An inflatable system which uses a fast-burning propellant material (14) distributed within the inflatable component of the system to generate the gas inflating the system. The invention preferably includes a distributed fast-burning igniter material (14), which may be enhanced with additional gas-generating materials to increase the quantities of gas generated, an optional layer, coating, or sheath (17) of supplemental gas-generating material, an environmentally-sealed sheath (12) to protect the enclosed materials from contamination and to improve the burn rates and efficiencies of the propellant and ignition materials, and an electronic squib (11) used to actuate the igniter material upon a signal from the electronic sensor.

Distributed charge inflator system

A fuse having two juxtaposed coextensive tubular housing layers is provided with a reactive material deposited within the inner tube, which inner tube is elongated or stretched before forming the outer tubular layer In the method of manufacture, the inner tubular member is provided with a reactive material, primarily along its inner surface, thereafter stretched to provide the desired inner tube dimensions with the desired reactive material core load per unit length, the stretched tube is then provided with an outer tubular covering

Laminated fuse and manufacturing process therefor

A gas generator composition, primarily containing perchlorate and cellulose acetate is provided to generate a large amount of gas without forming any substantial amount of harmful carbon monoxide. A metal oxide is additionally incorporated in an amount of more than 5% by weight and not more than 40% by weight. For example, 50 to 87% by weight of potassium perchlorate and 8 to 26% by weight of cellulose acetate are incorporated in the composition. The gas generator composition contains 36% by weight or less of bitetrazole metal hydrate, preferably bitetrazole manganese dihydrate, since it forms no corrosive residue after burning. The composition contains a nonmetallic compound consisting at least of nitrogen and hydrogen and containing at least 11% by weight of nitrogen. As such compound, nitroguanidine, guanidine nitrate, etc. is employed. The compounds preferably contains 10 to 83% by weight of nitrogen. The compound is preferably incorporated in an amount of 10 to 45% by weight. The gas generator composition is molded into a desired form, such as pellet, rod and disc and loaded in the combustion chamber of a gas generator. The composition is ignited by firing an igniter and burned to generate a gas.

Gas generator compositions

The present invention relates to an igniter composition which is capable of being extruded to yield a robust igniter extrudate. The composition is particularly useful in the form of an igniter stick or other selected geometry for use in supplemental safety restraint systems designed for use such as in vehicles, ground or airborne, having such systems.

Supplemental-restraint-system gas generating device with water-soluble polymeric binder

There is provided a gas generating propellant mix (24) consisting essentially of guanidine nitrate, an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of potassium perchlorate and ammonium perchlorate, a flow enhancer and a binder. When ignited, the propellant mix generates nitrogen, carbon dioxide and steam at an elevated temperature, typically in excess of 800 °C. The propellant mix is particularly useful in augmented gas generators to augment the evolution of oxygen from a secondary source such as potassium chlorate. The propellant mix is free of highly toxic compounds and has particular application in automotive airbags.

Gas generating propellant

An ignition device in the form of a linear member which has an internal linear propagation characteristic of a detonation, but a radial heat and gas evolution characteristic of a very fast deflagrating pyrotechnic material not accompanied by a shock or detonation wave. The device uses a central core containing an encapsulated explosive with a surrounding layer, or discrete layers, of a metal-clad pyrotechnic material that is significantly characterized by a class of compounds that are specific simple decahydrodecaborate salts containing the common anion B10 H10 -2. The outer cladding materials themselves do not functionally ensure a radial deflagration; rather the specific pyrotechnic materials employed ensure a radial deflagration. There are taught specific relationships for components, and a necessary radial compaction.

High speed igniter device

This invention teaches preparation of individual and uncoated propellant grains by incorporating a coating or integral layer of ignition compound, specifically simple salts of decahydrodecaboric acid and coprecipitates of these salts with an oxidizer. The resulting propellant grains so prepared exhibit substantially improved ignition capability, virtually independent of ambient conditioning temperature conditions at the time of use.

Ignition enhancing propellant coatings

This invention teaches a method and the resultant product of preparing consolidated propellant charges that incorporate an integral ignition compound, specifically certain simple salts of decahydrodecaboric acid and coprecipitates of these salts with an oxidizer. The charges so prepared exhibit substantially improved ignition and breakup compared to untreated charges, especially at low temperature, because each of the individual consolidated grains are surrounded by the salts taught herein.

Consolidated charges incorporating integral ignition compounds

New propellant compositions characterized by the addition of certain simple salts and double salts, both metallic and non-metallic, having the B10 H10 -2 anion in common, are taught herein to function as a class of burn rate catalysts, and not as fuels, when combined with a category of propellants known as nitrocellulose base propellants. Additionally, unique forms of the simple salts, created by coprecipitation of the simple salt with an oxidizer, constitute a third class of burn rate enhancers herein.

Active binder propellants incorporating burning rate catalysts

A class of high burning propellants, useful as gun or rocket propellants, gas generators or specialized application where a very high burning rate is required, characterized by replacing the normally found oxidizer used in various propellants with certain coprecipitated salts of decahydrodecaboric acid and certain oxidizing agents. The resultant propellants employ such a coprecipitate as the major faction of the solids loading, and optionally may further include certain simple decahydrodecaborate salts for further enhancement of the burning rates in the thusly formulated and composed propellants.

Terrence P. Goddard

Papers

High speed igniter device

Ignition enhancing propellant coatings

Consolidated charges incorporating integral ignition compounds

Active binder propellants incorporating burning rate catalysts

High burning rate propellants with coprecipitated salts of decahydrodecaboric acid