Grains of gas generating material and process for forming the grains
AssigneeTRW Inc.
InventorPaul S. Headley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for forming a grain (10) of gas generating material includes the step of forming pieces (86) of gas generating material, and further includes the step of forming the grain (10) as a compacted agglomeration of the pieces (86) of gas generating material. The pieces (86) of gas generating material are formed by pressing a particle mixture (60) under a first pressure. The grain (10) is formed by pressing the pieces (86) together under a second pressure which is less than the first pressure.
Claims16
A process for forming a grain of gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said process comprising:
- forming separate pieces of gas generating material in steps including the step of pressing quantities of a particle mixture under a first pressure, said particle mixture including the ingredients of the gas generating material;
- and
- forming the grain of gas generating material as a compacted agglomeration of said pieces of gas generating material by pressing said pieces together under a second pressure which is less than said first pressure.
A process for forming a grain of gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said process comprising:
- pressing loose quantities of a particle mixture under a first pressure, said particle mixture including the ingredients of the gas generating material, said first pressure compacting said loose quantities of particle mixture into separate pieces of gas generating material;
- and
- pressing a loose quantity of said separate pieces together under a second pressure which is less than said first pressure, said second pressure compacting said loose quantity of separate pieces into the grain of gas generating material.
A process for forming a grain of gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said process comprising:
- forming separate pieces of gas generating material in steps including the step of pressing quantities of a particle mixture under a first pressure, said particle mixture including the ingredients of the gas generating material;
- sorting said separate pieces of gas generating material into first and second batches of pieces, said first batch of pieces having sizes that are within a predetermined range of sizes, said second batch of pieces having sizes that are not within said predetermined range of sizes;
- pressing a plurality of pieces taken from said first batch together under a second pressure to form the grain of gas generating material as a forcefully compacted agglomeration of said pieces taken from said first batch, said second pressure being less than said first pressure;
- recycling said pieces in said second batch by forming an additional quantity of said separate pieces of gas generating material from said pieces in said second batch;
- and
- repeating said sorting and pressing steps with said additional quantity of said separate pieces of gas generating material.
A grain of gas generating material which, when ignited, generates gas for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said grain comprising:
- compacted means for defining a plurality of generally distinct grain parts having sizes substantially within a predetermined range of sizes, each of said grain parts comprising a forcefully compacted agglomeration of particles, said particles together including the ingredients of said gas generating material;
- said compacted means defining said grain of gas generating material as a less forcefully compacted agglomeration of said grain parts and enabling said grain parts to disperse as separate pieces having sizes substantially within said predetermined range of sizes when said grain is ignited.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.