Inflator for use with gas generant compositions containing guanidines

• US 6,123,359 A
• Filed: 07/25/1998
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Grzelczyk, Cezary, Cabrera, Raul
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Edward A.
• Application Number:
  US09/122,213
• Time in Patent Office: 794 Days
• Field of Search: 280/741, 280/740, 149/36, 149/62, 149/76
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/10 Filter screens essentially made of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inflator for a vehicle airbag employing non-azide gas generants. The invention also relates to a new filter system for airbag inflators. The filter is a metal ribbon coiled within the inflator house. The metal ribbon comprises at least one segment of apertures and a segment of expanded metal.

Claims

1. An inflator for use in inflating an occupant restraint system in response to a vehicle collision signal comprising:

(a) housing means defining at least one discharge port for directing a gaseous flow from said housing means;

(b) gas generating means disposed within said housing means;

(c) an ignition unit; and

(d) a filter means wherein said filter means is disposed between said discharge port and said gas generating means;

said filter means comprises a metallic ribbon with at least one segment of its length having apertures therethrough and at least one segment of its length comprising expanded metal configured into a coil.

2. The inflator according to claim 1 wherein said gas generating means is a gas generant composition comprising:

a fuel component which is used at a level between 45 and 70 weight %, which comprises a mixture of at least two fuels selected from the group consisting of guanidine nitrate (GN), nitroguanidine (NQ), triaminoguanidine nitrate (TAGN), diaminoguanidine nitrate (DAGN) and monoguanidine nitrate (MGN); and

an oxidizer component which is used at a level of between 25 and 50 weight %, which comprises a mixture of alkali metal nitrates, alkaline earth metal nitrates, and ammonium perchlorate.

3. The inflator according to claim 2 wherein said catalyst is selected from copper chromite, iron oxide and mixtures thereof.

4. The inflator according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) said fuel component comprises a mixture of NQ and GN;

(b) said oxidizer component comprises a mixture of strontium nitrate (SN), ammonium perchlorate (AP) and sodium nitrate (NaN); and

(c) said catalyst is copper chromite (CuCr).

5. The inflator according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) said NQ is at a concentration of 10-20 weight % and said GN is at a concentration of 35-50 weight %;

(b) said SN is at a concentration of 5-15 weight %;

(c) said AP is at a concentration of 15-25 weight %;

said NaN is at a concentration of 5-25 weight %; and

(d) said copper chromite is at a concentration of 0.1-0.5 weight %.

6. The inflator according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) said NQ is at a concentration of 14-17 weight % and said GN is at a concentration of 40-43 weight %;

(b) said SN is at a concentration of 7-10 weight %;

(c) said AP is at a concentration of 21-24 weight %;

(d) and said NaN is at a concentration of 10-13 weight %; and

(e) said CuCr is at a concentration of 0.2-0.3 weight %.

7. The inflator according to claim 2 wherein said gas generant composition is prepared by the steps comprising:

(a) dry blending said fuel component with said oxidizer component until a homogenous blend is achieved;

(b) adding said catalyst to said homogenous blend and blending until a second homogenous blend is achieved; and

(d) pelletizing said second homogenous blend to produce pellets of from 5-500 mgs.

8. The inflator according to claim 1 wherein said metallic ribbon comprises a first apertured segment wherein said apertures are at the edges of said ribbon, and a second apertured segment wherein said apertures are centrally located.