Temperature fuse with lower detonation point

• US 6,453,816 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
• Inventors: Bley, Ulrich, Weuter, Waldemar, Schmittner, Dagmar, Redecker, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US09/835,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 102/288, 102/289, 149/22, 149/38, 149/36
• US Class Current: 102/288
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 25/34 the compound being a nitrated acyclic, alicyclic or heterocyclic amine
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 43/00 Compositions characterised by explosive or thermic constituents not provided for in groups C06B25/00 - C06B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 9/00 Chemical contact igniters; Chemical lighters

Abstract

A temperature fuse for gas-generating mixtures consists of substances or mixtures of substances that have lower detonation points or decomposition points than the gas-generating mixture. In particular, the temperature fuse contains substances or mixtures of substances that thermally decompose exothermically in a narrowly restricted temperature range. The evolution of heat that results ignites the gas-generating mixture.

Claims

1. A composition for producing gas in a gas generator, consisting of

a) a gas-generating mixture and

b) substances or mixtures of substances which have lower detonation points or decomposition points than the gas generating mixture and thermally decompose exothermically in a narrowly limited temperature range, the evolution of heat igniting the gas-generating mixture, said substance or substances being hereinafter called the temperature fuse,

characterized in that the temperature fuse contains a compound selected from the group consisting of iron oxide and ferrocene, and a compound selected from the group consisting of oxalates, peroxodisulfates (persulfates), permanganates, nitrides, perborates, bismuthates, formates, nitrates, sulfamates, bromates or peroxides.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the a compound selected from the group consisting of oxalates, peroxodisulfates (persulfates), permanganates, nitrides, perborates, bismuthates, formates, nitrates, sulfamates, bromates or peroxides is a compound selected from the group consisting of iron(II) oxalate dihydrate with a sharp decomposition point starting at 190°

C., ammonium iron- (III)oxalate, the double salt of ammonium oxalate, iron oxalate with decomposition temperatures of 160-170°

C., ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, sodium permanganate, potassium permanganate, ammonium formate, calcium formate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfamate, iron nitride, sodium bismutate, potassium bromate, zinc peroxide and combinations thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse further comprises at least one oxidizable component.

4. The composition as claimed in claim 3, wherein the oxidizable component is an explosive chosen from explosives with low detonation or decomposition points.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the explosive is selected from the group consisting of calcium-bistetrazole-amine, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one (NTO), 5-aminotetrazole nitrate, nitroguanidine (NIGU) and bistetrazole amine.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse further contains at least one fuel.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse further contains at least one reducing agent.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fuel is at least one explosive.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the explosive is selected from the group consisting of calcium-bistetrazole-amine, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one (NTO), 5-aminotetrazole, nitrate, nitroguanidine (NIGU) and bistetrazole amine.

10. The composition of claim 7, wherein the reducing agent is at least one metal powder.

11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the metal powder is titanium powder.

12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse contains at least one explosive selected from the group consisting of calcium-bistetrazole-amine, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-5-one (NTO), 5-aminotetrazole nitrate, nitroguanidine (NIGU) and bistetrazole amine and at least one oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of zinc peroxide, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, strontium nitrate, potassium perchlorate and mixtures thereof.

13. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse additionally contains as the reducing agent at least one metal powder.

14. The composition as claimed in claim 12, wherein the temperature fuse additionally contains as the reducing agent titanium powder.

15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse is present in a homogeneous mixture with the gas generating mixture.

16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse is present separately from the gas generating mixture.

17. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse is integrated in the ignition means for the gas generating mixture.

18. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse comprises 0.1 to 20% by weight of the gas generating mixture.

19. The composition of claim 1, wherein the temperature fuse comprises 0.1 to 5% by weight of the gas generating mixture.

20. A motor vehicle safety system including a gas generator, wherein the gas generator includes a composition of claim 1.

21. A pressure or safety element including a gas generator, wherein the gas generator includes a composition of claim 1.