GAS GENERATOR WITH LIQUID PHASE COOLING

• US 3,810,655 A
• Filed: 08/21/1972
• Issued: 05/14/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otaker P. Prachar
• Original Assignee: Otaker P. Prachar
• Inventors: Prachar, Otaker P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/282,069
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 222/3,386.5 23/281,282 141/4
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence

Abstract

A cylindrical housing has one closed end wall and an opposite end wall provided with an atomizing nozzle and a pair of concentric rows of nozzles encircling the atomizing nozzle. A flexible container within the housing contains a mixture of water and ethyl alcohol. A conduit connects the atomizing nozzle and the container. A charge of propellant material is located within the housing. When the charge is ignited, the hot gases compress the container to force the liquid therein through the conduit and the atomizing nozzle to atomize the liquid. The droplets mix with the hot gases flowing through the concentric rows of nozzles to cool the gases as the gases flow to an inflatable occupant restraint cushion.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising, in combination, a generally cylindrical housing having end walls, one being provided with an axially located first atomizing nozzle means and an encircling series of radially spaced second nozzle means, a flexible container containing atomizable liquid and located within the housing adjacent the other end wall, conduit means extending axially of the housing from within the container to the first nozzle means, an ignitable charge surrounding the conduit means and located adjacent the one end wall in communication with the second nozzle means, ignition of the charge generating high pressure, high temperature gas within the housing, the gas providing an axial compressing force on the flexible container to force the liquid therein through the conduit means and the first nozzle means and atomize the liquid in droplets, the droplets mixing with the generated gas flowing through the second nozzle means to cool the gas, and means communicating the first and second nozzle means with an inflatable occupant restraint cushion.

2. A gas generator comprising, in combination, a generally cylindrical housing having end walls, one being provided with an axially located atomizing nozzle and an encircling series of radially spaced second nozzles, a flexible container containing atomizable liquid and located within the housing adjacent the other end wall, a conduit extending axially of the housing from within the container to the atomizing nozzle, means sealing the container to the conduit, an annular ignitable charge surrounding the conduit and sealing means and located adjacent the one end wall in communication with the second nozzles, ignition of the charge generating high pressure, high temperature gas within the housing, the gas providing an axial compressing force on the flexible container to force the liquid therein through the conduit and the atomizing the nozzle and atomize the liquid in droplets, the droplets mixing with the generated gas flowing through the second nozzles to cool the gas, and means communicating the atomizing nozzle and second nozzles with an inflatable occupant restraint cushion.