Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator (10) for a vehicle occupant safety system comprising an outer casing (20) and a filter structure (30) for purifying and/or cooling gas released inside the outer casing (20), wherein the filter structure (30) is integrated in the outer casing (20). The invention further relates to an airbag module and a vehicle occupant safety system comprising said gas generator as well as to a manufacturing method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid inflator (10) includes at least one combustion chamber (15) in which propellant charge is arranged and which has a discharge end (20), the propellant charge being formed of at least one propellant element (26), at least one igniting unit (12) by which the propellant charge can be ignited. The hybrid inflator (10) also includes at least one bursting element (14, 14?, 14?) which in the inactivated state of the hybrid inflator (10) delimits the combustion chamber (15) against a gas supply chamber (16) at the discharge end (20). The bursting element (14, 14?, 14?) and a restraint element (18, 18?, 18?) maintain the propellant charge in its position and/or the bursting element (14, 14?, 14?) and the propellant charge delimit a shock gas volume (SGV), wherein in the activated state of the hybrid inflator (10) the shock gas volume (SGV) acts on the bursting element (14, 14?, 14?) like a gas pressure spring.

Abstract: An inflator (10), especially for a vehicle safety system, includes a combustion chamber (16) in which a solid propellant (18) combustible under the generation of gas is accommodated, and a compressed gas chamber (24) containing compressed gas (26), wherein even in the non-activated state of the inflator (10) a fluid communication exists between the combustion chamber (16) and the compressed gas chamber (24). The compressed gas (26) contains at least one inert gas as well as oxygen and at least one combustible gas, wherein the combustible gas is provided at a concentration at which no self-supporting conversion of the combustible gas with oxygen takes place.

Abstract: A gas generator (10) comprises an outer housing, which has at (east two housing parts (12), which are connected to each other, in the form of a diffuser bowl (14) with outflow openings (16) towards the outside and a cover (20) directly connected to the diffuser bowl (14). Inside the gas generator (10), at least one first and one second combustion chamber (30, 36) are provided, wherein the first combustion chamber (30) is delimited by an inner wall (32) and the second combustion chamber (36) is located within the space delimited by the diffuser bowl (14) and the cover (20). The diffuser bowl (14) and/or the cover (20) comprise a section (24) that is shaped, in particular deep-drawn, into an indentation, forming at least partially a circumferential section of the inner wall (32).

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnical actuator for a vehicle safety system comprising a cylinder (10) and a hollow piston (20) being displaceable relative to each other from an idle state to an activated state, wherein an igniter unit (30) being tightly connected to the hollow piston (20) is arranged inside the hollow piston (20). The invention excels by the fact that in the idle state the hollow piston (20) is received in the cylinder (10) and in the activated state it protrudes at least partially from the cylinder (10) so that the actuator has a larger total length in the activated state than in the idle state. The invention further relates to an actuator and a vehicle safety system comprising such actuator as well as to an actuating method.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inflator (10), especially for a vehicle safety system, comprising a combustion chamber (20) containing a pyrotechnical solid propellant bed (21). In accordance with the invention, an igniting mixture (25) is located in the combustion chamber (20), wherein a filler element (30, 30?) is arranged to be movable between the igniting mixture (25) and the solid propellant bed (21) in the idle state of the inflator (10).

Abstract: An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the locator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes a circumferential wall (16, 22) which surrounds a combustion chamber (44) and a filter (46) which extends at least partially along the wall (16, 22), wherein the wall (16, 22) has at least one supporting portion (124) which constitutes an axial support for the filter (46) and is integrally formed with the wall (16, 22), and wherein either plural supporting portions (124) are formed by embossed beads, the heads being spaced apart from each other in circumferential direction, and wherein a supporting portion (124) is formed by a completely circumferential embossed bead.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid inflator (10) including a burst cap (20) including a bottom (21) and a sleeve-like side wall (22), the bottom (21) and the side wall (22) delimiting an igniter compartment (23), and the burst cap (20) in the idle mode being pressurized on the outer peripheral side with compressed gas having a filling pressure (PF) which at a functional maximum temperature of the hybrid inflator (10) has a maximum filling pressure (PFmax), and wherein the burst cap (20) can be destroyed by an igniter compartment side bursting pressure in the case of operation. In accordance with the invention, a transitional portion (24) is formed from the side wall (22) of the burst cap (20) to the bottom (21) so that the igniter compartment side bursting pressure required to destroy the burst cap (20) is lower than the sum of the maximum filling pressure (PFmax) and the filling pressure (PF).

Abstract: An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes an igniter sleeve (38) which at least partially encloses an igniter (34) and an igniter chamber (42) filled with a booster charge and is adjacent to a first combustion chamber (44) filled with fuel, wherein the igniter sleeve (38), related to a central axis B of the igniter sleeve (38), has overflow orifices (98) unevenly distributed in circumferential direction.

