Tapered Combustion Chamber Screen for Inflator Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflator combustion chamber screens exhibit non-uniform flow and restricted space for propellant, leading to inefficient filtering and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A tapered combustion chamber screen with a conically shaped design, optimized for uniform gas flow and maximum propellant space, featuring a press-fit igniter-side end and a diffuser-side end, made from expanded metal or perforated sheet, with a continuously increasing flow cross-section to prevent back pressure and ensure uniform filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional combustion chamber screen is used, then the screen provides filtering function, but the flow through the screen is non-uniform and the space for propellant is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion chamber screen is segmented into multiple sections (first section, second section, third section) with progressively increasing diameters. This segmentation allows the screen to provide adequate filtering surface area while creating increasing space toward the diffuser end for propellant placement, resolving the contradiction between filtering function and propellant space.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen transitions from a conventional flat or uniform design to a three-dimensional tapered structure with varying diameter along its length. This dimensional change enables the screen to maintain filtering effectiveness at the igniter end while progressively increasing the volume available for propellant toward the diffuser end.
2Device complexity
If a conventional combustion chamber screen is used, then the screen structure is simple, but the flow through the screen is non-uniform causing non-uniform filtering effect
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the screen are designed with different diameters to create local quality variations. The first section has a smaller diameter for effective filtering near the igniter, while subsequent sections have progressively larger diameters. This local quality approach ensures uniform flow distribution across the filtering surface while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through standard conical geometry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution optimizes gas flow and utilizes the filtration surface uniformly, preventing back pressure and allowing for efficient propellant use, while facilitating easy assembly and manufacturing, and providing ample space for propellant within the inflator.
Implementation Method 1
The combustion chamber screen is tapered, especially conically, in the longitudinal direction of the inflator from the igniter toward the diffuser
Implementation Method 2
combustion chamber screens frequently have the drawback that the flow through the combustion chamber screens, which may also be referred to as combustion chamber filters
Implementation Method 3
an inflator which provides an ignition unit comprising an igniter, a chamber arranged axially downstream of the ignition unit
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an inflator (10) comprising an ignition unit (30) having an igniter (31), a chamber (20) arranged axially downstream of the ignition unit (30) and a diffuser chamber (40) arranged axially downstream of the chamber (20) which is comprised by a diffuser (42), wherein a combustion chamber screen (50) having an igniter-side end (51) and a diffuser-side end (52) is disposed in the chamber (20), the combustion chamber screen (50) being tapered, especially conically, in the longitudinal direction (L) of the inflator (10) from the igniter (31) toward the diffuser (42).