GAS GENERATING SYSTEM

• US 20120125219A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mayville, Brian A., Tauchen, Dale E., VanHooser, Joshua D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,051,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/530
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/00 Apparatus for generating gases production of inert gas mixtures B01J19/14; for generating specific gases, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. C01B, C10J ; in "air bags" on vehicles B60R21/26; for starter gas F02C7/26; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure F42B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26011 using a filter through which the inflation gas passes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2607 characterised by heating or heat insulating means, e.g. for use under extreme temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2642 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• 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 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2646 the reacting substances being supported by the inflatable member walls, or by a flexible support within it
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 9/00 Chemical contact igniters; Chemical lighters
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/00 Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets explosive compositions containing an oxidizer, fuels for rocket engines intended for reaction with an oxidant other than air C06B
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

A gas generating system includes a housing, a quantity of gas generant material positioned within the housing, and a quantity of booster material positioned in the housing spaced apart from the gas generant. A movable first screen is positioned in the housing such that the booster material is on a first side of the screen and the gas generant material is on a second side of the screen opposite the first side of the screen. The screen is structured to enable fluid communication between the first and second sides of the screen.

Claims

1. A gas generating system comprising:

a housing;

a quantity of gas generant material positioned within the housing;

a quantity of booster material positioned in the housing spaced apart from the gas generant;

a movable first screen positioned in the housing such that the booster material is on a first side of the screen and the gas generant material is on a second side of the screen opposite the first side, the first screen being structured to enable fluid communication between the first and second sides of the screen.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a portion of the housing defines a combustion chamber for the quantity of gas generant material, wherein the housing includes at least one gas exit opening structured to enable fluid communication between an interior of the housing and an exterior of the housing, and wherein the system further comprises a filter positioned along a flow path of generated gases from the combustion chamber to the gas exit openings.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a thermally-insulating sleeve positioned between the gas generant material and the housing so as to enclose the gas generant material within the sleeve.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a thermally-insulating sleeve positioned between the gas generant material and the housing so as to enclose the gas generant material within the sleeve.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a movable second screen positioned spaced apart from the first screen such that the booster material is positioned between the first and second screens, the second screen having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the screen being d to enable fluid between the first and second sides of the screen.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first screen has a body extending between the first and second sides of the screen, and wherein the screen has a porous structure providing a plurality of tortuous pathways extending through the body between the first and second sides of the screen.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first screen is dimensioned so as to contact an inner surface of a wall of the housing, to aid in minimizing a flow of generated gases and combustion products around a periphery of the screen, between the screen and the wall inner surface.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a resilient member positioned within the housing and configured to bias the second screen against the booster material.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the resilient member comprises a coil spring.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising an initiator secured in the housing so as to enable fluid communication with the resilient member, and wherein the resilient member is structured to enable fluid communication between the initiator and the second screen.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the booster material is an auto-igniting booster material.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the booster material is positioned within the housing so as to be in thermal communication with the housing.

13. An airbag system comprising a gas generating system in accordance with claim 1.

14. The system of claim 5 wherein the second screen has a body extending between the first and second sides of the screen, and wherein the screen has a porous structure providing a plurality of tortuous pathways extending through the body between the first and second sides of the screen.

15. The system of claim 5 wherein the second screen is dimensioned so as to contact an inner surface of a wall of the housing, to aid in minimizing a flow of generated gases and combustion products around a periphery of the screen, between the screen and the wall inner surface.

16. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising a gas generating system in accordance with claim 1.

17. A gas generating system comprising:

a housing;

a quantity of gas generant material positioned within the housing;

a thermally-insulating sleeve enclosing the gas generant material therein;

a movable first screen biased against the gas generant material, the first screen being structured to enable fluid communication therethrough; and

a quantity of booster material biased against the first screen opposite the gas generant material.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein a portion of the housing defines a combustion chamber for the quantity of gas generant material, wherein the housing includes at least one gas exit opening structured to enable fluid communication between an interior of the housing and an exterior of the housing after activation of the gas generating system, and wherein the system further comprises a filter positioned along a flow path of generated gases from the combustion chamber to the gas exit openings.

19. An airbag system comprising a gas generating system in accordance with claim 17.

20. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising a gas generating system in accordance with claim 17.