Process for preparing a gas generating composition

Details Process for preparing a gas generating composition Process for preparing a gas generating composition

2000-05-25

2001-11-20

Miller, Edward A. (Department: 3641)

Explosive and thermic compositions or charges

Structure or arrangement of component or product

Solid particles dispersed in solid solution or matrix

C264S003300, C264S003400

Reexamination Certificate

active

06319341

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a gas generating composition. The gas generating composition is particularly useful for inflating a vehicle occupant protection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An inflator for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, contains an ignitable gas generating composition. The inflator further includes an igniter. The igniter is actuated so as to ignite the gas generating composition when the vehicle experiences a collision for which inflation of the air bag is desired to help protect a vehicle occupant. As the gas generating composition burns, it generates a volume of inflation gas. The inflation gas is directed into the air bag to inflate the air bag. When the air bag is inflated, it expands into the vehicle occupant compartment and helps to protect the vehicle occupant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a process for preparing a gas generating composition. The gas generating composition is particularly useful for a vehicle occupant protection apparatus. The process comprises the following steps. Desired quantities of ingredients of the gas generating composition measured in predetermined amounts according to the percentages of the ingredients in the gas generating composition are obtained. The ingredients include an elastomeric binder, an oxidizer and a fuel. The ingredients are mixed with an azeotrope to form a suspension. The suspension is atomized to form a stream of spheroid droplets. The spheroid droplets are contacted with a hot gas to remove the azeotrope from the spray droplets and produce solid spheroid particles of the gas generating composition in which the oxidizer and fuel particles are intimately mixed with each other and bound together by the elastomeric binder.


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