Pyrotechnic composition and method of inflating an inflatable automobile safety restraint

• US 4,152,891 A
• Filed: 10/11/1977
• Issued: 05/08/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Garner, Eugene F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Edward A.
• Application Number:
  US05/840,692
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 149/77, 149/82, 149/83, 149/85
• US Class Current: 60/205
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0218 Chlorate
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 29/02 of an alkali metal
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

A pyrotechnic composition comprising:

About 15 to 30% by weight of tartaric acid;

About 40 to 75% by weight of sodium chlorate; and

About 10 to 30% by weight of calcium hydroxide.

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 15 to 30% by weight of tartaric acid;

About 40 to 75% by weight of sodium chlorate; and

About 10 to 30% by weight of calcium hydroxide.

Claims

1. A pyrotechnic composition comprising:

from about 15 to 30% by weight of tartaric acid;

from about 40 to 75% by weight of sodium chlorate; and

from about 10 to 30% by weight of calcium hydroxide.

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

from about 20 to 25% by weight of tartaric acid;

from about 50 to 60% by weight of sodium chlorate; and

from about 15 to 20% 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 4 wherein said carbon black is present in an amount of about 0.05 to 0.15% by weight.

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 15 to 30% by weight of tartaric acid;

about 40 to 75% by weight of sodium chlorate; and

about 10 to 30% by weight of calcium hydroxide.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said composition comprises

about 20 to 25% by weight of tartaric acid;

about 50 to 60% by weight of sodium chlorate; and

about 15 to 20% by weight of calcium hydroxide.

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

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

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said carbon black is present in an amount of about 0.5 to 0.15% by weight.