Autoignition for gas generators
AssigneeBreed Automotive Technology, Inc.
InventorsJ B Canterberry, Kalpesh J. Patel, Lennox Lange
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Abstract
When a vehicle is involved in a fire, the airbag inflator is subjected to extreme temperatures, which may lead to the housing of the inflator rupturing. The use of autoignition material will minimize the risk of the housing rupturing during a fire by causing the combustion of the gas generant to occur at a desired safe temperature. According to the present invention, the autoignition material contains nitrocellulose material and an inert plasticizer. The plasticizer creates an autoignition material that is thermally stable and that does not need to undergo preassembly or packaging before being placed in a gas inflator.
Claims6
An autoignition composition for igniting a gas generant in an inflator consisting essentially of a mixture of
- a. about 70-95% by weight of nitrocellulose and
- b. about 5-30% by weight of inert plasticizer, wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of acetyl triethyl citrate, dioctyl phthlate and dibutyl phthlate, wherein the autoignition composition autoignites between 175 and 195° C., has a digressive burning characteristic, and is a monolithic grain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.