Talley Defense Systems, Inc.

Christopher P Ludwig

Gregory D Knowlton

Daniel V Haun

Thomas M Deppert

Robert S Willhelm

Gregory J Scaven

Martin J Muir

Christian Salafia

Glade L Hansen

John Bednarz

James Dupont

Dan McFadden

A low-solids gas generating composition, which is a mixture of a fuel selected for the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, a combination of ammonium nitrate with potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, or mixtures thereof, such that the combination is a solid solution, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof. The combination of ammonium nitrate with other salts in solid solution is intended to phase stabilize the ammonium nitrate. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance. Useful alkali metal salts include lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and mixtures thereof. The preferred oxidizers for the gas generating composition of the invention are ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof. In addition, the gas generating composition may include an energizing agent, such as RDX or HMX. The gas generating composition of the invention may further comprise sub-micron fumed silica to reduce moisture contamination and serve as a processing and powder flow aid and/or a binder, and may be in the form of pressed pellets, grains, or granules.

Gas generating compositions

The present invention relates to a low temperature autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. The low temperature autoignition compositions of the invention include a mixture of an oxidizer and a powdered metal, wherein the oxidizer includes silver nitrate or a comelt or mixture comprising silver nitrate and at least one of an alkali metal nitrate, an alkaline earth metal nitrate, a complex salt nitrate, a dried, hydrated nitrate, an alkali metal chlorate, an alkali metal perchlorate, an alkaline earth metal chlorate, an alkaline earth metal perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, silver nitrite, a complex salt nitrite, a solid organic nitrate, a solid organic nitrite, or a solid organic amine, and where the metal fuel and oxidizer are present in amounts sufficient to provide an autoignition composition having an autoignition temperature of no more than about 232&deg; C. The present invention also relates to a method for initiating a gas generator or pyrotechnic composition in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. In the method of the invention, the gas generator or pyrotechnic composition is placed in thermal contact with a low temperature autoignition composition of the invention.

Low temperature autoignition composition

A low-solids gas generating composition and a method of producing a gas. The gas is produced by combusting a mixture of a fuel selected from the group consisting of guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine, cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, 5 amino-tetrazole, 5 nitro-uracil, guanidine salt of 5 nitro-uracil, and mixtures thereof, an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, strontium nitrate, basic copper nitrate, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof, and a cupric oxalate hemi-hydrate coolant. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance, and the low-solids gas generating composition produces no more than about 0.082 cubic centimeters of solids per gram of gas generating composition on combustion.

Gas generant composition with coolant

A low-solids gas generating composition and a method of generating a gas with low solids by preparing and combusting the low-solids gas generating composition. The compositions of the invention include a mixture of a basic copper nitrate oxidizer and a fuel selected for the group consisting of 5-nitro-uracil, guanidine 5-nitro-uracil salt, ammonium 5-nitro-uracil salt, aminoguanidine 5-nitro-uracil salt, hydrazine 5-nitro-uracil salt, triamino 5-nitro-uracil salt, guanidine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, ammonium 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, hydrazine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, aminoguanidine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, triaminoguanidine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, and mixtures thereof, wherein the oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance, and produces no more than about 0.06 cubic centimeters of solids per gram of gas generating composition on combustion. The compositions of the invention may further include at least one of cupric oxalate hemi-hydrate, sub-micron fumed silica, and graphite.

Low solids gas generant having a low flame temperature

A non-hybrid pyrotechnic filterless inflator, i.e., gas generator, for an automotive passive restraint air bag having a generally discoidally-shaped pressure vessel having a diameter that preferably is greater than or about equal to its height formed of a cup-shaped closure cap and a base member and having at least one exhaust nozzle for directing gaseous products out of the inflator and into the air bag. The pressure vessel contains two separated and independently initiated initiator assemblies. By initiating either one or both initiator assemblies, the inflator can generate a modulated gas output between a first minimum output level and a second maximum output level in response to passenger and driver conditions.

Dual stage inflator

A pyrotechnic material comprising at least one fuel and an oxidizer of ceric ammonium nitrate or a mixture of ceric ammonium nitrate and one or more other oxidizers, and, optionally, sub-micron (i.e., having an average particle size of less than about 1 &mgr;m) fumed silica for use as a low-solids gas generating composition. When the oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance, the pyrotechnic material provides a low solids gas generant less than about 30 percent solids on combustion, and may be formed as pressed pellets, grains, or granules for use in automotive passive restraint systems.

