Gas generating device

• US 3,877,882 A
• Filed: 07/27/1972
• Issued: 04/15/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lee Lette, Paul Andre
• Original Assignee: Lee Lette, Paul Andre
• Inventors: Lette, Lee, Andre, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tayman, Jr., James H.
• Application Number:
  US05/275,637
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 9/11A,321 23/281 280/15AB 102/39 55/487
• US Class Current: 422/164
• 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 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26

Abstract

A gas generating device is disclosed which includes combined filtering and cooling means through which the gas stream in the device is directed. This means includes specially constructed deflection means for causing the gas stream to undergo a plurality of direction changes each of which is at least 90 degrees.

Claims

1. ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS PROVIDING AT LEAST ONE COMBUSTOR COMPARTMENT, EACH SAID COMBUSTOR COMPARTMENT CONTAINING A REACTABLE GAS GENERATING MATERIAL, AND

2. THE OTHER OF SAID CHAMBERS PROVIDING A PLENUM CHAMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF INTER-COMMUNICATING SUBCHAMBERS;

C. MEANS WITHIN EACH SAID COMBUSTOR COMPARTMENT FOR INITIATING REACTION OF THE REACTABLE GAS GENERATING MATERIAL;

D. WALL MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID HOUSING SEPARATING SAID CHAMBERS;

E. INLET MEANS FORMED IN SAID WALL MEANS COMMUNICATING A FLOW INCLUDING GAS AND PARTICULATE PHASE FROM EACH SAID COMBUSTOR COMPARTMENT INTO A SUB-COMPARTMENT OF SAID OTHER CHAMBER;

F. OUTLET MEANS FORMED IN SAID HOUSING, SAID OUTLET MEANS DISPOSED IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE LAST OF SAID INTERCOMMUNICATING SUB-COMPARTMENTS;

G. DEFLECTION MEANS WITHIN SAID PLENUM CHAMBER FOR ACTING UPON SAID FLOW BOTH TO COOL SAID GAS PHASE AND TO TRAP A PORTION OF SAID PARTICULATE PHASE, SAID DEFLECTION MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID HOUSING BETWEEN SAID INLET AND OUTLET MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID FLOW DURING MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID INTER-COMMUNICATING SUB-CHAMBERS TOWARD SAID OUTLET TO UNDERGO A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY COMMON CHANGES IN DIRECTION, EACH CHANGE IN DIRECTION BEING AT LEAST 90*, AND EACH CHANGE INTRODUCING TURBULENCE TO SAID FLOW RESULTING IN COOLING OF SAID GAS PHASE AND TRAPPING OF PARTICULATE FROM SAID PARTICULATE PHASE;

H. FILTER MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE PLURALITY OF SCREEN MEMBERS OF VARYING SIZE POROMESH CONSTRUCTION ARRANGED IN SUCCESSIVE LAYERS OF DECREASING MESH SIZE;

AND, I. MEANS MOUNTING SAID SCREEN MEMBERS IN ONE OF SAID INTERCOMMUNICATING SUB-CHAMBERS IN THE PATH OF SAID FLOW AND WITH SAID DECREASING MESH SIZE IN THE DIRECTION TOWARD SAID OUTLET TO COMPLETE SUBSTANTIALLY TRAPPING OF SAID PARTICULATE PHASE SO THAT ONLY SAID COOLED GAS PHASE PASSES FROM SAID OUTLET.

3. A gas generating device according to claim 2 wherein the first sub-chamber which communicates with the combustion chamber is provided with a hub member extending toward the combustion chamber and having a plurality of peripheral inlet ports permitting passage of gas into a second sub-chamber.

4. A gas generating device according to claim 3 wherein at least one of said sub-chambers contains an open ended hub member having a series of peripheral inlet ports such that at least a portion of the flow through said one sub-chamber is caused to enter into the hub member before passing into the next sub-chamber whereby said portion of said flow is caused to undergo at least one change in direction of at least 90* as it passes through said one sub-chamber.

5. The gas generating device according to claim 3 wherein said combustion chamber means includes a plurality of individually and independently actuatable combustor compartments disposed in communicating relationship to said plenum chamber.

6. The gas generating device according to claim 2 further comprising:

i. screen filter means;

j. means mounting said screen filter means in one of said inter-communicating sub-chambers in the path of said flow, said screen filter means acting to complete substantially trapping of particulate of saId particulate phase so that only said cooled gas phase passes from said outlet means.

7. A gas generating device comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a combustion chamber including at least one combustor compartment within said housing, each said combustor compartment containing a reactable gas generating material;

c. a plenum chamber including at least one subchamber within said housing, said plenum chamber partially surrounding said combustion chamber;

d. means within each said combustor compartment initiating reaction of said reactable gas generating material;

e. a wall supported by said housing, said wall separating said plenum chamber from said combustion chamber;

f. inlet means formed in said wall, said inlet means communicating a flow including gas and particulate phase from said combustion chamber to said plenum chamber;

g. outlet means formed in said housing in fluid communication with said plenum chamber; and

h. deflection means within said plenum chamber between said inlet and outlet means, said deflection means including a plurality of baffle elements for causing said flow through said plenum chamber to undergo a plurality of directional changes of at least 90* toward said outlet with each change in direction of flow introducing turbulence to said flow resulting in cooling of said gas phase and trapping of particulate from said particulate phase, first and second of said baffle elements supported by said housing in oppositely directed and in generally parallel overlapping relation to define a passage therebetween.

8. The gas generating device according to claim 7 wherein said inlet means includes a plurality of ports arranged substantially in a ring, and said first and second baffle elements are annular in form and concentric with said ports.

9. The gas generating device according to claim 7 further comprising:

i. screen filter means; and

j. means mounting said screen filter means in said plenum chamber in the path of said flow for completing substantially trapping of particulate of said particulate phase so that only said cooled gas phase passes from said outlet means.