GAS GENERATING COMPOSITIONS AND APPARATUS

• US 3,880,595 A
• Filed: 08/22/1973
• Issued: 04/29/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HBB Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Hubert G. Timmerman
• Inventors: Timmerman, Hubert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scovronek, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hollander, Barry I.
• Application Number:
  US05/390,435
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 23/281,282 280/15AB 60/205,219 102/39 149/15,76,77,83 252/188.3R
• US Class Current: 422/164
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/00 Apparatus for generating gases production of inert gas mixtures B01J19/14; for generating specific gases, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. C01B, C10J ; in "air bags" on vehicles B60R21/26; for starter gas F02C7/26; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure F42B3/04
• 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: C06B 29/04 with an inorganic non-explosive or an inorganic non-thermic component
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids
• 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 for inflating a bag comprising a deflagration composition yielding a gas comprising principally carbon dioxide and water vapor comprises a substantially homogeneous mixture of citric acid powder in the range of from about 23 to 37 percent by weight and an oxidizer powder selected from the group consisting of potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate sodium chlorate, and sodium perchlorate. This composition is used adjacent a coolant powder comprising up to about 40 percent by weight of potassium chlorate and an endothermic decomposition coolant having a thermal decomposition product selected from the class consisting of carbon dioxide and water.

Claims

1. A GAS GENERATOR FOR INFLATING A BAG COMPRISING:

A PRESSURE RESISTANT VESSEL HAVING A CLOSED END AND AN OPEN END;

A BODY OF COMPACTED POWDERS IN THE VESSEL, SAID BODY COMPRISING A FIRST PORTION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AN INTIMATE MIXTURE OF CITRIC ACID IN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 25 TO 37 PERCENT BY WEIGHT AND THE BALANCE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF POTASSIUM CHLORATE, POTASSIUM PERCHLORATE, SODIUM CHLORATE, AND SODIUM PERCHLORATE, AND A SECOND PORTION IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE FIRST PORTION COMPRISING AN INTIMATE MIXTURE OF UP TO ABOUT 60 PERCENT

2. A gas generator as defined in claim 1 wherein the potassium chlorate in the second portion is present as about 40 percent by weight and the balance is Zinc carbonate.

3. A gas generator as defined in claim 1 wherein the citric acid is present as about 32% by weight and the balance is potassium chlorate.

4. A gas generator as defined in claim 1 wherein the body of compacted powders comprises a plurality of alternating layers of the first portion and the second portion.