Patents Assigned to ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
  • Patent number: 11945397
    Abstract: In an assembly group comprising a cap of a tubular gas generator and a deflector element that deflects gas flowing out of at least one outflow opening of the cap to at least one discharge opening of the deflector element, a deflection surface of the deflector element is arranged radially outwardly of the outflow opening. At least two securing arms of the deflector element extend through the outflow opening and engage behind an edge defining the outflow opening on an inside in a positive connection with the cap. The cap is fixed firmly to an axial end of the tubular gas generator. Subsequently, the deflector element is slid from an outside of the cap with its securing arms through the outflow opening, the securing arms forming a positive connection with the edge of the outflow opening which fixes the deflector element firmly to the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Jung, Thomas Kapfelsperger, Michael Schmökel
  • Patent number: 11884231
    Abstract: A deflector for a diffusor of a gas generator of an airbag module is disclosed. The deflector comprises a substantially tubular deflector base body and a gas discharge device connected thereto, wherein the gas discharge device has a substantially rectangular base and two outflow regions on opposite sidewalls so that gas can flow substantially in opposite directions along the longitudinal axes of the tubular deflector base body out of the interior of the gas discharge device to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Weber
  • Patent number: 11865998
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator (10), especially for a vehicle safety system, comprising a sleeve (60) positioned inside the gas generator (10) which sleeve has first flow orifices (68) and encloses an ignition chamber (52) including first propellant (50), wherein a combustion chamber (56) filled with a second propellant (54) is connected to the outside of the sleeve (60), the combustion chamber being surrounded by a diffusor (70) located inside the gas generator (10) and having second flow orifices (78), and comprising a baffle plate (12) which has third flow orifices (14) and surrounds the diffusor (70), wherein the sleeve (60), the diffusor (70) and the baffle plate (12) are adhesively bonded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AIRBAG GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Bernd Weber
  • Patent number: 11820321
    Abstract: A gas generator, such as for a safety device in vehicles, comprises a pressure chamber which is filled with compressed gas and which is closed off from an environment outside of the gas generator by a membrane. The compressed gas contains a gaseous oxidant which is composed predominantly of oxygen. The pressure chamber receives a solid fuel, wherein the compressed gas is in direct contact with the fuel before the gas generator is activated. When the gas generator is activated, an igniter separated pressure-tightly from the pressure chamber triggers a conversion of the gaseous oxidant with the solid fuel, with heat being generated. The fuel is in the form of a gas-permeable fuel body made up of one or more fibers, and the molar fraction of the gaseous oxidant in the compressed gas is at least 1.1 times the amount of oxidant required for a stoichiometric conversion of the gas-permeable fuel body. A module and a vehicle safety system comprise such a gas generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Last, Manfred Ramp, Rolf Ruckdeschel
  • Patent number: 11772596
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas generator for a vehicle safety system, comprising an ignition unit, a propellant configured in a combustion chamber in a form of a propellant bed extending along a longitudinal axis of the gas generator. A sleeve having an axial opening protrudes into the propellant bed such that it surrounds the ignition unit at least partially and portions of the propellant are stored inside and outside the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Engibrecht, Johannes Ebner, Benedikt Peters
  • Patent number: 11738710
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas generator fora vehicle safety system. The gas generator has a longitudinal axis, an outer housing in the form of a compressed-gas container. In an inoperative state of the gas generator, the housing is filled with compressed gas. The housing is closed at one housing end with a closure element by a welded joint, which extends along the longitudinal axis from the welded joint into the housing. The housing has at least one bead for mechanically relieving the welded joint of load. A bead base of the bead is provided in a region of an axial longitudinal extent of the closure element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Vadim Kolbin
  • Patent number: 11724664
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas generator for a vehicle safety system, comprising a first ignition stage, and a second second ignition stage. The first ignition stage comprises a cup-shaped diffuser with a diffuser base and an adjacent diffuser sidewall (57). The first ignition stage, the diffuser and the second ignition stage are arranged along an axial longitudinal axis of the gas generator and the diffuser is positioned between the first and second ignition stages such that the second ignition stage is fastened on an outer area of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Johannes Ebner, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Benedikt Peters
  • Patent number: 11578954
    Abstract: An igniter for a gas generator comprises a pole body (14) having at least one connection pin (16, 18), a retaining ring (20) and an insulation ring (22), wherein the insulation ring (22) spaces apart the at least one connection pin (16, 18) from the retaining ring (20) and electrically insulates it relative to the same. The retaining ring (20) consists of a metal and the insulation ring (22) consists of a plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF AIRBAG GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Müller, Rolf Mangold, Bernhard Mehnert
  • Patent number: 11296476
    Abstract: A pyrotechnical connecting interface of a pyrotechnical vehicle safety device comprises a socket which includes a housing with a plug-in port for accepting a plug, the pyrotechnical connecting interface further comprising pins which end in the plug-in port and via which electricity for activating a pyrotechnical charge can flow, the housing being an injection-molded housing and being provided with a peripheral wall which surrounds end portions of the pins at a distance therefrom and which ends in an end face on the side facing the plug; three radial undercuts for interlocking engagement with three associated latching fingers that are part of the plug are formed on the inner face of the peripheral wall, are spaced apart from each other in the peripheral direction, are entirely closed axially as well as radially outward, and are made in an injection-molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ZF AIRBAG GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Türp, Lorenz Hinterholzer
  • Publication number: 20210402950
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas generator fora vehicle safety system. The gas generator has a longitudinal axis, an outer housing in the form of a compressed-gas container. In an inoperative state of the gas generator, the housing is filled with compressed gas. The housing is closed at one housing end with a closure element by a welded joint, which extends along the longitudinal axis from the welded joint into the housing. The housing has at least one bead for mechanically relieving the welded joint of load. A bead base of the bead is provided in a region of an axial longitudinal extent of the closure element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Englbrecht, Vadim Kolbin
  • Publication number: 20210179011
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gas generator comprising a housing, an igniter and a pyrotechnic charge via which gas for filling a gasbag can be provided, wherein the gas generator is free from stored pressurized gas in the idle state, characterized in that each possible diffusion path out of the internal chamber of the housing is sealed relative to the environment of the gas generator by means of a weld seam. The present disclosure also relates to a method for leak testing a pyrotechnic gas generator of this type, wherein, before the gas generator is welded against diffusion, a test amount of helium is introduced into the housing and, in a subsequent leak testing step, a measurement is carried out to determine whether helium is passing out of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Elmar Bendel, Detlef Last
  • Patent number: 10960846
    Abstract: An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ZF AIRBAG GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Franz Fuerstenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Dieter Leier, Georg Schoenhuber, Joerg Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20200388975
    Abstract: A pyrotechnical connecting interface of a pyrotechnical vehicle safety device comprises a socket which includes a housing with a plug-in port for accepting a plug, the pyrotechnical connecting interface further comprising pins which end in the plug-in port and via which electricity for activating a pyrotechnical charge can flow, the housing being an injection-molded housing and being provided with a peripheral wall which surrounds end portions of the pins at a distance therefrom and which ends in an end face on the side facing the plug; three radial undercuts for interlocking engagement with three associated latching fingers that are part of the plug are formed on the inner face of the peripheral wall, are spaced apart from each other in the peripheral direction, are entirely closed axially as well as radially outward, and are made in an injection-molding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Türp, Lorenz Hinterholzer