Demand, solid-propellant gas generator

Claim 2

A gas generator comprising: an orificed pressure vessel having a combustion chamber adjacent the orifice; a solid propellant charge in the pressure vessel comprising wafer segments of propellant and combustion barriers separating and sealing the wafer segments from one another; an electrically operated igniter adjacent each wafer segment of propellant; an electrical energy source connected to the igniters in a circuit; switch means connected in the circuit for selectively firing the igniters in series; a pressure transducer in communication with the combustion chamber for monitoring the pressure thereof and operatively connected to the switch means, for interrupting and restarting combustion of the propellant in response to pressure changes within the combustion chamber; and valve means on the orifice, whereby gas from the combustion chamber may be withdrawn for use as desired.

Claim 3

The gas generator of claim 1 further including a pressure regulator in tandem with the valve means, for metering gases therethrough at a desired pressure.

Claim 4

The gas generator of claim 1 further including a pressure relief valve in the pressure vessel wall, whereby escape of excess gas may be permitted when the pressure in the combustion chamber is higher than a predetermined maximum.

Claim 5

The gas generator of claim 1, further including a capacitor connected in parallel between the igniters and the energy source to insure an electrical pulse of sufficient strength to fire each electric squib without failure.

Claim 6

A gas generator comprising: a cylindrical pressure vessel having domed ends, with an orifice in one end and a combustion chamber adjacent the orifice; a propellant charge filling the vessel except for the combustion chamber, comprising wafer segments of propellant and combustion barriers sealing off the wafer segments from one another, the combustion barriers being made of noncombustible elastOmeric material; a film of pyrotechnic material on the combustion chamber side of each propellant wafer; an electric squib in contact with each pyrotechnic film; a thermally operated, normally open, electric switch connected to each electric squib, these switches being connected together in parallel so that combustion of each wafer segment of the series will automatically close the circuit for the adjacent propellant wafer; a master switch connected in series with the squibs and their switches; an electrical energy source connected in series with the master switch and the squibs; a capacitor connected in parallel between the energy source and the squibs; a pressure transducer mounted in the wall of the pressure vessel in communication with the combustion chamber thereof and operatively connected to the master switch to open the circuit when the pressure in the combustion chamber reaches a predetermined maximum and to close it when that pressure reaches a predetermined minimum, whereby combustion of the propellant charge may be interrupted and restarted; a pressure relief valve in the wall of the combustion chamber to permit escape of excess gas when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum; and valve means on the orifice of the pressure vessel to permit metering of gases therefrom.

Claim 7

A gas generator comprising: a cylindrical pressure vessel having domed ends, with an orifice in one end and a combustion chamber adjacent the orifice; a propellant charge filling the vessel except for the combustion chamber, comprising wafer segments of propellant and combustion barriers sealing off the wafer segments from one another, the combustion barriers being made of noncombustible elastOmeric material; a film of pyrotechnic material on the combustion chamber side of each propellant wafer; an electric squib in contact with each pyrotechnic film; a thermally operated, normally open, electric switch connected to each electric squib, these switches being connected together in parallel so that combustion of each wafer segment of the series will automatically close the circuit for the adjacent propellant wafer; a master switch connected in series with the squibs and their switches; an electrical energy source connected in series with the master switch and the squibs; a capacitor connected in parallel between the energy source and the squibs; a pressure transducer mounted in the wall of the pressure vessel in communication with the combustion chamber thereof and operatively connected to the master switch to open the circuit when the pressure in the combustion chamber reaches a predetermined maximum and to close it when that pressure reaches a predetermined minimum, whereby combustion of the propellant charge may be interrupted and restarted; a pressure relief valve in the wall of the combustion chamber to permit escape of excess gas when the pressure therein reaches a predetermined maximum; and valve means on the orifice of the pressure vessel to permit metering of gases therefrom.