Abstract: A method of producing a quartz glass crucible for pulling a single crystal comprising: providing a melting mold comprising a wall having passages between outside and inside; providing an outer layer granulation consisting of first coarser SiO2 particles and forming an outer granulation layer from the outer layer granulation on the inside of the melting mold wall; providing a barrier layer granulation consisting of second finer SiO2 particles and forming a barrier granulation layer from the barrier layer granulation on the outer granulation layer; applying a negative pressure to the outside of the melting mold wall; and heating the barrier granulation layer and the outer granulation layer with formation of a quartz glass crucible with transparent inner layer.

Abstract: The invention starts from a known component of quartz glass for use in semiconductor manufacture, which component at least in a near-surface region shows a co-doping of a first dopant and of a second oxidic dopant, said second dopant containing one or more rare-earth metals in a concentration of 0.1-3% by wt. each (based on the total mass of SiO2 and dopant). Starting from this, to provide a quartz glass component for use in semiconductor manufacture in an environment with etching action, which component is distinguished by both high purity and high resistance to dry etching and avoids known drawbacks caused by co-doping with aluminum oxide, it is suggested according to the invention that the first dopant should be nitrogen and that the mean content of metastable hydroxyl groups of the quartz glass is less than 30 wtppm.

Abstract: A vehicle impact protection system (10) includes a vehicle outer wall (16), a vehicle inner wall (14), the vehicle outer wall (16) and the vehicle inner wall (14) defining a mounting space (18) between them, and an elongated reinforcing profile (20) housed in the mounting space (18) and having a profile longitudinal axis (A), the reinforcing profile (20) being connected with an actuator device (28), an activation of the actuator device (28) leading to a change in curvature of said profile longitudinal axis (A) such that the profile longitudinal axis (A) is curved more intensively outwards towards the vehicle outer wall (16) after the activation of the actuator device (28) than before the activation.

Abstract: Monolithic metal bodies (e.g., hard aluminum alloys) comprising a continuous microcavity contained within the body are disclosed. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the metal body to the cross-sectional area of the microcavity may be not greater than 10. The produced metal bodies may be used in structural applications (e.g., aerospace vehicles) to monitor or test the integrity of the metal body.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic drive unit includes a cylinder tube (12) having an axial end (28), a piston (14) guided in the cylinder tube (12), a pyrotechnic igniter (16) which is adjacent to the piston (14) and constitutes the pyrotechnic drive, and a plastic part (18). The plastic part (18) is injection-molded to the igniter (16) and to the axial end (28) of the cylinder tube (12) so that it fastens the igniter (16) to the cylinder tube (12) and tightly closes the axial end (28) of the cylinder tube (12), the plastic part (18) engaging the piston (14) in an initial position of the drive unit (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastics molding composition based on polyarylene sulfide and/or on liquid-crystalline plastic, where the molding composition comprises carbon black and graphite and/or metal powder, the carbon black has a specific surface area of from 500 to 1500 m2/g, and a dibutyl phthalate value of from 100 to 700 ml/100 g, and the graphite has a specific surface area of from 1 to 35 m2/g. The molding compositions of the invention have good conductivities, and better flowabilities and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A vehicle impact protection system (10) includes a vehicle outer wall (16), a vehicle inner wall (14), the vehicle outer wall (16) and the vehicle inner wall (14) defining a mounting space (18) between them, and an elongated reinforcing profile (20) housed in the mounting space (18) and having a profile longitudinal axis (A), the reinforcing profile (20) being connected with an actuator device (28), an activation of the actuator device (28) leading to a change in curvature of said profile longitudinal axis (A) such that the profile longitudinal axis (A) is curved more intensively outwards towards the vehicle outer wall (16) after the activation of the actuator device (28) than before the activation.

Abstract: According to a previously known method for producing an optical component from synthetic quartz glass, a coaxial arrangement comprising an outer jacket tube, an inner jacket tube that is provided with an internal bore, and a core rod whose bottom face rests on a thrust bearing within the internal bore, is fed into a heating zone in a vertical orientation, is softened therein zone by zone, and is elongated so as to obtain the quartz glass component. In order to create a simple and inexpensive method that is based on said method and makes it possible to reproducibly manufacture a high-quality optical component, the thrust bearing is embodied as a constriction of the internal bore of the inner jacket tube.

Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes an airbag (22) and a gas generator (10) that is connected via at least one first outflow opening (18) to an airbag chamber (28), the airbag chamber (28) being at least partially formed by the interior of the airbag (22), an actuator unit (36) being provided on the gas generator (10) and, when the actuator unit (36) is activated, it releases a traction element (50) that causes a pressure reduction in the airbag (22), an activation of the actuator unit (36) also leading to an opening of a second outflow opening (20) in the gas generator (10), which vents generator gas to an environment without this vented gas flowing into the airbag chamber (28). Moreover, the invention relates to a method of restraining a vehicle occupant with such an airbag module.

Abstract: A gas generator includes a housing, which has outflow openings for outflowing gas, and at least one destructible insulation foil which in a non-activated state of the gas generator closes at least one of the outflow opening so as to be moisture-tight. The insulation foil has a varying thickness. The varying thickness is provided by at least one thermally insulating foil layer with a varying thickness, which lies over a base layer.

Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes an airbag (22) and a gas generator (10) that is connected via at least one first outflow opening (18) to an airbag chamber (28), the airbag chamber (28) being at least partially formed by the interior of the airbag (22), an actuator unit (36) being provided on the gas generator (10) and, when the actuator unit (36) is activated, it releases a traction means (50) that causes a pressure reduction in the airbag (22), an activation of the actuator unit (36) also leading to an opening of a second outflow opening (20) in the gas generator (10), which vents generator gas to an environment without this vented gas flowing into the airbag chamber (28). Moreover, the invention relates to a method of restraining a vehicle occupant with such an airbag module.

Abstract: A gas generator housing part is produced of a thin-walled tube having a wall thickness which amounts to a maximum of 10% of a tube external diameter and a minimum tensile strength which amounts to at least approximately 800 N/mm2, and a connecting piece having an external diameter which amounts to between 15% and 40% of the tube external diameter. After aligning the connecting piece radially to the tube such that an end face of the connecting piece faces an outer face of the tube, the tube and the connecting piece are joined by friction welding. A maximum welding time amounts to less than 1 second, preferably less than 0.3 second and a friction depth amounts to less than 80% of the wall thickness of the tube.

Abstract: A gas generator comprises an elongated outer housing (10) that has end faces and a side wall, at least three stages (12, 14, 16; 112, 114, 116, 118) which can be activated independently of each other, and for each stage (12, 14, 16; 112, 114, 116, 118) an associated igniter unit (32, 34, 36; 132, 134, 136, 138). The igniter units (32, 34, 36; 132, 134, 136, 138) are mounted laterally to the side wall of the outer housing (10).

Abstract: An explosive composition is adapted for use in a safety arrangement for vehicles, and comprises a fuel of a micro-structured or nano-structured porous solid material and an oxidizing agent which is solid or liquid at ambient temperature. The oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulphur, selenium, tellurium, bromine, iodine, phosphorus and arsenic as well as mixtures and oxygen-free compounds thereof. In a method for the production of the explosive composition, the oxidizing agent is dissolved in a solvent and introduced into the pores of the fuel.

Abstract: An explosive composition comprises a porous fuel and an oxidizer. The porous fuel is a solid with a structure size measuring between about 2 nm and 1000 nm and has a porosity that lies between 10% and 98%. The oxidizer is solid or liquid at room temperature and is incorporated into the pores of the porous fuel. The oxidizer is selected, in an amount of at least 50% by weight relative to a total quantity of the oxidizer, from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl ammonium nitrate, organic nitro compounds or nitrates, alkali metal nitrates or earth alkali metal nitrates as well as metal nitrites, metal chlorates, metal perchlorates, metal bromates, metal iodates, metal oxides, metal peroxides, ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A cold gas generator, comprising a pressure chamber that is filled with pressurized gas, a diaphragm that closes the pressure chamber and that is attached at an attachment edge to a bearing wall, a propellant charge arranged outside the pressure chamber for destroying the diaphragm, and a support wall. The support wall is situated radially inwards from the attachment edge in such immediate vicinity to the interior side of the diaphragm that when an exterior-side pressure is exerted upon it, the diaphragm is deformed towards the interior and makes contact with the support wall before being destroyed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an azide-free gas-generating composition, in particular for use in safety devices for motor vehicles, comprising a fuel in a proportion of 20 to 60% by weight and consisting of one or more components, and an oxidizer mixture in a proportion of 40 to 80% by weight and consisting of at least three components, each in relation to the total composition.

Abstract: A gas generator, in particular for vehicle occupant restraint systems, is provided with a pressure chamber (10) filled with compressed gas, a pyrotechnic igniter (34) arranged outside the pressure chamber (10), a first membrane (14) provided close to the igniter (34) and closing a first opening (12) of the pressure chamber (10), and a second membrane (18) provided further away from the igniter (34) and closing a second opening (16) of the pressure chamber. The first membrane (14) is configured such that it tears at a higher bursting pressure than the second membrane (18).

Abstract: A nitrocellulose-free, gas-generating composition for use in vehicle occupant restraint systems, in particular in a belt tensioner gas generator, substantially consists of at least one nitrogen-containing organic fuel in a proportion of 55 to 70% by weight, an inorganic oxidator in a proportion of 30 to 45% by weight, at least one combustion moderator in a proportion of up to 10% by weight and up to 5% by weight conventional adjuvants and additives, each in relation to the overall weight of the composition. The composition has a pressure exponent of less than 0.35 and a combustion rate at 200 bar of at least 40 mm/s.

Abstract: A gas generator comprises an outflow chamber and a freeing element. The outflow chamber contains at least briefly gas under pressure, when the gas generator is activated and at least one outflow opening is arranged in a side wall of the outflow chamber. The freeing element is arranged non-displaceably in the outflow chamber and has a peripheral wall and a base wall. The peripheral wall extends along the side wall and closes at least one outflow opening before an activation of the gas generator. The base wall is connected with the peripheral wall. The freeing element is constructed so that on exceeding a predetermined gas pressure in the outflow chamber, the base wall turns inwards under partial plastic deformation of the peripheral wall and at least one hitherto concealed outflow opening is freed by the plastic deformation of the peripheral wall.