PARTICLE ENGAGING SCREEN DEVICE FOR PYRO-TECHNIC SYSTEM

• US 3,843,151 A
• Filed: 04/10/1972
• Issued: 10/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald J. Lewis
• Original Assignee: Donald J. Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/242,630
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23123 Heat protection panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• 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: F42D 5/055 Silencing means for blasting operations

Abstract

Entrapment of heat-carrying particles from a pyro-technic burn on a screen device located within an air cushion.

Claims

1. In an air cushion inflation apparatus including a gas generator made up at least partially of a pyro-technic material which burns to produce a gas and an air bag to which said gas is directed, the improvement comprising:

a gas impurity screen means interposed between said gas generator and said air bag, said gas impurity screen means being contained entirely within said bag, both before and after actuation of said inflation apparatus, and said gas impurity screen means being adapted to engage impurities, said gas impurity screen means being porous to the passing of said gas therethrough and into the bag for inflation thereof; and

a manifold for distributing said gas to the inside of said air bag for inflation thereof, said manifold being made of porous metal and serving both for distribution of said gas as a result of its porosity and for entrapment of heat-carrying particles.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a sound reducing screen disposed within said air bag and surrounding said porous manifold to break up the sound waves of said gas entering the air bag and to catch any heat containing impurities passing through said porous manifold.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said gas impurity screen means comprising a porous inner bag surrounding said porous manifold as a part of said screen means to engage impurities passing through the porous manifold but to allow gas to pass therethrough.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said porous inner bag when inflated being removed from said manifold about 1 1/2 percent to to about 40 percent of diameter of the air bag when inflated.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said inner bag when inflated being removed from about 1 inch to about 2 inches from said manifold with 30 inches being the approximate diameter across the air bag when inflated.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said porous manifold being comprised of sintered stainless steel.