Gas generator

• US 5,397,543 A
• Filed: 06/21/1993
• Issued: 03/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRATZ, PETER F
• Application Number:
  US08/080,299
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 422/164, 422/165, 422/166, 422/167, 422/305, 280/736, 280/741, 280/742, 102/530, 102/531, 102/285, 102/286, 102/288, 102/443
• US Class Current: 422/165
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/00 Apparatus for generating gases production of inert gas mixtures B01J19/14; for generating specific gases, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. C01B, C10J ; in "air bags" on vehicles B60R21/26; for starter gas F02C7/26; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure F42B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/02 comprising particles of diverse size or shape
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

A gas generator comprises a propellant container having an igniter at one end thereof for igniting a propellant, a secondary propellant charge comprising a plurality of circular grains having a diameter to thickness ratio greater than 2.5, and a primary propellant charge disposed between said igniter and said secondary propellant charge comprising a plurality of circular grains having a diameter to thickness ratio less than 2.

Claims

1. In a gas generator comprising a propellant tube having a plurality of apertures therein, an igniter at one end thereof for igniting a propellant, and a secondary propellant charge in the propellant tube comprising a plurality of right circular cylindrical propellant grains having a diameter to thickness ratio greater than 2, the improvement comprising;

a primary propellant charge disposed in the first 25 to 75 mm of the propellant tube between said igniter and said secondary propellant charge comprising a plurality of right circular cylindrical propellant grains having a diameter to thickness ratio less than 2 to minimize propellant grain crushing in said primary charge by a shock wave from said igniter.

2. A gas generator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said primary propellant charge comprises grains having a minimum thickness dimension of 4 mm (≈

0.16 in.).

3. A gas generator in accordance with claim 2 wherein said primary propellant charge comprises grains having a maximum diameter of 6 mm (≈

0.24 in.).