Gas Generating System

Abstract

A baffle system is provided including a first end plate having at least one opening formed therein, and a second end plate having at least one opening formed therein. At least one baffle element extends between the first and second end plates. The at least one baffle element defines a chamber. The at least one first end plate opening and the at least one second end plate opening are blocked so as to prevent fluid flow from the chamber to an exterior of the chamber system through the at least one first end plate opening and through the at least one second end plate opening. In addition, the blockage of the end plate openings is such that fluid flow is enabled into the chamber from the exterior of the chamber through the at least one first end plate opening and through the at least one second end plate opening.

1 . A baffle system comprising:
 a first end plate having at least one opening formed therein;   a second end plate having at least one opening formed therein;   at least one baffle element extending between the first and second end plates, the at least one baffle element defining a chamber,   wherein the at least one first end plate opening and the at least one second end plate opening are blocked so as to prevent fluid flow from the chamber to an exterior of the chamber system through the at least one first end plate opening and through the at least one second end plate opening, and so as to enable fluid flow into the chamber through the at least one first end plate opening and through the at least one second end plate opening from the exterior of the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The baffle system of  claim 1  further comprising a sequence of baffle elements extending between the first and second end plates, the sequence of baffle elements including the first baffle element and at least one additional baffle element,
 each additional baffle element in the sequence of baffle elements being spaced outwardly apart from a preceding baffle element in the sequence of baffle elements, 
 the first baffle element having an orifice configuration for enabling fluid communication between the chamber and an additional baffle element, 
 each additional baffle element in the sequence of baffle elements having an orifice configuration for enabling fluid communication between a preceding baffle element and an exterior of the additional baffle element. 
 
     
     
         3 . The baffle system of  claim 2  wherein the first baffle element orifice configuration is spaced apart a first predetermined distance from one of the at least one first end plate opening and the at least one second end plate opening, and the orifice configuration in each additional baffle element is spaced apart an additional predetermined distance from the orifice configuration in the preceding baffle element, a sum of the first predetermined distance and the additional predetermined distances being approximately equal to an estimated total length per unit baffle element area of a flow path of a fluid necessary to cool a fluid flowing through the baffle system from a first temperature to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
         4 . A method for producing, in a gas generating system, a gas having a temperature within a predetermined temperature range, the method comprising the steps of:
 estimating a total length of a flow path of a gas along a given surface area of a predetermined baffle element material necessary to cool a gas to from a first temperature to a temperature within the predetermined temperature range; and   providing a baffle system having a total internal gas flow path length per unit baffle element surface area substantially equal to the estimated length of gas flow path necessary to cool the gas to from a temperature in the at least one combustion chamber to a temperature within the predetermined temperature range.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of providing a baffle system comprises providing a baffle system having an orifice configuration within the baffle system along the internal flow path for the gas, the baffle system orifice configuration being configured for reducing a pressure of a gas from a pressure in the at least one combustion chamber to a pressure within a predetermined pressure range. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of providing a baffle system comprises the steps of:
 providing a sequence of baffle elements formed from the baffle element material, a first baffle element of the sequence of baffle elements defining a chamber having an entrance adapted for receiving therethrough a gas from at least one combustion chamber upon activation of the gas generating system, each additional baffle element in the sequence of baffle elements being spaced outwardly apart from a preceding baffle element in the sequence of baffle elements; 
 providing an orifice configuration in the first baffle element for enabling fluid communication between the chamber and an additional baffle element, the first baffle element orifice configuration being spaced apart a first predetermined distance from the chamber entrance; and 
 providing an orifice configuration in each additional baffle element in the sequence of baffle elements for enabling fluid communication between a preceding baffle element and an exterior of the additional baffle element, the orifice configuration in each additional baffle element being spaced apart an additional predetermined distance from the orifice configuration in the preceding baffle element, a sum of the first predetermined distance and the additional predetermined distances being approximately equal to the estimated total length of a flow path of a gas necessary to cool the gas to a temperature within the predetermined temperature range. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of providing a baffle system further comprises the step of specifying an orifice configuration in at least one of the baffle elements such that the pressure of a gas flowing through an orifice configuration in a last baffle element in the sequence of baffle elements is at a pressure within the predetermined pressure range. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of varying an orifice configuration in at least one of the baffle elements comprises varying the sizes of the orifices in at least one of the baffle elements. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of varying an orifice configuration in at least one of the baffle elements comprises varying the number of orifices in at least one of the baffle elements. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of providing a baffle system further comprises the step of varying the spacing between adjacent baffle plates such that the pressure of a gas flowing through an orifice configuration in the last baffle element in the sequence of baffle elements is at a pressure within the predetermined pressure range. 
     
     
         11 . A gas generating system comprising a baffle system in accordance with  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A vehicle occupant protection system comprising a baffle system in accordance with  claim 1 .