Patents by Inventor Michael W. Barnes
Michael W. Barnes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8388777Abstract: Alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions which, upon combustion, produce or result in an improved effluent and related methods for generating an inflation gas for use in an inflatable restraint system are provided. Such alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions include at least one alkali metal perchlorate present with a mean particle size in excess of 100 microns. Such alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions also include or contain a suitable non-azide, organic, nitrogen-containing fuel and at least one copper-containing compound selected from the group consisting of basic copper nitrate, cupric oxide, copper diammine dinitrate-ammonium nitrate mixture wherein ammonium nitrate is present in the mixture in a range of about 3 to about 90 weight percent, copper diammine bitetrazole, a copper-nitrate complex resulting from reaction of 5-aminotetrazole with basic copper nitrate and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2012Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Ivan V. Mendenhall, Robert D. Taylor
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Publication number: 20120118449Abstract: Alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions which, upon combustion, produce or result in an improved effluent and related methods for generating an inflation gas for use in an inflatable restraint system are provided. Such alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions include at least one alkali metal perchlorate present with a mean particle size in excess of 100 microns. Such alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions also include or contain a suitable non-azide, organic, nitrogen-containing fuel and at least one copper-containing compound selected from the group consisting of basic copper nitrate, cupric oxide, copper diammine dinitrate-ammonium nitrate mixture wherein ammonium nitrate is present in the mixture in a range of about 3 to about 90 weight percent, copper diammine bitetrazole, a copper-nitrate complex resulting from reaction of 5-aminotetrazole with basic copper nitrate and combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. BARNES, Ivan V. Mendenhall, Robert D. Taylor
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Patent number: 8101033Abstract: Alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions which, upon combustion, produce or result in an improved effluent and related methods for generating an inflation gas for use in an inflatable restraint system are provided. Such alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions include at least one alkali metal perchlorate present with a mean particle size in excess of 100 microns. Such alkali metal perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions also include or contain a suitable non-azide, organic, nitrogen-containing fuel and at least one copper-containing compound selected from the group consisting of basic copper nitrate, cupric oxide, copper diammine dinitrate-ammonium nitrate mixture wherein ammonium nitrate is present in the mixture in a range of about 3 to about 90 weight percent, copper diammine bitetrazole, a copper-nitrate complex resulting from reaction of 5-aminotetrazole with basic copper nitrate and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2004Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Ivan V. Mendenhall, Robert D. Taylor
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Patent number: 7147733Abstract: Ammonium perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions which, upon combustion, produce or result in an improved effluent and related methods for generating an inflation gas for use in an inflatable restraint system are provided. Such ammonium perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions include ammonium perchlorate present with a mean particle size in excess of 100 microns. Such ammonium perchlorate-containing gas generant compositions also include or contain a chlorine scavenger present in an amount effective to result in a gaseous effluent that is substantially free of hydrogen chloride when the gas generant is combusted, wherein at least about 98 weight percent of the chlorine scavenger is a copper-containing compound.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2004Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Ivan V. Mendenhall, Robert D. Taylor
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Publication number: 20040173922Abstract: A method for preparing pyrotechnics oxidized by basic metal nitrate is provided wherein basic metal nitrate is formed in an aqueous slurry to which is added at least one additional pyrotechnic ingredient including at least one fuel material to form a pyrotechnic mixture. The so-formed pyrotechnic mixture is then dried to form a pyrotechnic powder and such may, if desired, be appropriately formed or shaped to assist or facilitate use in inflator devices such as used in vehicle occupant safety restraint systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Robert G. Smith
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Patent number: 6712918Abstract: A method for increasing the burn rate of a gas generant formulation is provided involving the addition of a quantity of at least one transition metal complex of diammonium bitetrazole to the gas generant formulation.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2001Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Ivan V. Mendenhall, Michael W. Barnes
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Publication number: 20030145922Abstract: An igniter composition such as for a gas generant material used in pressure activated restraint system devices such as micro-gas generator applications such as seat belt pretensioners is provided. The igniter composition includes a fuel component containing at least about 3 composition weight percent and less than 15 composition weight percent of boron and an oxidizer component, wherein the fuel component and the oxidizer component are present in stoichiometrically balanced amounts. Associated methods of gas generation are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Robert D. Taylor, Michael W. Barnes, Gary L. Smith
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Publication number: 20030106624Abstract: A method for increasing the bum rate of a gas generant formulation is provided involving the addition of a quantity of at least one transition metal complex of diammonium bitetrazole to the gas generant formulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2001Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Ivan V. Mendenhall, Michael W. Barnes
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Patent number: 6502513Abstract: A gas generant material body in the form of a tablet having a triangular cross section and associated methods of gas generation are provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2000Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Gary L. Smith
