US5386775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Azide-free gas generant compositions and processes
Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-22
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Granted: 1995-02-07
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Expires: 2013-06-22
Abstract
Abstract Composition and process for inflating an automobile or aircraft occupant safety restraint bag which reduces the toxicity of the gases produced by gas generants. A relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel is combined with a burn rate accelerator, such as an alkali metal salt, to form an azide-free gas generant composition which lowers the combustion temperature of the gas generants while also maintaining a rapid burn rate, thereby reducing toxicity of the resultant gases.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R. Poole
- 👤 Patrick C. Kwong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:42
CPC Classifications
C; C06; C06D; C06D5/00; C06D5/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
An azide-free gas generating composition that forms gases on combustion useful for inflating an automobile or aircraft safety restraint device comprising at least one relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel and at least one burn rate accelerator comprising alkali metal salts of organic acids.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
An azide-free gas generating composition that forms gases on combustion useful for inflating an automobile or aircraft safety restraint device comprising at least one relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel and at least one burn rate accelerator comprising alkali metal salts of organic acids.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The gas generant composition of claim 1 wherein said relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel is selected from the group consisting of guanidine nitrate, oxamide, ammonium oxalate, aminoguanidine bicarbonate, glycine nitrate, hydrazodicarbonamide or azodicarbonamide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The gas generant composition of claim 1 wherein said organic acid is selected from the group consisting of tetrazoles, bitetrazoles or triazoles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The gas generant composition of claim 1 wherein said organic acid is selected from the group consisting of 5-aminotetrazole, 5-nitrotetrazole, 5-nitroaminotetrazole or bitetrazole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The gas generant composition of claim 1 further comprising a slag forming material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The gas generant composition of claim 1 further comprising an oxidizer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gas generant composition of claim 6 wherein said oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of inorganic nitrates, nitrites and chlorates or perchlorates of alkali or alkaline earth metals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The gas generant composition of claim 6 wherein the ratio of oxidizer to fuel is selected to provide a small excess of oxygen in the combustion products, with an oxygen content less than approximately 5% in the combustion products.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The gas generant composition of claim 8 wherein said ratio is such that the amount of oxygen allowed in the combustion products is less than approximately 2% of the combustion products.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The gas generant composition of claim 5 wherein the slag forming material is selected from the group consisting of clays, talcs, silica, aluminum oxide, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate or ferrous silicate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gas generant composition of claim 1 further comprising a metal salt selected from the group consisting of zinc salts or alkaline earth metal salts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The gas generant composition of claim 6 further comprising a slag forming material.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of reducing or eliminating toxic nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide upon combustion of a gas generant composition, while still maintaining a relatively high burn rate during combustion comprising the step of combining a relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel with a burn rate accelerator comprising an alkali metal salt of an organic acid.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of reducing or eliminating toxic nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide upon combustion of a gas generant composition, while still maintaining a relatively high burn rate during combustion comprising the step of combining a relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel with a burn rate accelerator comprising an alkali metal salt of an organic acid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel is selected from the group consisting of guanidine nitrate, oxamide, ammonium oxalate, aminoguanidine bicarbonate, glycine nitrate, hydrazodicarbonamide and azodicarbonamide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said organic acid is selected from the group consisting of tetrazoles, bitetrazoles or triazoles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said organic acid is selected from the group consisting of 5-aminotetrazole, 5-nitrotetrazole, 5-nitroaminotetrazole and bitetrazole.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of adding an oxidizer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of adding a slag forming material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of adding a metal salt selected from the group consisting of zinc salts or alkaline earth metal salts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of adding a slag forming material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
96 words
An azide-free gas generating composition that forms gases on combustion useful for inflating a vehicle safety restraint device comprising at least one relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel and at least one burn rate accelerator comprising alkali metal salts of organic acids, wherein said at least one relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel reduces levels of toxic oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide upon combustion by reducing combustion temperatures for said azide-free gas generating composition, and wherein said at least one burn rate accelerator maintains a relatively high burn rate for said azide-free gas generating composition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
An azide-free gas generating composition that forms gases on combustion useful for inflating a vehicle safety restraint device comprising at least one relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel and at least one burn rate accelerator comprising alkali metal salts of organic acids, wherein said at least one relatively low energy nitrogen containing fuel reduces levels of toxic oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide upon combustion by reducing combustion temperatures for said azide-free gas generating composition, and wherein said at least one burn rate accelerator maintains a relatively high burn rate for said azide-free gas generating composition.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-06 | 1998-08-08 | 1999-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-06 | 2002-08-08 | 2003-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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