LOW TEMPERATURE GAS GENERATING COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS

• US 3,837,942 A
• Filed: 12/14/1972
• Issued: 09/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HBB Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Vincent O. Catanzarite
• Inventors: Catanzarite, Vincent O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US05/314,916
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 149/22,40,41,42,44,85,79,83 280/15AB 141/10 102/39
• US Class Current: 149/83
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 29/08 with an organic non-explosive or an organic non-thermic component
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 41/00 Compositions containing a nitrated metallo-organic compound
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 43/00 Compositions characterised by explosive or thermic constituents not provided for in groups C06B25/00 - C06B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

A pyrotechnic powder composition comprising a mixture of an oxidizer powder and an oxygen bearing metal organic compound powder is used for inflating a passenger restraint bag for an automobile. Metals preferred for the metal organic compound have a free energy of oxidation less than the free energy of oxidation of carbon monoxide. An exemplary composition comprises a mixture of anhydrous nickel formate and potassium chlorate. When these react, substantial volumes of oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor are released for inflating a passenger restraint bag. The burning rate of the powder composition may be increased by including up to about 20 percent of an enhancer distributed in the powder and having a burn rate substantially higher than the burn rate of the powder composition.

Claims

2. A pyrotechnic powder composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the oxidizer compound is selected from the group consisting of chlorates and perchlorates.

3. A pyrotechnic powder composition as defined in claim 2 wherein the metal organic compound is a formate and the metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, tin, nickel and cobalt.

4. A pyrotechnic powder composition as defined in claim 2 wherein the metal organic compound comprises anhydrous nickel formate.

5. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 2 further comprising up to about 20 percent by weight of an oxygen bearing organic fuel having a formula CxHyOz where x, y and z are integers.

6. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 1 further comprising up to about 20 percent by weight of burning rate enhancer.

7. A pyrotechnic powder composition consisting essentially of a mixture of an oxidizer compound containing oxygen and a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, barium, magnesium and calcium, and a metal organic compound selected from the group consisting of cobaltous acetate, cobaltous oxalate, cupric formate, cupric acetate, cupric oxalate, ferric acetate, ferric oxalate, ferrous formate, ferrous acetate, ferrous tartrate, ferrous oxalate, ferrous lactate, lead formate, lead acetate, lead oxalate, nickel formate, nickel acetate, nickel oxalate, silver acetate, silver citrate, silver tartrate, silver oxalate, and stannous oxalate.

8. A pyrotechnic powder composition as defined in claim 7 wherein the oxidizer compound is selected from the group consisting of chlorates and perchlorates.

9. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 8 further comprising up to about 20 percent by weight of burning rate enhancer.

10. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 9 wherein the burning rate enhancer comprises an oxygen bearing organic fuel having a formula CxHyOz where x, y and z are integers and an oxidizer selected from the class consisting of aklali metal chlorates and perchlorates.

11. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 8 further comprising up to about 20 percent by weight of an oxygen bearing organic fuel having a formula CxHyOz where x, y and z are integers.

12. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 8 wherein the metal organic compound comprises anhydrous nickel formate.

13. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 7 wherein the proportion of oxidizer compound is in the range of from about 25 to 85 percent by weight and the proportion of metal organic compound is in the range of from about 15 to 75 percent by weight.

14. A gas generating powder coMposition comprising:

anhydrous nickel formate in the range of from about 15 to 75 percent by weight and oxidizer selected from the class consisting of alkali metal chlorates and perchlorates in the range of from about 25 to 85 percent by weight.

15. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 14 further comprising up to about 20 percent by weight of burning rate enhancer.

16. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 15 wherein the burning rate enhancer comprises an oxygen bearing organic fuel having a formula CxHyOz where x, y and z are integers and an oxidizer selected from the class consisting of alkali metal chlorates and perchlorates.

17. A gas generating powder composition as defined in claim 14 further comprising up to about 20 percent by weight of an oxygen bearing organic fuel having a formual CxHyOz where x, y and z are integers.

