Air bag inflators having housings with crimp-formed joints

摘要

An air bag inflator including a housing formed of sheet metal includes an annular base having a central opening and a cover for containing gas generating pyrotechnic material including an annular top wall spaced from the base having a central opening in coaxial alignment with the central opening of the base and a cylindrical, ported, outer side wall integrally formed around a periphery of the top wall extending downwardly thereof and having a lower edge secured to a portion of the base outwardly of the central opening. The housing includes a hollow, igniter-containing, rivet having an upper end wall closing over the central opening of the top wall and having a tubular, ported, side wall integrally formed with the upper end wall thereof extending downwardly through the central openings of the base and the top wall. The tubular side wall has a lower end portion of reduced wall thickness extending below an upper surface of the base around the central opening therein forming an outer, annular shoulder for supportively engaging the base when the lower end portion is deformed radially outwardly to engage an underside of the base. A crimp-formed joint, a weld and/or a press-fitted joint may be provided between an outer perimeter portion of the base and a lower end portion of the outer side wall.