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Patent number: 6143102Abstract: Basic copper nitrate-containing gas generant compositions and associated methods are provided for producing or resulting in increased burn rates via the inclusion of an effective amount of one or more metal (e.g., Al, Ti, Zn, Mg and/or Zr) oxide additives.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1999Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Ivan V. Mendenhall, Robert D. Taylor, Michael W. Barnes, David W. Parkinson
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Patent number: 6132538Abstract: Gas generant compositions, such as may be suited for use in inflating automotive inflatable restraint airbag cushions, are provided. Such gas generant compositions generally contain a mixture of guanidine nitrate, ammonium nitrate, and a transition metal ammine nitrate, such as copper diammine dinitrate and preferably also contain one or more ballistic additives.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Ivan V. Mendenhall, Robert D. Taylor, Michael W. Barnes
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Patent number: 6132480Abstract: An igniter composition for a gas generant and related methods of gas generation are provided in which, in addition to a boron fuel component and an oxidizer component, the igniter composition additionally includes a gas-producing fuel component.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1999Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Kristy Woodward Swanson, Christopher Hock
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Patent number: 6051158Abstract: Chemical coolant formulations for treating the hot gas formed by an airbag inflator and corresponding methods of inflating an airbag cushion are provided. The chemical coolant formulations include a first ingredient which, when contacted by the hot gas, endothermically decomposes to form a cooling gas and a solid slag component and a second ingredient which, when contacted by the hot gas, forms a liquid slag component. The solid and liquid slag components cooperate to form a unified slag mass.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1998Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Taylor, Michael W. Barnes, Ivan V. Mendenhall
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Patent number: 5884710Abstract: Fire extinguishing or suppression apparatus and method employing a liquid pyrotechnic composition of a ternary mixture of hydroxyl ammonium nitrate, an amine nitrate salt, and water, in a closed combustion chamber of a pressure container. The apparatus is constructed to permit a large volume of water vapor exothermically generated by the reaction of a liquid pyrotechnic composition to be discharged from the combustion chamber and pressure container to an area of a fire.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1997Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Guy R. Letendre, Brett Hussey
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Patent number: 5684269Abstract: Liquid gas generant compositions are aqueous solutions of hydroxylammonium nitrate as the oxidizer and a fuel selected from the group consisting of nitrate salts of amines of the formulae:A.sup.1) an amino tetrazole or amino triazole,A.sup.2) an amine of the formulae (I) (NHZ).sub.2 --C.dbd.O, (II) (NHZ).sub.2 --C.dbd.NZ, (III) HN--(CO--NHZ).sub.2, where the Zs are the same or different and are selected from H and NH.sub.2,A.sup.3) C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 -alkyldiamine, andmixtures of the nitrate salts of amines of the above formulae.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1996Date of Patent: November 4, 1997Assignee: Morton International, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Bradley D. Harris, Darrin L. Johnson
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Patent number: 5670740Abstract: A gas generant charge comprises a heterogeneous mixture of between about 80 and about 95 wt % of a first gas generant composition 1) and between about 5 and about 20 wt % of a second gas generant composition 2), based on the total weight of 1) plus 2). The first gas generant composition 1) comprises between about 20 and about 40 wt % fuel A) and between about 20 and about 60 wt % oxidizer B). Between about 50 and about 85 wt % of the fuel A) is a triazole or tetrazole compound A.sup.1), and between about 15 and about 50 wt % of the fuel is, a water-soluble fuel A.sup.2). At least about 20 wt % of the oxidizer B), up to 100%, a transition metal oxide B.sup.1); balance of the oxidizer is selected from the group B.sup.2) consisting of alkali and/or alkaline earth metal nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1995Date of Patent: September 23, 1997Assignee: Morton International, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Robert D. Taylor, Christopher Hock, Michael P. Jordan, Matthew A. Cox, Alan J. Ward
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Patent number: 5635668Abstract: Gas generant compositions utilize cupric nitrate complexes of nitrogen-containing compounds as fuels in conjunction with an oxidizer.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1996Date of Patent: June 3, 1997Assignee: Morton International, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Robert D. Taylor, Christopher Hock
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Patent number: 5629494Abstract: A gas generant composition contains no hydrogen, using as the major fuel component cupric and/or zinc bitetrazole and as a major oxidizer component CuO and/or Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3. A minor fuel component may be a salt of dicyanamide which reduces processing sensitivity of the composition. A minor oxidizer component may be a nitrate, chlorate, or perchlorate salt.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 1996Date of Patent: May 13, 1997Assignee: Morton International, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Robert D. Taylor
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Patent number: 5608183Abstract: A gas generant composition comprises between about 30 and about 85 wt. % of A) fuel, and between about 15 and about 70 wt % of B) oxidizer based on total weight of A) plus B). At least about 60 wt %, up to 100 wt % of the fuel A) comprises an nitrate salt of a polyamine of the general formula selected from the group consisting of: ##STR1## wherein in formulae (I)-(III) the Zs are the same or different and are selected from H and NH.sub.2,(IV) C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 -alkyl diamine, and mixtures thereof. At least about 60 wt %, up to 100 wt % of the oxidizer B) comprises basic copper(II) nitrate, i.e. Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2.3Cu(OH).sub.2 and/or cobalt(III)triammine trinitrate, i.e., Co(NH.sub.3).sub.3.(NO.sub.3).sub.3.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1996Date of Patent: March 4, 1997Assignee: Morton International, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Robert D. Taylor
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Patent number: 5567905Abstract: In gas generant compositions utilizing as fuel, at least in part, tartaric acid, aqueous processing is improved through the use of d,1-tartaric acid over naturally-occurring 1-tartaric acid.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 1996Date of Patent: October 22, 1996Assignee: Morton International, Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Thomas M. Deppert, Robert D. Taylor