Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Douglas R Tingey

Brett Hussey

Dario G Brisighella, Jr

Robert G Smith

The present invention relates to a new type of gas generant that may be used in airbag inflators. This new type of gas generant is designed to be flexible such that it may be used in side-curtain airbag applications and other situations where flexibility of the gas generant is required or desirable. The gas generant will generally include a flexible igniter, which in some instances, will be an electrical wire. The gas generant also includes one or more beads that are made from a gas-generating material. Each of the beads has a connector passage that is designed such that the flexible igniter may be strung through the connector passage in the beads. In some instances, the connector passage will be a hole in the bead through which the flexible igniter may be passed.

Generant beads for flexible applications

The invention provides an effective and efficient method of making a hexammine cobaltic salt, such as hexammine cobaltic nitrate, in a consistent fashion through the control of one or more selected parameters of manufacture. Specific parameters considered and evaluated as a part of the invention included: order of addition of reactants, reaction temperature, oxidation, air or oxidant flow, catalyst content, and amount of ammonia.

Growing community of inventors

North Logan, UT, United States of America

Douglas R Tingey