Diffusor cup for an inflator device which is used to inflate an airbag in an airbag system

摘要

A novel diffusor cup forms part of an inflator device which is used to inflate an airbag. The novel structure of the diffusor cup substantially reduces the deflection thereof during deployment of the airbag. This improves the consistency and reliability of inflating the airbag with a proper volume of gas. The diffusor cup is attached to a bottle which houses a pressurized gas and the bottle and diffusor cup are mounted within a housing module. The diffusor cup is formed from a first wall which bears against an end plate of the housing module, a second wall which depends from the first wall and joins with the bottle, and a third wall which depends from the opposite end of the first wall. The second wall is formed from a truncated cone such that it tapers from the first wall to the bottle. A stud is mounted within the diffusor cup walls and is mechanically secured thereto by a plurality of graduated steps formed on the stud and by a back shear. A threaded portion of the stud secures the diffusor cup to the end plate by a nut. When internal pressures from expansion of the gas as the airbag is deployed are applied to the stud, the stud transfers the load formed by the pressures to the second wall, thereby preventing substantial deflection or distortion of the diffusor cup.