Linear gas generant and filter structure for gas generator

Details Linear gas generant and filter structure for gas generator Linear gas generant and filter structure for gas generator

1993-09-27

1996-04-02

Nelson, Peter A.

Ammunition and explosives

Powder form

Having embedded reinforcing or burning control means

102290, C06D 506

Patent

active

055030793

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a linear gas generant to be used in a gas generator for rapidly launching a flier such as a rocket or for rapidly inflating an air bag in a motor vehicle.
Further, the present invention relates to a gas generator to be used in an air bag restraint system, particularly a filter structure thereof.
Both the present inventions contribute toward the weight reduction of the gas generator.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a gas generator of an air bag for a driver, which is provided with a filter structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how a fiber bundle or yarn is wound in the filter structure of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a graph showing the result of a gas generation test made with the gas generator shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a gas generator of an air bag for a passenger, which is provided with a filter structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the result of a gas generation test made with the gas generator shown in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the structure of the conventional gas generator.


DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

With respect to gas generants to be used in a gas generator for launching a rocket or for rapidly inflating an air bag in a motor vehicle, the amount of deflagration of the agent per unit time must be markedly large as compared with that of the conventional solid rocket propellant or oxygen gas generant for respiration. Accordingly, a method for increasing the burning rate of the gas generant per se, a method for increasing an ambient pressure and a method for increasing a burning area per unit weight (hereinafter referred to as "specific burning area") are generally employed independently or in combination.
Among these methods, the method for increasing the burning rate of the gas generant per se attains such an increase in the burning rate, for example, by the addition of a combustion catalyst, but the range wherein the burning rate increase can be controlled is limited. The method for increasing an ambient pressure has a drawback in that the weight of a combustor is gravely increased, despite the contemporary requirement for the weight reduction of the same. Therefore, generally, the method for increasing the specific burning area is employed to increase the amount of deflagration.
As a particular means for increasing the specific burning area, division or granulation of the gas generant is generally employed. However, when such a divided or granulated gas generant is used by charging it into a rocket motor or a gas generator, it is difficult to fix individual particles of the gas generant granulated at appropriately predetermined positions. Further, these particles are apt to be entrained by a gas stream produced by deflagration to be discharged outside the motor or gas generator before the completion of deflagration or to be explosively deflagrated. Hence, the employment of a divided or granulated gas generant generally causes unstable deflagration. For coping with the unstable deflagration, the maximum amount of gas generant usable at one time in a gas generator for launching a rocket or for use in an air bag is principally governed by the limit of charge, which is determined in accordance with the type of the gas generator and is naturally small, although this depends on the characteristics of the gas generant, such as raw material formulation and configuration. Thus, it has been difficult to manufacture a gas generator charged with a gas generant in an amount freely exceeding the limit.
Therefore, for example, a particulate gas generant having an especially large specific burning area is charged in a very small amount and used only in an ignition device or the like. It has been difficult to charge a necessary and satisfactory amount of such a gas generant into a gas generator for launching a rocket or for an air bag and to use it. Consequently, in a gas generator for launching a ro

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