Composition and method for inflation of passive restraint systems
First Claim
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1. A composition which burns to produce gases which are rich in nitrogen and substantially free of elemental alkali metals, oxides of nitrogen and alkali metal oxides, which comprises:
- an intimate mixture of an alkali metal azide of the formula MN3, a metal halide of the formula RXn and an inorganic oxidizer corresponding to the formula A(ClO4)m wherein M is an alkali metal;
R is tin, zinc, cobalt, nickel, calcium or magnesium;
X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, n is an integer representing the valence state of R;
A is potassium, sodium, or magnesium and m is equal to the valence of A, said constituents provided in amounts so that upon burning of the composition, the combustion products are substantially free of oxides of nitrogen, elemental alkali metals, HCN and alkali metal oxides.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a pyrotechnic composition and a method for the inflation of passive restraint systems, i.e., crash bags. The method utilizes gases produced by the ignition and burning of a pyrotechnic composition containing an alkali metal azide, a metal halide and an inorganic perchlorate.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A composition which burns to produce gases which are rich in nitrogen and substantially free of elemental alkali metals, oxides of nitrogen and alkali metal oxides, which comprises:
an intimate mixture of an alkali metal azide of the formula MN3, a metal halide of the formula RXn and an inorganic oxidizer corresponding to the formula A(ClO4)m wherein M is an alkali metal;
R is tin, zinc, cobalt, nickel, calcium or magnesium;
X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, n is an integer representing the valence state of R;
A is potassium, sodium, or magnesium and m is equal to the valence of A, said constituents provided in amounts so that upon burning of the composition, the combustion products are substantially free of oxides of nitrogen, elemental alkali metals, HCN and alkali metal oxides.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A pyrotechnic grain comprising:
- an intimate mixture of particles wherein said particles comprise, as percent by weight of the grain, sodium azide, about 50.7 percent;
potassium perchlorate, about 12.2 percent; and
magnesium chloride, about 37.1 percent, said grain being further characterized in that upon burning of the grain, the combustion products are substantially free of oxides of nitrogen, elemental alkali metals, HCN and alkali metal oxides.
- an intimate mixture of particles wherein said particles comprise, as percent by weight of the grain, sodium azide, about 50.7 percent;
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11. A pyrotechnic grain comprising, as percent by weight:
about 49.7 percent NaN3, about 11.9 percent KClO4, about 36.4 percent MgCl2, about 1 percent magnesium and about 1 percent graphite, said grain being further characterized in that upon burning of the grain, the combustion products are substantially free of oxides of nitrogen, elemental alkali metals, HCN and alkali metal oxides. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of rapidly generating gases which are rich in nitrogen and substantially free of elemental alkali metals, alkali metal oxides and oxides of nitrogen which comprises:
igniting an intimate mixture of an alkali metal azide of the formula MN3, a metal halide of the formula RXn and an inorganic oxidizer corresponding to the formula A(ClO4)m wherein M is an alkali metal;
R is tin, zinc, cobalt, nickel, calcium or magnesium;
X is chlorine, bromine or iodine, n is an integer representing the valence state of R;
A is potassium, sodium, or magnesium, and m is equal to the valence of A, said constituents provided in amounts so that upon burning of the composition, the combustion products are substantially free of oxides of nitrogen, elemental alkali metals, HCN and alkali metal oxides.- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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