Abstract: An adaptive deployable restraint element (10) for a vehicle safety system comprising at least two leg elements (11, 12) at least in portions arranged in V-shape relative to each other between which at least one cross brace (13, 14, 15) connecting the leg elements (11, 12) is arranged, wherein the leg elements and/or the cross brace (13, 14, 15) are/is inflatable. The invention further relates to an airbag module and an occupant safety system comprising such restraint element as well as to the use of the fin ray effect in an adaptive restraint element.

Abstract: A pyrotechnical igniter (100) for an inflator of a vehicle safety system comprises at least two contact pins (102) physically separated from each other by an electrically insulating compound and a bridge wire (110) connected to both contact pins (102) in an electrically conducting manner. A fastening portion (112) in which the bridge wire (110) is welded to the contact pins (102) is provided at each of the contact pins (102).

Abstract: An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes a combustion chamber sleeve (60) which at least partially encloses a combustion chamber (56) filled with fuel, wherein the combustion chamber sleeve (60) is designed such that it changes its shape by pressure formed during combustion of the fuel so as to release a discharge orifice (112) leading out of the combustion chamber (56) into a further combustion chamber (44) of the inflator, for a combustion gas formed during combustion of the fuel.

Abstract: An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes a filter (46) and a combustion chamber component at least partially enclosing at least one of a combustion chamber (56) and a combustion chamber sleeve (60), wherein the filter (46) extends in a ring-shaped manner about the combustion chamber (56) and, at a position of its ring-shaped extension, includes a critical filter portion (120) which is closer to the combustion chamber component than the remaining filter areas situated at its ring-shaped extension, wherein the critical filter portion (120) has a reduced thickness compared to areas of the filter that are adjacent to the critical filter portion (120).

Abstract: A gas generator (10) comprises an outer housing, which has at least two housing parts (12), which are connected to each other, in the form of a diffuser bowl (14) with outflow openings (16) towards the outside and a cover (20) directly connected to the diffuser bowl (14). Inside the gas generator (10), at least one first and one second combustion chamber (30, 36) are provided, wherein the first combustion chamber (30) is delimited by an inner wall (32) and the second combustion chamber (36) is located within the space delimited by the diffuser bowl (14) and the cover (20). The diffuser bowl (14) and/or the cover (20) comprise a section (24) that is shaped, in particular deep-drawn, into an indentation, forming at least partially a circumferential section of the inner wall (32).

Abstract: The invention relates to a burst device (10), especially for a hybrid inflator (40) including a burst member (20) delimiting an igniter compartment (25) at least in portions on its inside (21), wherein the burst member (20) in the idle mode can be pressurized with compressed gas on its outside (22) and, in the case of operation, the burst member (20) can be destroyed by an igniter compartment side bursting pressure, in accordance with the invention, the burst device (10) includes a support sleeve (30) arranged in the igniter compartment (25) and including an opening (32), the support sleeve (30) including a collar (34) delimiting the opening (33), wherein the burst member (20) rests on the collar (34) of the support sleeve (30) at least in portions upon pressurization from outside.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bursting diaphragm (14) for an inflator (10) comprising at least one predetermined breaking contour (24) destroyable upon activation of the inflator (10), wherein a shock wave can be generated. In accordance with the invention, the predetermined breaking contour (24) includes a through hole (25) on at least one end point (27), especially on all end points (27).

Abstract: An inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, includes a diffuser (10) which preferably forms a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12). The diffuser (10) includes more than 12, preferably more than 14, further preferably 23 discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row. Moreover, the inflator exhibits a plurality of further peculiarities.

Abstract: A pyrotechnical igniter (100) for an inflator of a vehicle safety system comprises at least two contact pins (102) physically separated from each other by an electrically insulating compound and a bridge wire (110) connected to both contact pins (102) in an electrically conducting manner. A fastening portion (112) in which the bridge wire (110) is welded to the contact pins (102) is provided at each of the contact pins (102).

Abstract: A vehicle safety system includes a module including an airbag and an inflator. The inflator includes a housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (16) containing a pyrotechnic propellant is arranged in which hot gas is generated and which housing includes at least one escape orifice (22) toward the environment of the inflator (10), as well as a coolant reservoir (24) arranged in the housing (12) in which coolant is accommodated prior to activation of the inflator (10) and which has at least one coolant outlet orifice (28?). The coolant outlet orifice (28) is arranged in direct vicinity of the outlet orifice (22). Upon activation of the inflator (10) coolant flows out of the inflator into the protection system and wets an adjacent wall (32) of the protection system against which also the hot gas is flowing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an unlocking device (10), especially for a vehicle protection device, comprising a locking bar (16) which in a locked position establishes a connection positive at least in portions between a first component (12) to be unlocked and a second component (14) and permits relative motion of the two components (12, 14) in an open position. The unlocking device (10) further comprises a pyrotechnical actuator (18) including a pyrotechnical element (20) having a propelling charge and a piston-cylinder unit (22) having a piston (24) and a cylinder (26), wherein motion of the piston (24) or the cylinder (26) can be generated due to activation of the propelling charge upon ignition thereof and wherein the piston-cylinder unit (22) is connected to the locking bar (16) without redirection so that upon motion of the piston (24) or the cylinder (26) the locking bar is movable from its locked position into its open position.