Oea, Inc.

Trw Limited

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Robert N Renz

Brian K Hamilton

Ron J Butt

Brent A Parks

James L Baglini

Dean W Grages

A hybrid inflator that includes a solid propellant and a pressurized medium comprising oxygen and at least one inert gas is provided. The solid propellant can be fuel-rich in that without excess oxygen it generates significant amounts of CO and H,. The at least one inert gas is contained in an inflator housing and the amount thereof is greater, on a molar basis, than the oxygen. The propellant has acceptable long-term stability in that such propellant does not ignite when exposed to a temperature of 107&deg; C. for a period of 400 hours.

Hybrid inflator

A hybrid inflator for an inflatable safety system is provided. The hybrid inflator is configured to provide for efficient mixing of hot combustion gases from combustion of the propellant and other combustible materials with the cooler pressurized medium in the stored gas housing. The mixing of the combustion gases and the pressurized medium provides an output gas having a substantially uniform composition and temperature.

Controlling gas flow in a hybrid inflator

Hybrid inflators for an inflatable safety system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the hybrid inflator uses a dual function initiator in that the combustion products from the initiator both ignite the propellant by direct contact therewith and propel a projectile through a outlet closure disk to release the stored pressurized medium. In another embodiment, the hardware configuration of the hybrid inflator allows the propellant to be loaded into the inflator after all hardware connections proximate the propellant, which require a weld, have in fact been welded. In another embodiment, the main inflator outlet closure disk is disposed at substantially a mid portion of the inflator. In another embodiment, the propellant gases are required to flow from the combustion chamber and into the stored gas housing prior to exiting the inflator, such by using a projectile to rupture the main inflator outlet closure disk and to thereafter seal the gas generator.

The present invention comprises a gas generating composition for, when ignited, providing inflation fluid for inflating an air bag (16) of a vehicle occupant protection device (12). The composition comprises a cyanamide compound complexed with a transition metal nitrate, and a supplemental oxidizing salt admixed with the complex. A preferred cyanamide is dicyandiamide. A preferred complex is bis(dicyandiamide)copper(I)nitrate.

Gas generating composition with cyanamide and transition metal nitrate

The present invention relates to solid pyrotechnic propellant compositions useful in automotive inflatable safety systems for generating gas to inflate air/safety bags. The propellant compositions produce surprisingly high gas volume to weight ratios when combusted and substantially little to no production of smoke, particulate matter and toxic gases. These propellant compositions include a complex or coordination compound, preferably, a complex of hydrazine.

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Denver, CO, United States of America

Robert N Renz