Gas generator

• US 20070001438A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Patterson, Donald, Mason, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,762,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26011 using a filter through which the inflation gas passes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

A baffle system (30) for use in a gas generating system (10). The baffle system (30) includes a plurality of adjacent plates (82a, 82b, 86), each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein. Each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates (82a, 82b, 86) is in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide at least one gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates. A gas generating system (10) incorporating the baffle system (30), and a vehicle occupant protection system (180) incorporating the gas generating system (10), are also described.

Claims

1. A baffle system for use in a gas generating system, the baffle system including a plurality of adjacent plates, each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein, each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates being in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide at least one gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates.

2. The baffle system of claim 1 wherein each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates is in fluid communication with each orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate.

3. The baffle system of claim 1 wherein each plate of at least a portion of the plurality of adjacent plates is in contact with at least one adjacent plate.

4. The baffle system of claim 1 wherein each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates is in contact with at least one adjacent plate.

5. The baffle system of claim 4 wherein each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates is in contact with a pair of adjacent plates.

6. The baffle system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of adjacent plates comprises a plurality of first plates and a plurality of second plates, each of the first plates having a first orifice configuration, each of the second plates having an orifice configuration different from the first orifice configuration, and wherein ones of the first plates and ones of the second plates are arranged adjacent each other in alternating fashion.

7. The baffle system of claim 6 wherein a first portion of the plurality of second plates has a second orifice configuration, and a second portion of the plurality of second plates has a third orifice configuration different from the second orifice configuration.

8. The baffle system of claim 7 wherein ones of the first portion of the plurality of second plates and ones of the second portion of the plurality of second plates are arranged in alternating fashion along a direction of flow of gases through the plurality of adjacent plates.

9. The baffle system of claim 8 wherein the plates of the plurality of adjacent plates are arranged along an axis, gas flow from a plate of the first portion of the plurality of second plates to a plate of the second portion of the plurality of second plates is directed radially outward with respect to the axis, and wherein gas flow from a plate of the second portion of the plurality of second plates to a plate of the first portion of the plurality of second plates is directed radially inward with respect to the axis.

10. The baffle system of claim 6 wherein the orifice configuration of each of the second plates includes a plurality of orifices, and wherein an average area of the orifices in a given second plate decreases along a direction of flow of gases through the plurality of adjacent plates.

11. The baffle system of claim 6 wherein each of the first plates has a single orifice, each of the second plates has a plurality of orifices, and wherein each single orifice of each first plate is in fluid communication with each orifice of the plurality of orifices of each second plate adjacent the first plate.

12. A gas generating system including a baffle system in accordance with claim 1.

13. A vehicle occupant protection system including a gas generating system, the gas generating system having a baffle system in accordance with claim 1.

14. A gas generating system comprising:

a housing;

a gas generant combustion chamber positioned within the housing;

a baffle system in fluid communication wit h the combustion chamber for receiving generated gases from the combustion chamber, the baffle system comprising a plurality of adjacent plates, each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein, each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates being in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide a gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates; and

at least one gas exit orifice in fluid communication with the baffle system and with an exterior of the gas generating system for releasing generated gases received from the baffle system to the exterior of the gas generating system.

15. The gas generating system of claim 14 wherein the gas exit orifice is incorporated into a diffuser positioned at an end portion of the housing, and wherein the baffle system is positioned adjacent the diffuser.

16. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising a gas generating system having a baffle system including a plurality of adjacent plates, each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein, each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates being in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide a gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates.