Gas generator for inflating an inflatable article
First Claim
1. A gas generator for inflating an inflatable article, comprising a housing, a reaction chamber in said housing for generating gas, a filter chamber arranged for receiving gas from said reaction chamber, first gas exit opening means (10 to 15) in said reaction chamber for a gas flow from said reaction chamber into said filter chamber, second gas exit opening means (22) in said filter chamber for a gas flow from said filter chamber into said inflatable article, temperature responsive flow control means arranged in said gas generator for influencing a gas flow from said reaction chamber into said inflatable article in such a way that an inflation duration and an inflation pressure are substantially independent of a gas generator temperature, and wherein said reaction chamber (4) has a circular cross-section, wherein said filter chamber has a ring configuration surrounding said reaction chamber, said temperature responsive flow control means comprising a baffle ring (16) extending around said reaction chamber with a radial spacing for guiding a flow of generated gas, a ring slide (28) rotatably surrounding said reaction chamber in said radial spacing, said a temperature responsive drive member (40) connected to said ring slide for driving said ring slide (28) between closing and opening positions in response to temperature changes, said baffle ring (28) having flow ports (24, 25, 26) therein, said ring slide (28) having flow port closing wall sections (32 to 34) for cooperation with said flow ports (24, 25, 26) of said baffle ring (16), said temperature responsive drive member (40) driving said ring slide (28) to close said flow ports (24, 25, 26) in said baffle ring in response to a higher gas generator temperature and to open said flow ports (24, 25, 26) in said baffle ring in response to a lower gas generator temperature.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gas generator for inflating an inflatable article such as a safety bag or raft, has a reaction chamber (1) surrounded by a ring-shaped filter chamber (2). First gas exit openings (10 to 15) permit generated gas to flow from the reaction chamber into the filter chamber. Second gas exit openings (22) lead from the filter chamber into the inflatable article. A temperature responsive flow control is provided to make sure that the inflation efficiency or the inflation pressure inside the inflated article is substantially constant and substantially independent of the temperature of the gas generator at which the ignition of a gas generating fuel begins. For this purpose the total cross-sectional flow area of the first gas exit openings and/or the average gas flow path length between the first and second gas exit openings is controlled so that with a rising temperature the flow cross-sectional area and/or average path length is increased while the area and/or path length is decreased in response to a decreasing temperature.
36 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A gas generator for inflating an inflatable article, comprising a housing, a reaction chamber in said housing for generating gas, a filter chamber arranged for receiving gas from said reaction chamber, first gas exit opening means (10 to 15) in said reaction chamber for a gas flow from said reaction chamber into said filter chamber, second gas exit opening means (22) in said filter chamber for a gas flow from said filter chamber into said inflatable article, temperature responsive flow control means arranged in said gas generator for influencing a gas flow from said reaction chamber into said inflatable article in such a way that an inflation duration and an inflation pressure are substantially independent of a gas generator temperature, and wherein said reaction chamber (4) has a circular cross-section, wherein said filter chamber has a ring configuration surrounding said reaction chamber, said temperature responsive flow control means comprising a baffle ring (16) extending around said reaction chamber with a radial spacing for guiding a flow of generated gas, a ring slide (28) rotatably surrounding said reaction chamber in said radial spacing, said a temperature responsive drive member (40) connected to said ring slide for driving said ring slide (28) between closing and opening positions in response to temperature changes, said baffle ring (28) having flow ports (24, 25, 26) therein, said ring slide (28) having flow port closing wall sections (32 to 34) for cooperation with said flow ports (24, 25, 26) of said baffle ring (16), said temperature responsive drive member (40) driving said ring slide (28) to close said flow ports (24, 25, 26) in said baffle ring in response to a higher gas generator temperature and to open said flow ports (24, 25, 26) in said baffle ring in response to a lower gas generator temperature.
- 11. A gas generator for inflating an inflatable article, comprising a housing, a reaction chamber in said housing for generating gas, a filter chamber arranged for receiving gas from said reaction chamber, first gas exit opening means (10 to 15) in said reaction chamber for a gas flow from said reaction chamber into said filter chamber, second gas exit opening means (22) in said filter chamber for a gas flow from said filter chamber into said inflatable article, temperature responsive flow control means arranged in said gas generator for influencing a gas flow from said reaction chamber into said inflatable article in such a way that an inflation duration and an inflation pressure are substantially independent of a gas generator temperature, and wherein said temperature responsive flow control means are arranged to cooperate with said filter chamber for increasing a flow path length through said filter chamber in response to a rising of said gas generator temperature and for decreasing said flow path length in response to a dropping of said gas generator temperature.
Specification