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US 5,628,528 AGranted
Dual chamber nonazide gas generator
AssigneeAutomotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
InventorsJames J. DeSautelle, Janie M. Vitek
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Abstract
A gas generator (10) utilizes two segregated propellant container/combustion chambers (62) and (64), each having a plurality of nonazide propellant grains (40 and 66) therein, and an igniter (24) for igniting only the propellant grains (40) located within the first combustion chamber (62). The nonazide propellant produces enough heat energy to subsequently ignite the segregated propellant grains (66) by forced convection and/or heat conduction.
Claims3
A gas generator having a variable output gas generation rate comprising:
- a housing having a plurality of apertures spaced therein;
- a first propellant chamber located within said housing and arranged to be in fluid communication with said plurality of apertures;
- a second propellant chamber located within said housing and arranged to be in fluid communication with said plurality of apertures;
- a first nonazide propellant charge positioned within said first chamber having a predetermined burn temperature;
- a second nonazide propellant charge positioned within said second chamber;
- and
- an igniter positioned within said housing for supplying a flame front to only said first propellant chamber, wherein the ignition of said first charge by said flame front produces heat energy which subsequently conductively ignites said second nonazide propellant charge, wherein said first and second propellant chambers are respectively separated by a solid barrier which impedes, the igniter flame front from passing from said first chamber to said second chamber.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.