18. A method of inflating an automobile passenger restraint bag comprising the step of directing the gaseous combustion products of a pyrotechnic composition consisting essentially of an inorganic oxidizer compound containing oxygen and a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, barium, magnesium and calcium and an oxygen bearing metal organic compound into a passenger restraint bag, said oxygen bearing metal organic compound selected such that a stoichiometric reaction between the oxidizer and the metal organic compound yields gaseous products and wherein the metal in the metal organic compound has a free energy of oxide formation less than the free energy of oxidation of carbon monoxide, the proportion of metal organic compound being in the range of from about 15 to 75 percent by weight of the powder composition.

19. A method of inflating an automobile passenger restraint bag as defined in claim 18 wherein the oxidizer compound is selected from the group consisting of chlorates and perchlorates.

20. A method of inflating an automobile passenger restraint bag as defined in claim 19 wherein the metal organic compound is selected from the group consisting of cobaltous acetate, cobaltous oxalate, cupric formate, cupric acetate, cupric oxalate, ferric acetate, ferric oxalate, ferrous formate, ferrous acetate, ferrous tartrate, ferrous oxalate, ferrous lactate, lead formate, lead acetate, lead oxalate, nickel formate, nickel acetate, nickel oxalate, silver acetate, silver citrate, silver tartrate, silver oxalate, and stannous oxalate.

21. A method as defined in claim 18 wherein the gas generating powder composition further comprises up to about 20 percent by weight of an oxygen bearing organic fuel having a formula CxHyOz where x, y and z are integers.

22. A method of inflating an automobile passenger restraint bag comprising the step of directing the gaseous combustion products of a pyrotechnic composition consisting essentially of an oxidizer compound containing oxygen and a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, barium, magnesium and calcium and an oxygen bearing metal organic compound into a passenger restraint bag, said oxygen bearing metal organic compound selected from the group consisting of cobaltous acetate, cobaltous oxalate, cupric formate, cupric acetate, cupric oxalate, ferric acetate, ferric oxalate, ferrous formate, ferrous acetate, ferrous tartrate, ferrous oxalate, ferrous lactate, lead formate, lead acetate, lead oxalate, nickel formate, nickel acetate, nickel oxalate, silver acetate, silver citrate, silver tartrate, silver oxalate, and stannous oxalate.

23. A method of inflating an automobile passenger restraint bag as defined in claim 22 wherein the oxidizer powder is selected from the group consisting of chlorates and perchlorates.

24. A method as defined in claim 23 wherein the proportion of oxidizer compound is in thE range of from about 25 to 85 percent by weight and the proportion of metal organic compound is in the range of from about 15 to 75 percent by weight.

25. A method as defined in claim 24 wherein the metal organic compound comprises anhydrous nickel formate.

26. A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the nickel formate is present at about 25 percent and the oxidizer compound comprises potassium chlorate at about 75 percent.

27. A method as defined in claim 26 wherein the gas generating composition further comprises up to about 20 percent by weight of a burning rate enhancer comprising a substantially stoichiometric mixture of potassium chlorate and an organic fuel having the formula CxHyOz where x, y and z are integers.

28. A pyrotechnic powder composition comprising a reaction mixture of one or more oxidizer powder compounds selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, barium, magnesium and calcium chlorates and perchlorates;

and one or more reducing metal organic powder compounds selected from the group consisting of copper formate, tin formate, nickel formate and cobalt formate, the proportion of metal organic compound being in the range of from about 15 to 75 percent by weight of the powder composition.

29. A pyrotechnic powder composition consisting essentially of anhydrous nickel formate and oxidizer powder selected from the class consisting of alkali metal chlorates and perchlorates, the proportion of anhydrous nickel formate and oxidizer being sufficiently above the stoichiometric proportion to yield free oxygen upon combustion thereof.

30. A gas generating composition consisting essentially of anhydrous nickel formate in the range of from about 15 to 75 percent by weight and oxidizer selected from the class consisting of alkali metal chlorates and perchlorates in the range of from about 25 percent to 85 percent by weight.

31. A method of inflating an automobile passenger restraint bag comprising the step of directing the gaseous combustion products of anhydrous nickel formate and an oxidizer compound into a passenger restraint bag.

32. A method as defined in claim 31 wherein the oxidizer compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, barium, magnesium, and calcium chlorates and perchlorates.

33. A method as defined in claim 32 wherein the proportion of anhydrous nickel formate is in the range of from about 15 to 75 percent by weight and the oxidizer compound is in the range of from about 25 to 85 percent by weight.