Wafer grain gas generator
First Claim
1. A gas generator comprising a combustion chamber means, a plurality of wafers of combustible gas generating material disposed within said combustion chamber means and spaced from each other and arranged in a side by side array, a plurality of meshed cushion members disposed in alternating relation between said wafers and compressed between said wafers, means for igniting said wafers, and means for routing generated gas from said combustion chamber means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gas generator for automobile gas bags and the like includes a grain wherein a plurality of wafers of combustible gas generating material is arranged in a side by side array and a plurality of meshed cushion members is disposed in alternating relation between the wafers and compressed between the wafers in order to provide improved burn surface neutrality for more uniform inflator gas flow and better utilization of the gas generant, increased retention of solid residue in the combustion chamber for reduced plugging of the gas filters and cleaner inflation gas, a higher volumetric loading fraction so that the size and weight of the inflator may be reduced, and structural suspension of each individual wafer between the adjacent compressed cushion members to reduce breakage and damage of the wafers during the many years the inflator may remain in an automobile.
86 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A gas generator comprising a combustion chamber means, a plurality of wafers of combustible gas generating material disposed within said combustion chamber means and spaced from each other and arranged in a side by side array, a plurality of meshed cushion members disposed in alternating relation between said wafers and compressed between said wafers, means for igniting said wafers, and means for routing generated gas from said combustion chamber means.
- 7. A gas generator according to cushion members have a thickness which about 1.5 and 5 times the thickness of the unwaved screen wire.
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11. A method of assembling a plurality of wafers of combustible gas generating material within a gas generator combustion chamber comprising:
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a. disposing the wafers in the combustion chamber in a spaced side-by-side array; b. disposing meshed cushion members in alternating relation between the wafers; and c. compressing the array of wafers and cushion members to structurally suspend the wafers spaced from each other between the cushion members. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An automobile gas bag inflator comprising a combustion chamber means, a plurality of wafers of combustible gas generating material disposed within said combustion chamber means and spaced from each other and arranged in a side by side array, a plurality of meshed cushion members disposed in alternating relation between said wafers and compressed between said wafers, means for igniting said wafers, and means for routing generated gas from said combustion chamber means.
Specification