Chlorite containing pyrotechnic composition and method of inflating an inflatable automobile safety restraint

• US 4,128,996 A
• Filed: 12/05/1977
• Issued: 12/12/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Brian K., Garner, Eugene F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Edward A.
• Application Number:
  US05/856,958
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 149/19.6, 149/19.91, 149/77, 149/82, 149/83, 149/85, 60/205, 23/281
• US Class Current: 60/205
• 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

Abstract

A pyrotechnic composition comprising:

About 1 to 20% by weight of a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyacetal resins, polyvinyl acetate resins and mixtures thereof;

About 30 to 80% by weight of an alkali metal chlorite, such as sodium chlorite or potassium chlorite; and

About 20 to 60% by weight of a coolant selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or mixtures thereof.

The invention also relates to a method of inflating an inflatable automobile safety restraint comprising the step of substantially completely inflating the restraint with the gaseous composition products of combustion of a composition comprising:

About 1 to 20% by weight of a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyacetal resins, polyvinyl acetate resins and mixtures thereof;

About 30 to 80% by weight of an alkali metal chlorite, such as sodium chlorite or potassium chlorite; and

About 20 to 60% by weight of a coolant selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or mixtures thereof.

Claims

1. A pyrotechnic composition comprising:

from about 1 to 20% by weight of a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyacetal resins, polyvinyl acetate resins and mixtures thereof;

from about 30 to 80% by weight of an alkali metal chlorite; and

from about 20 to 60% by weight of a coolant selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or mixtures thereof.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition comprises:

from about 1 to 15% by weight of a polyacetal resin;

from about 40 to 60% by weight of sodium chlorite; and

from about 30 to 50% by weight of calcium hydroxide.

3. The pyrotechnic composition of claim 2 wherein said composition further includes about 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of a pigment.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein said pigment is carbon black.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic resin is a polyacetal resin, said alkali metal chlorite is sodium chlorite and said coolant is calcium hydroxide.

6. A method of inflating an inflatable automobile safety restraint comprising the step of substantially completely inflating the restraint with the gaseous composition products of combustion of a composition comprising:

about 1 to 20% by weight of a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyacetal resins, polyvinyl acetate resins and mixtures thereof;

about 30 to 80% by weight of an alkali metal chlorite; and

about 20 to 60% by weight of a coolant selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or mixtures thereof.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said composition comprises:

about 5 to 15% by weight of a polyacetal resin,

about 40 to 60% by weight of sodium chlorate; and

about 20 to 60% by weight of coolant selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or mixtures thereof.

8. The composition of claim 7 wherein said composition further includes from about 0.01 to 0.05% by weight of a pigment.

9. The composition of claim 8 wherein said pigment is carbon black.

10. The composition of claim 6 wherein said thermoplastic resin is a polyacetal resin, said alkali metal chlorite is sodium chlorite and said coolant is calcium hydroxide.