Gas bag inflator containing inhibited generant

• US 5,345,873 A
• Filed: 08/24/1992
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lauritzen, Donald R., Crowell, Bryan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US07/934,609
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 102/289, 102/290, 149/6
• US Class Current: 102/290
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder

Abstract

An inflator, preferably for an automotive gas bag restraint system, containing a plurality of gas generant bodies which have a relatively inert burn inhibitor coating material thereon. The inhibitor material is preferably a plastic resin. The inhibitor material may also be alumina, titania, silica or a silicate compound,e.g. bentonite. The inhibitors are preferably applied to the generant bodies as a spray. The gas generant may be an azide or a non-azide, preferably an azide and most preferably sodium azide. The inhibited bodies may be any shape, preferably washer-shaped discs in side by side array.

Claims

1. A gas bag inflator comprising:

a combustion chamber having a gas outlet;

a plurality of gas generant bodies disposed within said chamber, each of said generant bodies being coated with a relatively inert burn inhibitor material which substantially covers only one face and the peripheral walls thereof;

means for igniting the inhibited bodies; and

means for routing gas generated from said chamber through the gas outlet.

2. A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 wherein the inhibitor material comprises a plastic resin.

3. A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 wherein the inhibitor coating is applied to the generant bodies as a spray.

4. A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 wherein each of the inhibited bodies are wafer-shaped and arranged in side by side relationship.

5. A gas bag inflator according to claim 4 wherein the inhibited wafers are individually separated by spacer means.

6. A gas bag inflator according to claim 4 wherein the wafers are washer-shaped and the inhibitor coating substantially covers the face of each wafer and the inner and outer peripheral walls.

7. A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 wherein the gas generant body comprises an azide-based composition.

8. A gas bag inflator according to claim 7 wherein the azide is sodium azide.

9. A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 including a gas bag deployment means connected to the gas outlet.

10. A method of inflating a gas bag comprising igniting a plurality of gas generant bodies disposed within a combustion chamber, each body having a relatively inert burn inhibitor material coating which substantially covers only one face and the peripheral walls thereof, and using the gas generated to inflate the gas bag.

11. A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 10 wherein the inhibitor material comprises a plastic resin.

12. A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 10 wherein the inhibitor coating is applied to each generant body as a spray.

13. A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 10 wherein the inhibited body is wafer-shaped.

14. A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 10 wherein each gas generant body comprises an azide-based composition.

15. A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 14 wherein the azide is sodium azide.

16. A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 13 wherein the generant wafers are washer-shaped and the inhibitor coating substantially covers the face of each wafer and the inner and outer peripheral walls.