Borohydride fuels in gas generant compositions
AssigneeThiokol Corporation
InventorsDan W. Doll, Ingvar A. Wallace, II, Gary K. Lund, Jerald C. Hinshaw, Reed J. Blau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sodium-azide-free gas-generating composition includes an oxidizable borohydride fuel and an oxidizing agent containing oxygen and a metal. The fuel and the oxidizing agent are selected such that water vapor is produced upon reaction between the borohydride fuel and the oxidizing agent. Suitable oxidizing agents contain a metal and oxygen and are selected from a metal oxide, a metal oxide hydrate, a metal oxide hydroxide, a metal hydrous oxide, a metal hydroxide, or mixtures thereof. The fuel and oxidizing agent are selected such that water vapor is the major gaseous combustion product.
Claims32
A solid gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable borohydride fuel and an oxidizing agent, wherein said oxidizing agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal oxide hydrate, a metal oxide hydroxide, a metal hydrous oxide, a metal hydroxide, or mixtures thereof, and wherein water vapor is the major gaseous reaction product generated by reaction between said oxidizable borohydride fuel and said oxidizing agent.
An automobile air bag system comprising:
- a collapsed, inflatable air bag;
- a gas-generating device connected to the air bag for inflating said air bag, said gas-generating device containing a gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable borohydride fuel and an oxidizing agent, wherein said oxidizing agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal oxide hydrate, a metal oxide hydroxide, a metal hydrous oxide, a metal hydroxide, or mixtures thereof, and wherein water vapor is the major gaseous product generated by said solid gas-generating composition;
- wherein said oxidizing agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3 times the stoichiometric amount of oxidizing agent necessary to completely oxidize the borohydride present;
- and
- means for igniting said gas-generating composition.
An automobile air bag system having a hybrid gas-generating system comprising:
- a collapsed, inflatable air bag;
- a pressure tank having a rupturable opening, said pressure tank containing an inert gas;
- a gas-generating device for producing hot combustion gases and capable of rupturing the rupturable opening, said gas-generating device being configured in relation to the pressure tank such that hot combustion gases are mixed with and heat the inert gas and wherein said gas-generating device and the pressure tank are connected to the inflatable air bag such that the combustion gases and inert gas are capable of inflating the air bag, said gas-generating device containing a gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable borohydride fuel and an oxidizing agent, wherein said oxidizing agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal oxide hydrate, a metal oxide hydroxide, a metal hydrous oxide, a metal hydroxide, or mixtures thereof, and wherein water vapor is the major gaseous product generated by said solid gas-generating composition;
- wherein said oxidizing agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3 times the stoichiometric amount of oxidizing agent necessary to completely oxidize the borohydride present;
- and
- means for igniting the gas-generating composition.
A vehicle containing a supplemental restraint system having an air bag system comprising:
- a collapsed, inflatable air bag,
- a gas-generating device connected to said air bag for inflating said air bag, said gas-generating device containing a gas-generating composition comprising an oxidizable borohydride fuel and an oxidizing agent, wherein said oxidizing agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal oxide hydrate, a metal oxide hydroxide, a metal hydrous oxide, a metal hydroxide, or mixtures thereof, and wherein water vapor is the major gaseous product generated by said solid gas-generating composition;
- wherein said oxidizing agent is present in an amount from about 0.5 to about 3 times the stoichiometric amount of oxidizing agent necessary to completely oxidize the borohydride present;
- and
- means for igniting said gas-generating composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.