Abstract:
Apparatuses for inflating inflatable devices and associated methods of leak detection relying on the inclusion of a radioactive isotope leak trace material.
Abstract:
A pulse detonation rocket engine, having at least two detonation chambers. The rocket propelled vehicle includes at least one fuel delivery system in fluid communication with each of the at least two detonation chambers, and at least one oxidant delivery system in fluid communication with the detonation chambers, along with fast-acting valves to inject fuel and oxidant controlledly into the chambers. An ignitor in each of the detonation chambers intermittently initiates detonation of a fuel and oxidant mixture in the chamber, in a controlled cycle, to provide motive force. Also provided is a combined cycle engine, able to operate in air breathing mode, oxidant augmented mode, and as a rocket engine. The combined cycle engine includes at least one detonation chamber, and may include a plurality of such chambers. The invention further provides methods of intermittently detonating sequentially created fuel and oxygen mixtures in these engines, and methods of using these engines.
Abstract:
A hybrid inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprises a quantity of a stored inflation fluid (42) and a body (44) of an ignitable combustible material to heat the stored inflation fluid and increase its pressure. The body (44) of ignitable combustible material comprises a solid binder and an oxidizing agent. The binder is a block copolymer comprising blocks of an amorphous polymeric monomer in an alternating sequence with blocks of a crystalline polymeric monomer. A preferred block copolymer comprises a long chain polyether glycol as the amorphous polymeric monomer and a polybutylene terephthalate as the crystalline polymeric monomer.
Abstract:
An improvement in an air bag system for a motor vehicle relating to a multiple level fluid fueled air bag inflator and method of operation thereof are provided. Such a multiple level inflator includes a stored gas chamber, a combustion chamber wherein, upon actuation, a fluid fuel and an oxidant are burned, an opener to open the stored gas chamber and an initiator device to initiate the burning of the fluid fuel and oxidant in the combustion chamber. Various performance levels can be obtained through the proper selected actuation and sequencing of actuation of the opener and the initiator device.
Abstract:
A demand type portable hydrogen generation system operated to replenish hydrogen gas to a storage tank or vessel as hydrogen is drawn therefrom. The system employs electrical and mechanical arrangements for opening an outer coating of a pellet that has been formed over a reactive material, such as sodium, to expose that pellet reactive material to water, and generate hydrogen gas from a chemical reaction between which reactive material and water. An electrical system variation of the system employs a bank of cells where each cell is electrically connected through a controller to a power source with the vessel to contain a measured volume of a light salt and water solution with an aluminum coated sodium pellet or pellet coated with another appropriate metal positioned therein, and provides for passing an electrical current to a select cell to break down the aluminum coating of a pellet contained therein and expose the pellet reactive material to the water, generating hydrogen. In a mechanical system variation of the system, sodium pellets are individually coated with a water impervious soft plastic, or like material, and are maintained in water contained in the vessel and including an arrangement for opening the pellet water impervious coating a when hydrogen gas pressure in the vessel falls below the pressure of a static source to open a pellet to the vessel water and chemical react therewith to generate hydrogen gas to restore system pressure to a pressure that is greater than that of the static source.
Abstract:
Tungsten is added to fuel gels to increase the density specific impulse. l gels contain monomethylhydrazine or other hypergolic liquids well known in the art. The quantity of tungsten employed can vary from 10%-98% weight percent depending on the specific application. The important parameters to consider during formulation are particle size, concentration, combustion efficiency, physical properties, and plume signature. Tungsten particle sizes ranging from 10 microns to 0.5 micron were compared with carbon of 0.24 when burned in air. It is shown that tungsten burns as well as or better than carbon; however, the increased density specific impulse achieved with tungsten as compared with carbon verifies that tungsten as a high energy additive to hypergolic fuel gels is superior. The burning temperature with small particle size tungsten is controlled to yield a plume with minimum signature since all of the tungsten exist in the gaseous state in the exhaust gases thereby yielding an exhaust plume which is transparent as attractive for tactical missiles to avoid detection.
Abstract:
Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a metal cation template, a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen, and sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex. The complexes are formulated such that when the complex combusts, nitrogen gas and water vapor is produced. Specific examples of such complexes include metal nitrite ammine, metal nitrate ammine, and metal perchlorate ammine complexes, as well as hydrazine complexes. A binder and co-oxidizer can be combined with the metal complexes to improve crush strength of the gas generating compositions and to permit efficient combustion of the binder. Such gas generating compositions are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.
Abstract:
Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a metal cation template, a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen, and sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex. The complexes are formulated such that when the complex combusts, nitrogen gas and water vapor is produced. Specific examples of such complexes include metal nitrite ammine, metal nitrate ammine, and metal perchlorate ammine complexes, as well as hydrazine complexes. A binder and co-oxidizer can be combined with the metal complexes to improve crush strength of the gas generating compositions and to permit efficient combustion of the binder. Such gas generating compositions are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.
Abstract:
A hybrid inflator comprises an inflator housing which contains a pressurized medium and a gas generator housing. The gas generator housing is interconnected with the inflator housing. The gas generator housing comprises a first chamber which contains a propellant, a propellant ignition assembly, a second chamber which is fluidly interconnected with the first chamber and the inflator housing for combusting propellant gases generated by the ignited propellant with the pressurized medium, an outlet port which is arranged on the gas generator housing to provide the pressurized medium and propellant gasses from the second chamber to the air/safety bag, and a main closure disk which normally blocks the outlet port and is ruptured after ignition of the propellant. The first and second chambers and the main closure disk are arranged in that order on a common longitudinal axis of the inflator. The gas generator housing comprises at least one bleed port for substantially equally maintaining internal pressures of the inflator housing and the first chamber.
Abstract:
An improved heat generating thermite composition suitable for use in an inflator of a motor vehicle airbag restraint system comprises a hard consolidated pellet, grain or wafer shaped formulation of a powdered metal fuel, a powdered metal oxide oxidizer, a binder and a supplemental oxidizing agent.