← Back to Patent Explorer
EP0324639A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Wafer grain gas generator

Assignee: Morton International LLC
•
Filing: 1989-01-13
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-01-13
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A gas generator (10) for automobile gas bags and the like includes a grain wherein a plurality of wafers (74) of combustible gas generating material is arranged in a side by side array and a plurality of meshed cushion members (78) is disposed in alternating relation between the wafers and compressed between the wafers.

Inventors

  • 👤 Fred E. Schneiter

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 07:21
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/26; B60R21/264; B60R21/2644; B01; B01J; B01J7/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49428; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 68 words
A gas generator (10) comprises a combustion chamber (56) a plurality of wafers (74) of combustible gas generating material disposed within said combustion chamber and arranged in a side by side array, a plurality of meshed cushion members (78) disposed in alternating relation between said wafers and compressed between said wafers, means (18,36,52) for igniting said wafers, and means (68) for routing generated gas from said combustion chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 68 words
A gas generator (10) comprises a combustion chamber (56) a plurality of wafers (74) of combustible gas generating material disposed within said combustion chamber and arranged in a side by side array, a plurality of meshed cushion members (78) disposed in alternating relation between said wafers and compressed between said wafers, means (18,36,52) for igniting said wafers, and means (68) for routing generated gas from said combustion chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 98 words
A gas generator according to claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber (56) is elongate and has an inner diameter (77) said igniting means includes an igniter tube (18) which extends longitudinally through said combustion chamber and is disposed generally concentric therewith and which has an outer diameter (84), said wafers (74) and cushion members (78) having the shapes of washers through which said igniter tube is inserted, and each said wafer having an outer diameter equal substantially to said combustion chamber inner diameter (77) and a central hole diameter equal substantially to said igniter tube outer diameter (84).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
A gas generator according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said wafers (74) and cushion members (78) are sized such that the volumetric loading density of said combustion chamber (56) is at least 65 per cent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
A gas generator according to any preceding claim wherein said cushion members (78) are composed of screen wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
A gas generator according to claim 4 wherein said screen wire has a size in the range of 20 to 50 mesh.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A gas generator according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein each said cushion member (78) has a wave configur­ation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
A gas generator according to claim 6 wherein said cushion members (78) have a thickness which is between 1.5 and 5 times the thickness of the unwaved screen wire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
A gas generator according to any preceding claim further comprising a retainer (80) for compressing said array of wafers (74) and cushion members (78) to suspend each said wafer structurally between respective compressed cushion members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
A gas generator according to any preceding claim adapted for use as an inflator for a passenger side auto­mobile gas bag.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 69 words
A method of assembling a plurality of wafers (74) of combustible gas generating material within a gas generator combustion chamber (56) comprising the steps of: a. disposing the wafers in the combustion chamber in a side-by-side array; b. disposing meshed cushion members (78) in alternating relation between the wafers; and c. compressing the array of alternating wafers and cushion members to suspend the wafers structurally between the cushion members.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 69 words
A method of assembling a plurality of wafers (74) of combustible gas generating material within a gas generator combustion chamber (56) comprising the steps of: a. disposing the wafers in the combustion chamber in a side-by-side array; b. disposing meshed cushion members (78) in alternating relation between the wafers; and c. compressing the array of alternating wafers and cushion members to suspend the wafers structurally between the cushion members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 82 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the combustion chamber is elongate and an igniter tube (18) extends longitudinally through and is generally concentric with the combustion chamber, the wafers and cushion members being formed in the shape of washers and disposed in the combustion chamber with the igniter tube inserted therethrough, and the wafers having an outer diameter substantially equal to the combustion chamber inner diameter (77) and a central hole diameter equal substantially to the igniter tube outer diameter (84).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the wafers and cushion members are sized to provide a combustion chamber volumetric loading density of at least 65 per cent.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 32 words
A method according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the cushion members (78) are made of screen wire having a size in the range of 20 to 50 mesh.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 21 words
A method according to any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the cushion members (78) are made of screen wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the screen wire is formed in a wavy configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein the cushion members (78) have a thickness which is between 1.5 and 5 times the thickness of the unformed screen wire.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag