# US 5,345,873 A · Gas bag inflator containing inhibited generant

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- Number: US 5,345,873 A
- Document ID: US5345873A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/934,609
- Filed: 1992-08-24
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1992-08-24
- Assignees: Morton International, Inc.
- Inventors: Donald R. Lauritzen; Bryan P. Crowell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345873A

## CPC

- B60R 21/2644: {using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An inflator, preferably for an automotive gas bag restraint system, containing a plurality of gas generant bodies which have a relatively inert burn inhibitor coating material thereon. The inhibitor material is preferably a plastic resin. The inhibitor material may also be alumina, titania, silica or a silicate compound,e.g. bentonite. The inhibitors are preferably applied to the generant bodies as a spray. The gas generant may be an azide or a non-azide, preferably an azide and most preferably sodium azide. The inhibited bodies may be any shape, preferably washer-shaped discs in side by side array.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gas bag inflator comprising:
a combustion chamber having a gas outlet;
a plurality of gas generant bodies disposed within said chamber, each of said generant bodies being coated with a relatively inert burn inhibitor material which substantially covers only one face and the peripheral walls thereof;
means for igniting the inhibited bodies; and
means for routing gas generated from said chamber through the gas outlet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 wherein the inhibitor material comprises a plastic resin.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 wherein the inhibitor coating is applied to the generant bodies as a spray.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 wherein each of the inhibited bodies are wafer-shaped and arranged in side by side relationship.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A gas bag inflator according to claim 4 wherein the inhibited wafers are individually separated by spacer means.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A gas bag inflator according to claim 4 wherein the wafers are washer-shaped and the inhibitor coating substantially covers the face of each wafer and the inner and outer peripheral walls.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 wherein the gas generant body comprises an azide-based composition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A gas bag inflator according to claim 7 wherein the azide is sodium azide.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A gas bag inflator according to claim 1 including a gas bag deployment means connected to the gas outlet.

### Claim 10

A method of inflating a gas bag comprising igniting a plurality of gas generant bodies disposed within a combustion chamber, each body having a relatively inert burn inhibitor material coating which substantially covers only one face and the peripheral walls thereof, and using the gas generated to inflate the gas bag.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 10 wherein the inhibitor material comprises a plastic resin.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 10 wherein the inhibitor coating is applied to each generant body as a spray.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 10 wherein the inhibited body is wafer-shaped.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 10 wherein each gas generant body comprises an azide-based composition.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 14 wherein the azide is sodium azide.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

A method of inflating a gas bag according to claim 13 wherein the generant wafers are washer-shaped and the inhibitor coating substantially covers the face of each wafer and the inner and outer peripheral walls.