Airbag Inflator Pad

• US 20150232057A1
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hordos, Deborah L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,676,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26

Abstract

A gas generator contains an anti-vibration, auto-igniting pad. The pad is formed from a mixture of a known auto-igniting composition mixed with an elastomeric polymer, and then cured, thereby forming a polymer-auto-igniting composition matrix. The pad is placed in thermodynamic communication with a housing on the gas generator, thereby enhancing the safety of the gas generator while yet providing a multi-functional pad. The pad is formulated to reduce vibrations when biased against an associated gas generant, while augmenting the amount of gas produced upon gas generator activation, while yet providing an auto-igniting material that is ignited during a high heat event.

Claims

1. A gas generator comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, said housing in thermodynamic communication with an exterior of said gas generator;

a gas generating composition contained within said housing, ignitable upon activation of said gas generator; and

an elastomeric pad contained within said housing, said pad comprised of an elastomeric polymer and an auto-igniting material having an auto-ignition temperature less than the ignition temperature of said gas generating composition, said elastomeric pad in thermodynamic communication with said housing.

2. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric pad is auto-ignitable at a range of 150-210 C.

3. A gas generating system comprising the gas generator of claim 1.

4. A vehicle occupant protection system incorporating the gas generator of claim 1.

5. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric pad is formed from silicone and the auto-igniting material.

6. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric pad comprises an auto-igniting material containing a fuel and an oxidizer, said fuel selected from tetrazoles, salts of tetrazoles, basic salts of tetrazoles, and mixtures thereof, and, said oxidizer selected from alkali metal nitrates, alkaline earth metal nitrates, transition metal nitrates, metal and nonmetal salts of perchlorates, and mixtures thereof.

7. The gas generator of claim 5 wherein said gas generant retainer further comprises a catalyst selected from molybdenum-containing salts and oxides.

8. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric pad comprises an auto-igniting material containing a fuel and oxidizer, said fuel selected from carboxylic acids, sugars, and mixtures thereof, and, said oxidizer is selected from alkali metal nitrates, alkali metal perchlorates, alkaline earth metal nitrates, alkaline earth metal perchlorates, and mixtures thereof.

9. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said auto-igniting material is provided at about 30-70 weight percent, and, the elastomeric polymer is provided at about 30-70 weight percent, said weight percents stated relative to the total weight of the elastomeric pad.

10. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said auto-igniting material comprises a fuel at about 20-30 weight percent, an oxidizer at about 60-70 weight percent, and about 10-20 weight percent of molybdenum trioxide.

11. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric pad is biased against said gas generating composition.

12. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric pad is adjacent the first or second end of said housing.

13. The gas generator of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric polymer is selected from urethanes, silicones, rubbers, cellulosic derivatives, and mixtures thereof.

14. The gas generator of claim 12 wherein said elastomeric polymer is selected from silicone, polyurethane, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and mixtures thereof.

15. A gas generator comprising:

a housing adjacent an exterior of said gas generator;

a gas generant contained within said housing, ignitable upon activation of said gas generator; and

an anti-vibratory and auto-igniting pad contained within and thermodynamically communicating with said housing, said pad biased against said gas generant,

wherein said pad auto-ignites within a temperature range of about 150 C to 210 C.

16. The gas generator of claim 15 wherein said pad is formed from an elastomeric polymer containing an auto-igniting composition mixed therein.

17. The gas generator of claim 15 wherein said pad, upon combustion, produces up to 50 percent by weight of the pad, said weight percent taken with regard to the total weight of the pad prior to combustion.

18. A gas generator comprising:

a housing adjacent an exterior of said gas generator;

a gas generant contained within said housing, combustible upon activation of said gas generator; and

an elastomeric and auto-ignitable pad contained within and thermodynamically communicating with said housing,

wherein said pad when combusted produces gases that are up to 50% by weight of the pad, said weight percent determined by the total weight of the pad prior to combustion.

19. The gas generator of claim 18 wherein said pad contains an auto-igniting material comprised of a fuel and an oxidizer, said fuel selected from tetrazoles and triazoles, derivatives and salts thereof, and mixtures thereof, and, said oxidizer selected from alkali metal nitrates, alkaline earth metal nitrates, transition metal nitrates, metal and non-metal perchlorates, and mixtures thereof.

20. The gas generator of claim 18 wherein said pad contains an elastomeric polymer selected from urethanes, silicones, rubbers, cellulosic derivatives, and mixtures thereof.