Flexible gas generator

Abstract

A gas generator includes a first flexible housing, a first flexible, porous covering an exterior surface of the first housing, and a second flexible, porous covering wound over the first covering so as to form a plurality of layers covering the first covering. At least one plenum is formed between adjacent layers of the plurality of layers.

1 . A gas generator comprising:
 a first flexible housing;   a first flexible, porous covering an exterior surface of the first housing; and   a second flexible, porous covering wound over the first covering so as to form a plurality of layers covering the first covering, and wherein at least one plenum is formed between adjacent layers of the plurality of layers.   
     
     
         2 . The gas generator of  claim 1  further comprising a second flexible housing, wherein the first housing, the first covering, and the second covering are positioned within the second housing, 
     
     
         3 . The gas generator of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of plenums, each plenum being formed between adjacent layers of the plurality of layers. 
     
     
         4 . The gas generator of  claim 1  wherein the second flexible covering comprises at least one layer of a mesh material. 
     
     
         5 . The gas generator of  claim 1  further comprising an additional flexible porous covering positioned over an exterior surface of the second housing. 
     
     
         6 . The gas generator of  claim 1  further comprising at least one non-porous baffle element positioned between adjacent layers of the plurality of layers of the second covering. 
     
     
         7 . A method for manufacturing a gas generator comprising the steps of:
 covering an exterior surface of a first flexible housing with a first flexible, porous covering; and   winding a second flexible, porous covering over the first covering such that a plurality of layers of the second covering cover the first covering, and such that at least one plenum is formed between adjacent layers of the plurality of layers.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of winding the second covering comprises the steps of:
 providing a second flexible housing defining an interior configured for receiving therein the first housing, the first covering, and the second covering when the second covering is in a first wound configuration; 
 winding the second covering around the first housing over the first covering to provide the first wound configuration of the second covering; 
 positioning, while securing the second covering in the first wound configuration, the first housing, the first covering, and the second covering in the second housing interior; and 
 unsecuring the second covering to enable the second covering to expand from the first wound configuration within the second housing interior, thereby forming the at least one plenum between adjacent layers of the plurality of layers. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of winding the second covering comprises the step of positioning at least one non-porous baffle element between adjacent layers of the plurality of layers of the second covering. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of winding the second covering comprises the step of winding the second covering around the first covering such that a plurality of plenums is formed, each plenum being formed between adjacent layers of the plurality of layers.