The present invention relates to a low temperature autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. The low temperature autoignition compositions of the invention include a mixture of an oxidizer and a powdered metal, wherein the oxidizer includes a comelt or mixture comprising ammonium nitrate and at least one of an alkali metal nitrate, an alkaline earth metal nitrate, a complex salt nitrate, a dried, hydrated nitrate, an alkali metal chlorate, an alkali metal perchlorate, an alkaline earth metal chlorate, an alkaline earth metal perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, silver nitrite, a complex salt nitrite, a solid organic nitrate, a solid organic nitrite, or a solid organic amine, and where the metal fuel and oxidizer are present in amounts sufficient to provide an autoignition composition having an autoignition temperature of no more than about 232&deg; C. The present invention also relates to a method for initiating a gas generating composition or pyrotechnic composition in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. In the method of the invention, the gas generating composition or pyrotechnic composition is placed in thermal contact with a low temperature autoignition composition of the invention.

Method of safely initiating combustion of a gas generant composition using an autoignition composition

The present invention relates to a low temperature autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. The low temperature autoignition compositions of the invention include a mixture of an oxidizer and a powdered metal, wherein the oxidizer includes silver nitrate or a comelt or mixture comprising silver nitrate and at least one of an alkali metal nitrate, an alkaline earth metal nitrate, a complex salt nitrate, a dried, hydrated nitrate, an alkali metal chlorate, an alkali metal perchlorate, an alkaline earth metal chlorate, an alkaline earth metal perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, silver nitrite, a complex salt nitrite, a solid organic nitrate, a solid organic nitrite, or a solid organic amine, and where the metal fuel and oxidizer are present in amounts sufficient to provide an autoignition composition having an autoignition temperature of no more than about 232.degree. C. The present invention also relates to a method for initiating a gas generator or pyrotechnic composition in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. In the method of the invention, the gas generator or pyrotechnic composition is placed in thermal contact with a low temperature autoignition composition of the invention.

Method of safety initiating combustion of a gas generant composition

The present invention relates to an autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. The autoignition compositions of the invention include a mixture of an oxidizer composition and a powdered metal, wherein the oxidizer composition includes at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal nitrate, a complex salt nitrate, such as Ce(NH.sub.4).sub.2 (NO.sub.3).sub.6 or ZrO(NO.sub.3).sub.2, a dried, hydrated nitrate, such as Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2.4H.sub.2 O or Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2.2.5 H.sub.2 O, silver nitrate, an alkali or alkaline earth chlorate, an alkali or alkaline earth metal perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, a nitrite of sodium, potassium, or silver, or a solid organic nitrate, nitrite, or amine, such as guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine and 5-aminotetrazole, respectively. The present invention also relates to a method for initiating a gas generator or pyrotechnic composition in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. In the method of the invention, the gas generator or pyrotechnic composition is placed in thermal contact with an autoignition composition of the invention.

Autoignition composition

A low-solids gas generating composition, comprising a mixture of a fuel selected for the group consisting of guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine, cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, a combination of ammonium nitrate with potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, or mixtures thereof, such that the combination is a solid solution, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof, where the fuel is not nitroguanidine when the oxidizer includes ammonium nitrate. The combination of ammonium nitrate with other salts in solid solution is intended to phase stabilize the ammonium nitrate. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance. Useful alkali metal salts include lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and mixtures thereof. The preferred oxidizers for the gas generating composition of the invention are ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof. The preferred fuels are guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine, and mixtures thereof. In addition, the gas generating composition may include an energizing agent, such as RDX or HMX. The gas generating composition of the invention may further comprise sub-micron fumed silica to reduce moisture contamination and serve as a processing and powder flow aid and/or a binder, and may be in the form of pressed pellets, grains, or granules.

The present invention relates to an autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. The autoignition compositions of the invention include a mixture of an oxidizer composition and a powdered metal, wherein the oxidizer composition includes at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal nitrate, a complex salt nitrate, such as Ce(NH.sub.4).sub.2 (NO.sub.3).sub.6 or ZrO(NO.sub.3).sub.2, a dried, hydrated nitrate, such as Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 .multidot.4H.sub.2 O or Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2 .multidot.2.5H.sub.2 O, silver nitrate, an alkali or alkaline earth chlorate, an alkali or alkaline earth metal perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, a nitrite of sodium, potassium, or silver, or a solid organic nitrate, nitrite, or amine, such as guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine and 5-aminotetrazole, respectively. The present invention also relates to a method for initiating a gas generator or pyrotechnic composition in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. In the method of the invention, the gas generator or pyrotechnic composition is placed in thermal contact with an autoignition composition of the invention.

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Fountain Hills, AZ, United States of America

Christopher P Ludwig