Solid propellant/water type hybrid gas generator
AssigneeAtlantic Research Corporation
InventorsMichael DiGiacomo, Robert S. Scheffee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to fill an inflatable safety restraint device such as an air bag, a relatively small pyrotechnic charge is used to pressurize a chamber of water or other suitable liquid and force the liquid out of the chamber and through a conduit in a manner wherein it is caused to intimately mix and atomize in a high speed stream of gas resulting from the combustion of the pyrotechnic charge. The heat of the combustion gas is absorbed by the liquid which is then converted into a large volume. The vaporized liquid and combustion gas is used to inflate the air bag with an essentially non-toxic, low temperature, low particulate atmosphere. The resulting combustion gas and liquid mixture may also be used to extinguish a fire.
Claims16
A hybrid gas generator comprising:
- a housing having a closed section;
- a displaceable partition member disposed in the closed section and arranged to partition the closed section into first and second variable volume chambers;
- a non-flammable liquid disposed in the first variable volume chamber;
- a pyrotechnic charge disposed in the second variable volume chamber, said pyrotechnic charge being selectively ignitable to produce combustion gas and pressurize the second chamber in a manner which displaces the displaceable partition member in a direction which reduces the volume of the first variable volume chamber;
- means defining an orifice through which the combustion gas vents from the second variable volume chamber;
- and
- passage means for transferring liquid from the first variable volume chamber and ejecting it into the flow of gas from the second variable volume chamber at a location proximate said orifice prior to venting the combustion gas through said orifice.
A method of generating gas comprising the steps of:
- disposing a liquid in a first chamber in a housing;
- disposing a pyrotechnic charge in a second chamber in the housing;
- separating the first and second chambers with a displaceable partition member;
- igniting the pyrotechnic charge to form combustion gas and to apply pressure to the displaceable partition member in a manner which forces the liquid out of the first chamber into passage means associated with the housing;
- and
- ejecting the liquid into a stream of combustion gas issuing from the second chamber in the passage means in a manner which promotes heat exchange between the combustion gas and the liquid and which vaporizes the liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.