Production of non-toxic gas by combustion of solid propellant

Claim 1

A process for the rapid production of a substantial volume of non-toxic gas at a moderate temperature, which comprises the steps of: a. effecting combustion of a pyrotechnic charge consisting of a composite solid propellant having a high content of inorganic non-nitrogenous oxidant in excess of 80 percent said inorganic oxidant being selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal perchlorates and a low content of a carbonaceous, oxygen-containing, binder not exceeding 17 percent, said binder being selected from the group consisting of cellulose triacetate and silicone resins, the remaining ingredients being free of nitrogenous compounds; in a combustion chamber to produce a substantial volume of combustion gases at an elevated temperature, b. passing the hot combustion gases through a first cooling phase in which the hot combustion gases are diluted with oxygen obtained by the thermal decomposition of an oxygen-containing inorganic compound which has a low thermal stability and liberates, in gaseous form, only oxygen, whereby the combustion gases are cooled to a temperature of from 225° to 700°C, and c. passing the gaseous mixture from step (b) to a second cooling phase in which the gas mixture from the first cooling phase is cooled by contact with cooling means to the temperature of utilization.

Claim 12

An apparatus adapted to inflate a safety device in a moving vehicle, comprising a combustion chamber, a solid pyrotechnic composition located in said combustion chamber, said composition consisting of a composite solid propellant having a high content of inorganic non-nitrogenous oxidant in excess of 80 percent, and a low content of a carbonaceous, oxygen-containing binder not exceeding 17 percent, the remaining ingredient being free of nitrogenous compounds, said composition producing hot gaseous products on ignition, ignition means in said combustion chamber, means for discharging the gaseous products from the combustion chamber into a first cooling chamber, an oxygen-containing inorganic compound of low thermal stability in said first cooling chamber capable of liberating only oxygen from under the action of heat from said gaseous products, a second cooling chamber arranged to receive said gaseous products from the first cooling chamber and cooling means in said second cooling chamber.

Claim 13

An apparatus adapted to inflate a safety device in a moving vehicle, comprising a combustion chamber, a solid pyrotechnic composition located in said combustion chamber, said composition consisting of a composite solid propellant having a high content of inorganic non-nitrogenous oxidant in excess of 80 percent, and a low content of a carbonaceous, oxygen-containing binder not exceeding 17 percent, the remaining ingredient being free of nitrogenous compounds, said composition producing hot gaseous products on ignition, ignition means in said combustion chamber, means for discharging the gaseous products from the combustion chamber into a first cooling chamber, an oxygen-containing inorganic compound of low thermal stability in said first cooling chamber capable of liberating only oxygen from under the action of heat from said gaseous products, a second cooling chamber arranged to receive said gaseous products from the first cooling chamber and cooling means in said second cooling chamber.