from one end of the socket member <NUM> that is reached or inserted by the assembly part <NUM>. Another end of the rotational groove <NUM> is a terminal end. That is, the first groove <NUM> and the rotational groove <NUM> may form a limiting structure in an L shape (or "Γ" shape"). In so doing, when the socket member <NUM> is positioned or disposed on the assembly part <NUM> by using the insertion hole <NUM>, the fixed convex column <NUM> may enter the limiting structure (the first groove <NUM> and the rotational groove <NUM>) of the socket member <NUM> through the first groove <NUM>.

It should be noted that the outer periphery of the socket member <NUM> adjacent to another end of the socket member <NUM> is provided with a plurality of second elastic rings <NUM> at intervals. In so doing, excellent air tightness is achieved between the gas generator with a quick-release joint <NUM> of the present disclosure and the airbag assembled or disposed.

In addition, the fixing ring <NUM> correspondingly has a second groove <NUM> and a rotational sliding surface <NUM>. Wherein, one end of the second groove <NUM> is connected to one end of the fixing ring <NUM> sleeved on the socket member <NUM>; another end of the second groove <NUM> is connected to one end of the rotational sliding surface <NUM>, and another end of the rotational sliding surface <NUM> is a terminal end. That is, the second groove <NUM> and the rotational sliding surface <NUM> may form a limiting structure in an L shape (or "¬" shape"). In so doing, when the fixing ring <NUM> is positioned or disposed on the combination of the socket member <NUM> and the assembly part <NUM>, the fixed convex column <NUM> may enter into the limiting structure of the fixing ring <NUM> through the second groove <NUM>.

It should be noted that the rotational groove <NUM> is disposed along the first rotational direction R1, whereas the rotational sliding surface <NUM> is disposed along the second rotational direction R2 opposite to the first rotational direction R1. Furthermore, another end of the rotational sliding surface <NUM> adjacent to the rotational sliding surface <NUM> is provided with a fixed convex part <NUM> with a raised disposition. That is, when the quick-release joint <NUM> is assembled with the gas generator body <NUM>, the fixed convex column <NUM> is positioned between the terminal end of the rotational groove <NUM> and the terminal end of the rotational sliding surface <NUM> and between the terminal end of the rotational sliding surface <NUM> and the fixed convex part <NUM>. In so doing, when the gas generator body <NUM> or the quick-release joint <NUM> is rotated to make the fixed convex column <NUM> pass over the fixed convex part <NUM>, the fixed convex part <NUM> may limit the degree of freedom in the reverse displacement of the fixed convex part <NUM>, so that the quick-release joint <NUM> may be stably disposed on the gas generator body <NUM>.

On the other hand, the assembly part <NUM> has a neck part <NUM> tapered from a circular diameter, and the neck part <NUM> is provided with a first elastic ring <NUM>; preferably, the first elastic ring <NUM> may be made of EPDM material to achieve the feature of excellent temperature resistance. Wherein, the insertion hole <NUM> is provided with a stop part <NUM> corresponding to the position of the first elastic ring <NUM>, and a gap between the stop part <NUM> and the neck part <NUM> is smaller than the thickness or circular diameter of the first elastic ring <NUM>. It should be noted that the position of the stop part <NUM> relative to the neck part <NUM> is provided with an oblique part <NUM>; that is, oblique part <NUM> is disposed at the position where the stop part <NUM> faces the first elastic ring <NUM>. Through the configuration of the stop part <NUM> and the predetermined structure of the first elastic ring <NUM>, the stop part <NUM>, the oblique part <NUM>, and the neck part <NUM> may press and deform the first elastic ring <NUM> when the quick-release joint <NUM> is assembled with the gas generator body <NUM>, thus filling or blocking the gap between the stop part <NUM> and the neck part <NUM>, so that excellent air tightness may be achieved between the gas generator with a quick-release joint <NUM> of the present disclosure and the airbag assembled or disposed.

Please refer to <FIG>. It is worth mentioning that the fixed convex part <NUM> is an arc shape or has a structure with rounded corners, circular arcs, bevels, and the like at both ends. Wherein, the fixed convex part <NUM> has a maximum protrusion height H, which may be <NUM> to <NUM>, for example; the actual value thereof may be adjusted according to the actual application, which should not be regarded as a limitation. Wherein, one side of the rotational groove <NUM> relative to the rotational sliding surface <NUM> has a concession distance <NUM> from the fixed convex part <NUM>, and the concession distance <NUM> is greater than the maximum protrusion height H of the fixed convex part <NUM>. Because the first elastic ring <NUM> has an appropriate elastic restoring force, the first elastic ring <NUM> may also provide the ability to restore the position of the fixed convex column <NUM> at the time of the gas generator body <NUM> being displaced in an axial direction during the period when the fixed convex column <NUM> passes over the fixed convex part <NUM>. Furthermore, when the stop part <NUM>, the oblique part <NUM>, and the neck part <NUM> press the first elastic ring <NUM> to deform the first elastic ring <NUM>, the elastic restoring force of the first elastic ring <NUM> may simultaneously provide the effects of the fixed convex column <NUM> being positioned between the terminal end of the rotational groove <NUM> and the terminal end of the rotational sliding surface <NUM> and between the terminal end of the rotational sliding surface <NUM> and the fixed convex part <NUM>.

It should be noted that the oblique part <NUM> also helps the smoothness of the up- and-down movement of the socket member <NUM> during assembly, so as to facilitate the user to assemble the socket member <NUM> to the assembly part <NUM>.

