Gas generating agent, process for production thereof, and gas generators for air bags

Abstract

There is provided a tubular molded article of a gas generating agent consisting of a non-azide-based composition. Both ends of the molded article are squashed. A gas-generating-agent producing process is to obtain a gas generating agent which is molded into the form of a tube both ends of which are squashed in such a way that the tubular molded article of the gas generating agent being in a wetted state is passed through a gap between a pair of molding gears that are rotatable so that each convex tooth of one of the molding gears can face that of the other molding gear, thereafter the molded article is squashed with the convex teeth at predetermined intervals, thereafter the molded article is cut off at the squashed concave parts in such a way as to be folded, and the resultant cut pieces are dried.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 : A process for producing a gas generating agent, comprising
 passing a wet tubular molded article through a gap between a pair of molding gears rotated so that mutual convex teeth of the molding gears face each other;   squashing said tubular molded article at predetermined intervals with the convex teeth;   cutting said tubular molded article to fold the molded article at squashed concave parts thereof to form a gas generating agent; and   drying said gas generating agent.   
   
   
       11 : A process for producing a gas generating agent, comprising
 passing a wet tubular molded article through a gap between a pair of molding gears rotated so that mutual convex teeth of the molding gears face each other;   squashing said tubular molded article at predetermined intervals with the convex teeth to produce a squashed tubular molded article;   drying said squashed tubular molded article; and   cutting said squashed tubular molded article to form a gas generating agent.   
   
   
       12 : The process of  claim 11  wherein both ends of said gas generating agent are squashed. 
   
   
       13 : The process of  claim 11 , wherein said cutting comprises folding said squashed tubular molded article at squashed concave parts. 
   
   
       14 - 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 : The process of  claim 13 , further comprising classifying said gas generating agent. 
   
   
       24 : The process of  claim 12 , wherein said cutting comprises folding said squashed tubular molded article at squashed concave parts. 
   
   
       25 : The process of  claim 24 , further comprising classifying said gas generating agent. 
   
   
       26 : The process of  claim 11 , wherein said drying comprises
 a first heating of said gas generating agent at a first temperature ranging from 50 to 60° C. for a first time period 4 to 10 hours; and   a second heating of said gas generating agent at a second temperature ranging from 105 to 120° C. for a second time period of 6 to 10 hours.   
   
   
       27 : The process of  claim 26 , wherein said first temperature is 55° C. and said first time period is 8 hours. 
   
   
       28 : The process of  claim 26 , wherein said second temperature is 110° C. and said second time period is 8 hours. 
   
   
       29 : The process of  claim 11 , wherein said drying comprises
 a first heating of said gas generating agent at a first temperature of 55° C. for a first time period of 8 hours; and   a second heating of said gas generating agent at a second temperature of 110° C. for a second time period of 8 hours.   
   
   
       30 : The process of  claim 12 , wherein said drying comprises
 a first heating of said squashed tubular molded article at a first temperature ranging from 50 to 60° C. for 4 to 10 hours; and   a second d heating of said squashed tubular molded article at a second temperature ranging from 105 to 120° C. for 6 to 10 hours.   
   
   
       31 : The process of  claim 30 , wherein said drying comprises a first heating of said squashed tubular molded article at a first temperature of 55° C. for 8 hours. 
   
   
       32 : The process of  claim 30 , wherein said second temperature is 110° C. and said second time period is 8 hours. 
   
   
       33 : The process of  claim 12 , wherein said drying comprises
 a first heating of said squashed tubular molded article at a first temperature of 55° C. for 8 hours; and   a second heating of said squashed tubular molded article at a second temperature of 110° C. for 8 hours.