Hybrid inflator and related propellants

• US 5,627,337 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: OEA Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Brian K., Baglini, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US08/584,439
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/742, 280/736, 102/288, 102/289, 102/290, 102/530
• US Class Current: 102/290
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 25/34 the compound being a nitrated acyclic, alicyclic or heterocyclic amine
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/10 the organic component containing a resin
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/00 Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets explosive compositions containing an oxidizer, fuels for rocket engines intended for reaction with an oxidant other than air C06B
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/10 by reaction of solids with liquids

Abstract

A hybrid inflator for an automotive inflatable safety system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mixture of an inert gas (e.g., argon) and oxygen are contained within the inflator housing and a hybrid propellant (i.e., ballistic properties similar to double-base and long-term stability similar to LOVA) is included in the gas generator.

Claims

1. A method for inflating an air/safety bag of an automotive inflatable safety system comprising an inflator housing, a stored gas within said housing, a gas generator interconnected with said housing, and a propellant contained within said housing, comprising the steps of:

a) igniting said propellant, said propellant being a solid and comprising a secondary explosive and a binder system, wherein said propellant has a burn rate ranging from about 0.1 inches per second (0.25 cm/sec) to about 1 inch per second (5.0 cm/sec) at 4,000 psi (27.6 MPa), a combustion temperature ranging from about 2,000°

K. to about 3,800°

K, and has long-term thermal stability;

b) combusting said propellant to form combustion gases comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen;

c) mixing said combustion gases with said stored gas within said system, said stored gas consisting essentially of inert gas and oxygen; and

d) generating heat and converting at least some of said carbon monoxide and hydrogen into carbon dioxide and water during said mixing step.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

substantially all of said carbon monoxide and hydrogen are converted to carbon dioxide and water.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said combusting step comprises combusting at a temperature ranging from about 2,000°

K. to about 3,800°

K.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said secondary explosive is selected from the group consisting of RDX (hexahydrotrinitrotriazine), HMX (cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine), PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate), and TAGN (triaminoguanidine nitrate).

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said binder system comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, binders, stabilizers and combinations thereof.