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Gas generant

a technology of gas generant and generating system, which is applied in the direction of explosives, pedestrian/occupant safety arrangements, vehicular safety arrangements, etc., can solve the problems of not all non-metallic constituents contribute to stable ballistic performance when subjected to environmental conditioning, require filtration requirements for inflators, and generate relatively low sensitivity, so as to improve the retention of moisture and other contaminants, eliminate contaminants occurring within inflators over time, and predict the performance of associated inflators

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-01-08
BURNS SEAN P +5
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The use of certain additives, preferably zeolites such as molecular sieves, calcium sulfate (Drierite™), or calcium oxide can minimize, and in some cases eliminate contaminants occurring within the inflator over time. In particular, molecular sieves function to better retain moisture and other contaminants in the presence of relatively high temperatures such as 107 degrees Celsius, thereby ensuring predictable performance of associated inflators. Stated another way, molecular sieves retain moisture / contaminants at elevated temperatures at least as high as 107 degrees Celsius thereby facilitating consistent performance predictability of inflators incorporating one or more types of these additives.

Problems solved by technology

It is an ongoing challenge to reduce the amount of solids and increase the amount of gas thereby decreasing the filtration requirements for an inflator.
An equally important challenge is to manufacture gas generants that exhibit relatively low sensitivity with regard to impact, friction, or electrostatic discharge stimuli.
Yet another challenge with gas generant compositions that produce relatively small amounts of solids, sometimes known as “smokeless” compositions, is that not all non-metallic constituents contribute to stable ballistic performance when subjected to environmental conditioning.
One concern with PSAN-containing propellants is that they exhibit less-than desirable behavior with regard to ballistic properties, particularly with respect to thermal shock conditioning when ballistically tested at elevated temperatures.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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example 1

[0033]To form comparative compositions, dry mixes of formulations containing the various constituents described above were prepared in a known manner. The dry material was then tableted, loaded into inflators, and subjected to Thermal Shock conditioning (100 Cycles, −40 C to 90 C). These formulations indicated an increase in aggressive ballistic performance when deployed at 85 C.

[0034]Next, the same process was used to prepare gas generants containing the various constituents described above, and a small amount of additive was added to each inflator. A ratio of 100:1 was used for the mass of gas generant to additive. The additive employed was 13X Type Molecular Sieves because of its inert chemical tendencies and ability to scavenge moisture and other volatiles, and retain these contaminants at relatively higher temperatures such as 107 degrees Celsius. The gas generant contained little, if any, moisture. After thermal shock conditioning, it was found that the ballistic performance o...

examples 2 and 3

[0035]A composition was made by combining 72.53% PSAN, 27.22% BTA-1NH3, and 0.25% M5 fumed silica and grinding with ceramic media in a Sweco vibratory grinder for 10 minutes. This powder was then pressed into ¼″ diameter by 0.125″ thick tablets. Driver side inflators were built with 25.0 g of this pressed gas generant into two different configurations: one contained no scavenging additives; the other contained 0.25 g of 13X zeolite in the form of 8-12 mesh beads poured directly into the gas generant chamber thereby intermingling the additive in heterogeneous relationship with the gas generating composition. As used throughout this specification and in the claims, the term “heterogeneous” is meant to indicate that the additive or 13X zeolite is added to a bed of pre-mixed substantially homogeneous gas generant composition made as known in the art. The gas generant is preferably but not necessarily pressed into tablets for example, with the 13X zeolite “heterogeneously” distributed ab...

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Abstract

The present invention includes a gas generator 10 that incorporates a gas generating composition 12 and a scavenging additive 16 in heterogeneous but vapor / gaseous communication with the gas generating composition 12. The scavenging additive retains moisture / contaminants typically evolving over time at relatively higher temperatures. The present invention further includes a gas generating system 180 incorporating the gas generator 10.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 542,302 and claims the benefit thereof.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates generally to gas generating systems, and to gas generant compositions employed in gas generator devices for automotive restraint systems, for example.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to gas generant compositions that upon combustion produce a relatively small amount of solids and a relatively abundant amount of gas. It is an ongoing challenge to reduce the amount of solids and increase the amount of gas thereby decreasing the filtration requirements for an inflator. As a result, the filter may be either reduced in size or eliminated altogether thereby reducing the weight and / or size of the inflator.[0004]An equally important challenge is to manufacture gas generants that exhibit relatively low sensitivity with regard to impact, friction...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C06B31/28C06B31/08C06B31/00C06B31/02C06B43/00
CPCB60R2021/2648C06D5/06C06B23/02
Inventor BURNS, SEAN P.HALPIN, JEFFREY W.WILLIAMS, GRAYLON K.KHANDHADIA, PARESH S.HORDOS, DEBORAH L.NEWELL, JASON
Owner BURNS SEAN P