Claims
- 1. A method of reducing toxicity in effluent gases produced by combustion of a gas generating composition used to inflate a vehicle occupant restraint device, wherein the gas generating composition comprises a nonazide fuel which produces toxic oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide upon combustion, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying a first coating to a first fabric positioned downstream of the combustion reaction, said first coating comprising at least one alkaline composition which effects a reduction in the concentration of the toxic oxides of nitrogen present in said effluent gases;
- applying a second coating to the first fabric, said second coating comprising an oxidation catalyst which effects a reduction in the concentration of the carbon monoxide in said effluent gases; and
- flowing the effluent gases into the coated first fabric.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alkaline composition is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxidation catalyst is selected from the group consisting of oxides of copper, cobalt, manganese, and silver, and HOPCALITE compounds.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle occupant restraint device comprises an air bag.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first fabric comprises the air bag material.
- 6. An air bag for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system which reduces levels of oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide in effluent gases produced by combustion of a nonazide gas generating composition used to inflate the air bag, said air bag having a fabric comprising:
- a first coating comprising at least one alkaline composition which effects a reduction in the concentration of toxic oxides of nitrogen; and
- a second coating comprising an oxidation catalyst which effects a reduction in the concentration of carbon monoxide, wherein said fabric is positioned in the effluent flow path downstream of a gas generator containing the nonazide gas generating composition.
- 7. The air bag of claim 6 wherein the alkaline composition is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide.
- 8. The air bag of claim 6 wherein the oxidation catalyst is selected from the group consisting of oxides of copper, cobalt, manganese and silver, and HOPCALITE compounds.
- 9. The air bag of claim 6 wherein said fabric comprises the material forming the air bag.
- 10. A method of reducing toxicity in effluent gases produced by combustion of a gas generating composition used to inflate a vehicle occupant restraint system, wherein the gas generating composition comprises a nonazide fuel which produces toxic oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide upon combustion, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying a first coating to a first fabric positioned downstream of the combustion reaction, said first coating comprising at least one alkaline composition which effects a reduction in the concentration of the toxic oxides of nitrogen present in said effluent gases;
- applying a second coating to a second fabric positioned downstream of the combustion reaction, said second coating comprising an oxidation catalyst which effects a reduction in the concentration of the carbon monoxide in said effluent gases; and
- flowing the effluent gases into the coated first and second fabrics.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/331,674, filed on Oct. 31, 1994, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (20)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
570098 |
Nov 1993 |
EPX |
3235176 |
Mar 1984 |
DEX |
5-16752 |
Jan 1993 |
JPX |
2225291 |
May 1990 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
331674 |
Oct 1994 |
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