GAS GENERATOR

• US 3,871,684 A
• Filed: 07/31/1972
• Issued: 03/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George A. Lane, Gerald R. Staudacher, Thomas E. Dergazarian
• Original Assignee: George A. Lane, Gerald R. Staudacher, Thomas E. Dergazarian
• Inventors: Staudacher, Gerald R., Lane, George A., Dergazarian, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/276,397
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 23/281 138/37,38,41 102/39
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: F24V 30/00 Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for rapidly generating cooled gases through the reaction of a pyrochemical mixture.

Claims

1. A gas generator apparatus comprising:

a. a hollow container having a cover member, b. a perforated screen, and c. a baffle plate, the perforated screen and baffle plate being disposed within the container, the baffle plate forming, with the container, first and second compartments, the first compartment being smaller than the second, the perforated screen being disposed within the second compartment to divide the same into a first chamber for receiving a solid pyrotechnic and a second chamber, in fluid communication with said first compartment via a restricted passageway, for receiving means for cooling, within said second chamber, a gaseous reaction product generated from said pyrotechnic, said cover member having means for securing said cover to said container and having an exhaust port located therein, d. a frangible closure member in sealed relationship with said exhaust port, e. a gas diffusing means exterior to said container and in communication with said exhaust port, f. an ignition means in communication with said first chamber, and g. an inflatable bag operatively surrounding said diffusing means in fluid communication with said exhaust port via said diffusing means, for receiving an effluent gas therefrom.

2. The gas generator apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container has a longitudinal axis and the baffle plate is substantially flat and disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container.

3. A method of inflating an inflatable device which comprises:

a. reacting in a first zone of a confined container, substantially all of a pyrotechnic charge, thereby generating under pressure, a charge of hot gaseous reaction product;

b. cooling the charge of hot gases under pressure in a second zone of said container to a temperature suitable for introduction into the inflatable device;

c. conducting the cooled gases from the second zone into a third zone of said container through a restricted passageway, said third zone being smaller in size than the sum of the first and second zones;

d. releasing the cooled gases from the third zone when the pressure in the third zone reaches a predetermined minimum level; and

e. introducing the released gases into the inflatable device.

4. The method of claim 3 including in addition, obstructing the flow of said gases released from said container to decrease the velocity and change the direction thereof to a velocity and direction suitable for introduction into said inflatable device.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said cooling is accomplished by mixing said charge of hot gases under pressure with a particulate material which through a phase or chemical change cools the charge of hot gases, said quantitative relationship of said charge of hot gases and particulate cooling material being such as to cool the charge of hot gAses released from said container to a temperature suitable for introduction into the inflatable device.

6. The method of claim 5 including in addition decreasing the velocity and changing the direction of the gases released from the container to a velocity and direction suitable for introduction into the inflatable device.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said cooling is accomplished by mixing the hot gases with a porous material which through absorption of heat cools the charge of hot gases, said quantitative relationship of said hot gases and porous material being such as to cool the charge of hot gases released from said container to a temperature suitable for introduction into the inflatable device.

8. The method of claim 7 including in addition decreasing the velocity and changing direction of the flow of the gases from the container to a velocity and direction suitable for introduction into the inflatable device.

9. An inflatable device comprising:

a. a container having an exhaust port;

b. a gas generator means;

c. a baffle means;

d. an inflatable bag; and

e. an ignition device for said gas generator said gas generator means comprising a pyrotechnic and a cooling means;

said baffle means comprising a plate disposed within said container to form two compartments, the second compartment containing said gas generator means, the first compartment communicating with said exhaust port and having a smaller volume than said second compartment said plate further defining a restricted passageway between said first and second compartments;

said cooling means being disposed between said pyrotechnic and said restricted passageway, adjacent to said restricted passageway, and abutting at least a portion of said baffle plate, wherein gases generated upon ignition of the pyrotechnic pass through the cooling means and immediately thereafter, through the restricted passageway; and

said inflatable bag attached to said container in communication with said exhaust port.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 including in addition a gas release means which, with said container and exhaust port, contains gases generated by said pyrotechnic in said container until a predetermined minimum pressure is generated within said container and thereupon releases said gases through said exhaust port.

11. The inflatable device of claim 9 wherein the container has a longitudinal axis, and the baffle means is a substantially flat plate disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container.

12. A gas generator apparatus comprising:

a. a hollow container, b. a perforated member, c. a baffle plate, the perforated member and baffle plate being disposed within the container, the baffle plate cooperating with the container to define a d. first compartment and e. second compartment in communication with each other via a restricted passageway, the container defining an exit port extending between the first compartment and an exterior surface of the container, the perforated member being disposed within the second compartment to form f. a first chamber for receiving a solid pyrotechnic charge for generating a gaseous reaction product and g. a second chamber in communication with said first compartment for receiving means for cooling, within said second chamber, the gaseous reaction product generated from said pyrotechnic, and h. an inflatable bag attached to said container and in communication with said exit port from said first compartment.

13. The gas generator apparatus of claim 12 wherein the container has a longitudinal axis and the baffle plate is substantially flat and disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container.