Thermite compositions for use as gas generants
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 metal hydroxide, a metal hydrous oxide, a metal oxide hydrate, a metal oxide hydroxide and mixtures thereof, and water vapor is the major gaseous reaction product generated by said gas-generating composition wherein said oxidizing agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3 times the stoichiometric amount of oxidizing agent necessary to completely oxidize the fuel present.
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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. The oxidizing agent comprises a metal hydroxide, a metal hydrous oxide, a metal oxide hydrate, a metal oxide hydroxide, or mixtures thereof. The fuel and oxidizing agent are selected such that essentially no gases other than water vapor are produced.
200 Citations
44 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 metal hydroxide, a metal hydrous oxide, a metal oxide hydrate, a metal oxide hydroxide and mixtures thereof, and water vapor is the major gaseous reaction product generated by said gas-generating composition wherein said oxidizing agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3 times the stoichiometric amount of oxidizing agent necessary to completely oxidize the fuel present.
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14. An automobile 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 metal hydroxide, metal hydrous oxide, metal oxide hydrate, metal oxide hydroxide and mixtures thereof, said oxidizable inorganic fuel and said oxidizing agent being selected such that water vapor is a major gaseous reaction product generated by said gas-generating composition wherein said oxidizing agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3 times the stoichiometric amount of oxidizing agent necessary to completely oxidize the fuel present; and means for igniting said gas-generating composition. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An automobile air bag system having a hybrid gas-generating 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; a pressure tank having a rupturable opening, said pressure tank containing an inert gas; said gas-generating device for producing hot combustion gases and capable of rupturing said rupturable opening, said gas-generating device being configured in relation to said pressure tank such that hot combustion gases are mixed with and heat said inert gas, 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 metal hydroxide, metal hydrous oxide, metal oxide hydrate, metal oxide hydroxide and mixtures thereof, said oxidizable inorganic fuel and oxidizing agent being selected such that water vapor is a major gaseous product generated by said gas-generating composition wherein said oxidizing agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3 times the stoichiometric amount of oxidizing agent necessary to completely oxidize the fuel present; and means for igniting said gas-generating composition. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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42. A solid gas-generating composition comprising a mixture containing elemental boron and Cu(OH)2, wherein water vapor is the major gaseous reaction product generated by the reaction between said elemental boron and said Cu(OH)2.
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43. 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 metal hydroxide, metal hydrous oxide, metal oxide hydrate, metal oxide hydroxide and mixtures thereof, said oxidizable inorganic fuel and said oxidizing agent being selected such that water vapor is a major gaseous reaction product generated by a said gas-generating composition wherein said oxidizing agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3 times the stoichiometric amount of oxidizing agent necessary to completely oxidize the fuel present; and means for igniting said gas-generating composition.
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44. A vehicle containing a supplemental restraint system comprising an air bag system containing:
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a hybrid gas generating system containing; a collapsed, inflatable air bag, a gas generating device connected to said air bag, a pressure tank having a rupturable opening, said pressure tank containing an inert gas, said gas generating device capable of producing hot combustion gases and for rupturing said rupturable opening, said gas-generating device being configured in relation to said pressure tank such that hot combustion gases are mixed with and heat said inert gas, said gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable inorganic fuel and at least one oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of metal hydroxide, metal hydrous oxide, metal oxide hydrate, metal oxide hydroxide and mixtures thereof, said oxidizable inorganic fuel and oxidizing agent being selected such that water vapor is a major gaseous reaction product generated by said gas-generating composition wherein said oxidizing agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3 times the stoichiometric amount of oxidizing agent necessary to completely oxidize the fuel present; and means for igniting said gas-generating composition.
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Specification