Gas-generating device

Claim 1

A GAS-GENERATING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A CYLINDRICAL PRESSURE-RESISTANT COMBUSTION CHAMBER, (B) A SLIDABLE AND RECIPROCABLE FIRING HEAD AT ONE END OF THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, SAID FIRING HEAD HAVING A REUTILIZABLE RESISTANCE HEATING ELEMENT AFFIXED THERETO, (C) A DISCHARGE ORIFICE AT THE OTHER END OF THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, THE FIRING HEAD, THE HEATING ELEMENT, THE DISCHARGE ORIFICE AND THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER BEING IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENT, (D) A CYLINDRICAL CARTRIDGE HAVING A THERMALLY DECOMPOSABLE SHELL SUPPORTED WITHIN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND RADIALLY SPACED THEREFROM IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE FIRING HEAD AND THE DISCHARGE ORIFICE, SAID CARTRIDGE HAVING A RUPTURABLE CLOSURE AT ONE END THEREOF ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND SEAL THE DISCHARGE ORIFICE AND HAVING A PENETRABLE NONCONDUCTIVE CLOSURE AT THE OTHER END THEREOF ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND RECEIVE THE HEATING ELEMENT, (E) A PRIMER CHARGE OF NONDETONATING HEAT-PRODUCING COMPOSITION DISPOSED IN THE CARTRIDGE ADJACENT THE NONCONDUCTIVE CLOSURE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND BE INITIATED BY THE HEATING ELEMENT, AND (F) A MAIN CHARGE OF NONDETONATING GAS-GENERATING COMPOSITION DISPOSED IN THE REMAINDER OF THE CARTRIDGE ADAPTED TO BE INITIATED BY THE PRIMER CHARGE, WHEREBY UPON INITIATION A SELF-SUSTAINED GAS-GENERATING REACTION TO A PREDETERMINED GAS PRESSURE IS EFFECTED AND THE GAS PRESSURE RUPTURES THE RUPTURABLE CLOSURE TO PERMIT THE ESCAPE OF HIGH PRESSURE GAS THROUGH THE DISCHARGE ORIFICE.