Process and apparatus for inflating airbags and remediating toxic waste gases
First Claim
1. An explosive airbag inflator comprising a pyrotechnic, to produce a generated gas comprising toxic compounds, and a zeolite molecular sieve having been pre-loaded with a stored gas, wherein the zeolite molecular sieve is disposed in a zeolite layer adjacent to the pyrotechnic and wherein upon detonation of said airbag inflator, a sufficient amount of zeolite molecular sieve is present to reduce the temperature of the generated gas and to scavenge at least a portion of said toxic compounds.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Molecular sieve zeolites are incorporated in the inflator device to assist in the inflation of airbags in passenger vehicles. The pre-loading of the molecular sieve zeolites with gases such as air or nitrogen or carbon dioxide provides for rapid airbag inflation and following inflation, additionally provides the remediation of at least a portion of the toxic waste gases generated by the exploding inflator device. Molecular sieve zeolites, particularly zeolites X, having been exchanged with lithium or calcium, provide high-capacity gas storage and enhanced toxic waste gas adsorption. The use of molecular sieve zeolites reduces risk of injury to occupants of vehicles from exposure to hot, toxic waste gases following airbag deployment.
19 Citations
13 Claims
- 1. An explosive airbag inflator comprising a pyrotechnic, to produce a generated gas comprising toxic compounds, and a zeolite molecular sieve having been pre-loaded with a stored gas, wherein the zeolite molecular sieve is disposed in a zeolite layer adjacent to the pyrotechnic and wherein upon detonation of said airbag inflator, a sufficient amount of zeolite molecular sieve is present to reduce the temperature of the generated gas and to scavenge at least a portion of said toxic compounds.
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12. A process for reducing the temperature of an inflating airbag, said process comprising:
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a) detonating an airbag inflator comprising a pyrotechnic adjacent to a zeolite molecular sieve, said molecular sieve being pre-loaded with a stored gas comprising air or carbon dioxide, said pyrotechnic providing a generated gas comprising toxic compounds to inflate the inflating airbag;
b) desorbing and expanding the stored gas from the zeolite molecular sieve to cool the generated gas and fluidizing at least a portion of the zeolite molecular sieve; and
c) adsorbing at least a portion of the toxic compounds on the zeolite molecular sieve.
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13. An explosive airbag inflator apparatus comprising:
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a cup having a hollow interior and an open end;
a layer of pyrotechnic disposed in said hollow interior;
a layer of zeolite molecular sieve pre-loaded with nitrogen or carbon dioxide disposed on said layer of pyrotechnic; and
,a membrane or rupture disk disposed over said layer of zeolite molecular sieve.
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Specification