Patent ID: 7438316
Filing Date: 2008-10-21
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A gas generator comprising: a housing formed by a perforate outer wall; a combustion chamber within said housing, said combustion chamber formed by an inner wall having a first end and a second end, said second end defining a gas exit aperture; a filter positioned alone a flow path of gases from the inner wall gas exit aperture to the outer wall for filtering and cooling combustion gases flowing from the combustion chamber to the outer wall; a gas generating composition contained within said combustion chamber, for producing combustion gases upon activation of said gas generator; a gas release member seated within said gas exit aperture, said gas release member employed for sealing said combustion chamber prior to activation of said gas generator, and, said gas release member movable within said gas exit aperture upon production of combustion gases, thereby releasing gas from said gas exit aperture; and a spring operably coupled to said gas release member and to said housing, thereby affecting a resilient sealing of said gas exit aperture both before and after activation of said gas generator, wherein, after activation of the gas generator, combustion gases exit the combustion chamber via the inner wall gas exit aperture flowing in a first direction, pass through the filter for cooling, and then flow along the outer wall in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction for additional cooling.