The present invention provides an inflator for an inflatable restraint system in an automobile. The inflator includes an elongate inflator body containing a baffle tube that cools gases as they are shunted therethrough upon gas generator activation.
1. A gas generator comprising:
an elongate body having a first end and a second end and at least one gas exit aperture;
a perforate inner wall positioned within said body, said inner wall forming a gas generant chamber;
a perforate baffle tube positioned within said body and outwardly of said perforate inner wall for cooling of gases formed upon activation of said gas generator, said baffle tube containing a first inner baffle wall and a second outer baffle wall structurally fixed to said first inner baffle wall thereby forming a first plenum between said perforate inner wall and said first inner baffle wall, said first plenum fluidly communicating with said gas generant chamber upon gas generator activation; and
a second plenum formed between said inner baffle wall and said-outer baffle wall, said second plenum in fluid communication with said first plenum and said at least one gas exit aperture upon gas generator activation,
wherein gases produced upon activation of said gas generator exit said gas generant chamber and traverse said first plenum to one end of said body, and then traverse said second plenum to the other end of said body, and then exit said gas generator through said at least one gas exit aperture.
2. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said baffle tube is formed with a plurality of transverse walls substantially extending from one end of said body to the other end of said body, said transverse walls forming a plurality of channels within said baffle tube, said plurality of channels forming said second plenum and said plurality of channels fluidly communicating with said gas generant chamber and said first plenum.
3. An automotive restraint system comprising the gas generator of claim 1 .
4. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said baffle tube is formed with a plurality of transverse walls substantially extending from one end of said body to the other end of said body, said transverse walls structurally connecting said first and second baffle walls and forming a plurality of channels within said baffle tube, said plurality of channels forming said second plenum and said plurality of channels fluidly communicating with said gas generant chamber and said first plenum.
5. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said first plenum comprises a plurality of longitudinal channels formed within said baffle tube, each of said channels in fluid communication with another of said channels wherein each channel is perforated to provide alternating longitudinal flow of gases as the gases traverse the channels.