Thermite compositions for use as gas generants comprising basic metal carbonates and/or basic metal nitrates
First Claim
1. A solid gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable inorganic fuel and an oxidizing agent, wherein said oxidizing agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a basic metal carbonate and a basic metal nitrate, and wherein a mixture of water vapor and either carbon dioxide or nitrogen are the major gaseous reaction products generated by said gas generating composition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sodium-azide-free gas-generating composition includes an oxidizable inorganic fuel, such as a metal, and an oxidizing agent containing oxygen and a metal. The fuel and the oxidizing agent are selected such that water vapor is produced upon reaction between the inorganic fuel and the oxidizing agent. Although a number of inorganic fuels can be employed, a suitable fuel can be a transition metal, another element such as silicon, boron, aluminum, magnesium, an intermetallic compound, hydrides of these metals and mixtures thereof. Suitable oxidizing agents are selected from basic metal carbonates and basic metal nitrates. The fuel and oxidizing agent are selected such that substantially nontoxic gases are produced such as mixtures of water vapor and either carbon dioxide or nitrogen.
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Citations
51 Claims
- 1. A solid gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable inorganic fuel and an oxidizing agent, wherein said oxidizing agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a basic metal carbonate and a basic metal nitrate, and wherein a mixture of water vapor and either carbon dioxide or nitrogen are the major gaseous reaction products generated by said gas generating composition.
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19. An automobile air bag system comprising:
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a collapsed, inflatable air bag; a gas-generating device connected to the air bag for inflating said air bag, said gas-generating device containing a gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable inorganic fuel and at least one oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of a basic metal carbonate and a basic metal nitrate, said oxidizable inorganic fuel and said oxidizing agent being selected such that a mixture of water vapor and either carbon dioxide or nitrogen are the major gaseous reaction products generated by said gas generating composition; and means for igniting said gas-generating composition. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An automobile air bag system having a hybrid gas-generating system comprising:
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a collapsed, inflatable air bag; a pressure tank having a rupturable opening, said pressure tank containing an inert gas; a gas-generating device for producing hot combustion gases and capable of rupturing the rupturable opening, said gas-generating device being configured in relation to the pressure tank such that hot combustion gases are mixed with and heat the inert gas and wherein said gas-generating device and the pressure tank are connected to the inflatable air bag such that the combustion gases and inert gas are capable of inflating the air bag, said gas-generating device containing a gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable inorganic fuel and at least one oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of a basic metal carbonate and a basic metal nitrate, said oxidizable inorganic fuel and said oxidizing agent being selected such that a mixture of water vapor and either carbon dioxide or nitrogen are the major gaseous reaction products generated by said gas generating composition; and means for igniting the gas-generating composition. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A vehicle containing a supplemental restraint system having an air bag system comprising:
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a collapsed, inflatable air bag, a gas-generating device connected to said air bag for inflating said air bag, said gas-generating device containing a gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable inorganic fuel and at least one oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of a basic metal carbonate and a basic metal nitrate, said oxidizable inorganic fuel and said oxidizing agent being selected such that a mixture of water vapor and either carbon dioxide or nitrogen are the major gaseous reaction products generated by said gas generating composition; and means for igniting said gas-generating composition. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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Specification