A baffle system ( 30 ) for use in a gas generating system ( 10 ). The baffle system ( 30 ) includes a plurality of adjacent plates ( 82 a, 82 b, 86 ), each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein. Each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates ( 82 a, 82 b, 86 ) is in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide at least one gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates. A gas generating system ( 10 ) incorporating the baffle system ( 30 ), and a vehicle occupant protection system ( 180 ) incorporating the gas generating system ( 10 ), are also described.
1. A baffle system for use in a gas generating system, the baffle system including a plurality of adjacent plates, each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein, each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates being in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide at least one gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates, wherein the plurality of adjacent plates comprise a plurality of first plates and a plurality of second plates, each of the first plates having a first orifice configuration, each of the second plates having an orifice configuration different from the first orifice configuration, and wherein plates of the first plates and plates of the second plates are arranged adjacent each other in alternating fashion, wherein the orifice configuration of each of the second plates includes a plurality of orifices, and wherein an average area of the orifices in a given second plate decreases along a direction of flow of gases through the plurality of adjacent plates.
2. A gas generating system including a baffle system in accordance with claim 1 .
3. A baffle system for use in a gas generating system, the baffle system including a plurality of adjacent plates, each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein, each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates being in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide at least one gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates wherein the plurality of adjacent plates comprise a plurality of first plates and a plurality of second plates, each of the first plates having a first orifice configuration, each of the second plates having an orifice configuration different from the first orifice configuration, and wherein plates of the first plates and plates of the second plates are arranged adjacent each other in alternating fashion,
wherein a first portion of the plurality of second plates has a second orifice configuration, and a second portion of the plurality of second plates has a third orifice configuration different from the second orifice configuration, and
wherein plates of the first portion of the plurality of second plates are arranged in alternating fashion with plates of the second portion of the plurality of second plates along a direction of flow of gases through the plurality of adjacent plates.
4. The baffle system of claim 3 wherein the plates of the plurality of adjacent plates are arranged along an axis, gas flow from a plate of the first portion of the plurality of second plates to a plate of the second portion of the plurality of second plates is directed radially outward with respect to the axis, and wherein gas flow from a plate of the second portion of the plurality of second plates to a plate of the first portion of the plurality of second plates is directed radially inward with respect to the axis.
5. A gas generating system including a baffle system in accordance with claim 3 .
6. A baffle system for use in a gas generating system, the baffle system including a plurality of adjacent plates, each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein, each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates being in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide at least one gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates wherein the plurality of adjacent plates comprise a plurality of first plates and a plurality of second plates, each of the first plates having a first orifice configuration, each of the second plates having an orifice configuration different from the first orifice configuration, and wherein plates of the first plates and plates of the second plates are arranged adjacent each other in alternating fashion, wherein each of the first plates has a single orifice, each of the second plates has a plurality of orifices, and wherein each single orifice of each first plate is in fluid communication with each orifice of the plurality of orifices of each second plate adjacent the first plate.
7. A gas generating system including a baffle system in accordance with claim 6 .
8. A baffle system for use in a gas generating system, the baffle system including a plurality of adjacent plates, each plate of the plurality of adjacent plates having at least one through orifice formed therein, each orifice in any given plate of the plurality of adjacent plates being in fluid communication with at least one orifice in each plate adjacent the given plate so as to provide at least one gas flow path extending through the plurality of adjacent plates, wherein the plurality of adjacent plates comprise a plurality of first plates and a plurality of second plates, each of the first plates having a first orifice configuration, each of the second plates having an orifice configuration different from the first orifice configuration, wherein plates of the first plates and plates of the second plates are arranged adjacent each other in alternating fashion, wherein the orifices in adjacent second plates are arranged with respect to each other such that fluid flow from a first second plate to another second plate adjacent the first second plate is directed one of either radially inward or radially outward with respect to the axis, and wherein fluid flow from the other second plate to a third second plate adjacent the other second plate is directed the other of either radially inward or radially outward with respect to the axis.
9. A gas generating system including a baffle system in accordance with claim 8 .
10. A baffle system for use in a gas generating system, the baffle system comprising a plurality of adjacent plates, the plurality of adjacent plates including a plurality of first plates and at least three second plates, each of the first plates having a first orifice configuration, each of the second plates having an orifice configuration different from the first orifice configuration, wherein plates of the first plates and plates of the second plates are arranged adjacent each other in alternating fashion, wherein the orifice configuration of each of the second plates includes a plurality of orifices, and wherein an average area of the orifices in a given second plate decreases along a direction of flow of gases through the plurality of adjacent plates.
11. A gas generating system including a baffle system in accordance with claim 10 .
12. A vehicle occupant protection system including a gas generating system, the gas generating system having a baffle system in accordance with claim 10 .