What's more, another end of the socket member <NUM> (that is, the end opposite to the insertion end of the assembly part <NUM>) has a gas flow port <NUM>, and the caliber of the gas flow port <NUM> is larger than the circular diameter of the assembly part <NUM>. Wherein, the position of the gas flow port <NUM> corresponding to the gas discharge part <NUM> is provided with a buffer groove <NUM>, and the buffer groove <NUM> is recessed inward from the inner surface of the gas flow port <NUM>; that is, the gas flow port <NUM> and the buffer groove <NUM> may be substantially or cross-sectionally formed into a convex-shaped structure. Preferably, a junction of the buffer groove <NUM> and the inner surface of the gas flow port <NUM> is provided with a diversion part <NUM>.

In so doing, the buffer groove <NUM> may effectively mitigate the impact force of the gas generator when gas is discharged, avoiding the occurrence of rupture of the airbag caused by excessive impact force when gas is discharged. It is worth mentioning that in actual application, the caliber of the gas flow port <NUM> may be adjusted to be larger than the circular diameter of the assembly part <NUM>; that is, the size of the gap between the socket member <NUM> and the assembly part <NUM> after the buffer groove <NUM> is adjusted when the gas flows out, so as to adjust the flow rate and flow volume of the gas.

Please refer to <FIG> and <FIG> together with <FIG> are sequential schematic diagrams or assembly schematic diagrams when the quick-release joint <NUM> is assembled to the gas generator body <NUM>. The related steps of the assembly method of the gas generator with a quick-release joint are to be described below.

As shown in <FIG>, the assembly part <NUM> of the gas generator body <NUM> is inserted into the quick-release joint <NUM>, which means that the fixing ring <NUM> is rotated to align or overlap the first groove <NUM> with the second groove <NUM> and that the fixed convex column <NUM> is aligned with the first groove <NUM> and the second groove <NUM>, followed by the assembly part <NUM> being inserted into the insertion hole <NUM>. Meanwhile, the fixed convex column <NUM> enters the first groove <NUM> and the second groove <NUM> at the same time. Next, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the user may first fix the rotational freedom of the quick-release joint <NUM> and rotate the gas generator body <NUM> along the first rotational direction R1 (or the user may rotate the socket member <NUM> and the gas generator body <NUM> relatively) to make the fixed convex column <NUM> reach the terminal end of the rotational groove <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the rotational freedoms of the gas generator body <NUM> and the socket member <NUM> are fixed, and the fixing ring <NUM> is rotated along the first rotational direction R1 (or the user may rotate the combination of the gas generator body <NUM> with the socket member <NUM> and the fixing ring <NUM> relatively) to make the fixed convex column <NUM> reach the position of the fixed convex part <NUM>. Then, as shown in <FIG>, the rotational freedom of the fixing ring <NUM> is fixed, and the gas generator body <NUM> is rotated along the second rotational direction R2 to make the fixed convex column <NUM> pass over the fixed convex part <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, finally, the gas generator body <NUM> is rotated to make the fixed convex column <NUM> reach a terminal end of the rotational groove <NUM>. Meanwhile, the fixed convex column <NUM> is positioned between the terminal end of the rotational groove <NUM> and the terminal end of the rotational sliding surface <NUM> and between the terminal end of the rotational sliding surface <NUM> and the fixed convex part <NUM>.

In so doing, the quick-release joint <NUM> and the gas generator body <NUM> may have double tightening or securing protection to prevent disengagement, which is not easily damaged, through the configuration of the predetermined structure of the socket member <NUM> and the fixing ring <NUM>. It is worth mentioning that from the aforementioned description, the gas generator with a quick-release joint <NUM> of the present disclosure may be quickly assembled; certainly, the gas generator may also be quickly disassembled. Therefore, after the gas generator with a quick-release joint <NUM> of the present disclosure is operated to make the airbag inflated with gas for the protection of the user, relevant personnel may quickly disassemble the gas generator body <NUM> to make the gas in the airbag quickly discharged for the convenience of facilitating the follow-up procedures to the user, such as inspection or medical first aid, and the like.

Claim 1:
A gas generator with a quick-release joint (<NUM>), comprising:
a gas generator body (<NUM>), one end thereof having an assembly part (<NUM>), the assembly part (<NUM>) being a cylindrical shape, and the assembly part (<NUM>) having a gas discharge part (<NUM>) and a fixed convex column (<NUM>) protruding from the gas generator body (<NUM>) in a radial direction; and
a quick-release joint (<NUM>) comprising a socket member (<NUM>) and a fixing ring (<NUM>), the socket member (<NUM>) being rotatably positioned on the assembly part (<NUM>), the socket member (<NUM>) having a first groove (<NUM>) and a rotational groove (<NUM>), the first groove (<NUM>) being disposed along an axial direction of the socket member (<NUM>), one end of the first groove (<NUM>) being connected to one end of the socket member (<NUM>) sleeved on the assembly part (<NUM>), another end of the first groove (<NUM>) being connected to one end of the rotational groove (<NUM>), the rotational groove (<NUM>) being disposed along a first rotational direction (R1), and another end of the rotational groove (<NUM>) being a terminal end; the fixing ring (<NUM>) being rotatably positioned on the socket member (<NUM>), the fixing ring (<NUM>) having a second groove (<NUM>) and a rotational sliding surface (<NUM>), one end of the second groove (<NUM>) being connected to one end of the fixing ring (<NUM>) sleeved on the socket member (<NUM>), another end of the second groove (<NUM>) being connected to one end of the rotational sliding surface (<NUM>), the rotational sliding surface (<NUM>) being disposed along a second rotational direction (R2) opposite to the first rotational direction (R1), and another end of the rotational sliding surface (<NUM>) being a terminal end; the gas generator being characterized in that, another end of the rotational sliding surface (<NUM>) adjacent to the rotational sliding surface (<NUM>) being provided with a fixed convex part (<NUM>) with a raised disposition.