Abstract: A solid propellant compact (10) in the form of a compact made of a powdered and/or granulated solid propellant, especially for inflators and/or actuators of a vehicle occupant restraint system, includes at least one recess on at least one of its sides. Solid propellant compacts (10) of this type are provided in an inflator (14) comprising at least one combustion chamber. A module includes such inflator (14) with an airbag inflatable by the inflator (14). A pyrotechnical drive unit (30) comprising a housing (32), a piston (34) movable in the housing (32) includes solid propellant compacts (10) of this type.

Abstract: An inflator has an elongate outer housing (110) which has at least one discharge opening (126) and which contains a compressed gas container (112) and an igniting unit (116) provided at a first axial end (114) of the compressed gas container (112). The igniting of said igniting unit generates a shock wave which, in a shock wave direction (S), enters the compressed gas container (112) at the first axial end thereof and which passes at least through some sections of the compressed gas container (112). The discharge opening (126) is arranged away from the first axial end of the compressed gas container (112) and is closed by a bursting membrane (128) which can be destroyed by the shock wave, wherein the bursting membrane (128) is not oriented perpendicularly to the shock wave direction (S).

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator (10) for use in a safety device for motor vehicles comprising a housing and a propellant (4) contained in a combustion chamber (25) of the housing for generating a pressurized gas, the housing comprising a first housing part (40) and a second housing part (30) at least partly surrounded by the first housing part (40) and at least one igniter (6) for igniting the propellant (4), and an annular filter (50) surrounding the combustion chamber (25) in which the propellant (4) is located. The filter (50) comprises a peripheral portion (52) and a radial portion (51), the radial portion (51) serving as filling body for the propellant (4) in the combustion chamber (25).

Abstract: A pyrotechnical actuator unit (10) for a vehicle safety system includes an outer housing (14) made of a plastic material accommodating a pyrotechnical igniter (12) that when activated breaks the outer housing. The outer housing (14) includes first and second plastic parts (18, 20) permanently connected with each other. A gas bag module may have such an actuator unit (10). A method of manufacturing a pyrotechnical actuator unit (10) including an outer housing (14) accommodating a pyrotechnical igniter (12) and made up of first and second housing parts (48, 50) includes: producing the first housing part (48) having a recess for the pyrotechnical igniter (12), inserting the pyrotechnical igniter (12) into the recess, and injection molding the second housing part (50) onto the pyrotechnical igniter (12) and onto a first end (34) of the first housing part (48) to essentially close a receiving space (24) for the pyrotechnical igniter (12).

Abstract: A gas generator, particularly for a vehicle occupant restraint system, has at least one igniter (12), a pyrotechnic solid propellant bed (22), a combustion chamber (20) containing the propellant bed (22) and at least one wall part (24), the wall part (24) being arranged in the combustion chamber (20), which is moved by a gas stream generated on activation of the gas generator into the region of the propellant bed (22) which is not yet ignited, and in its interior (25) defines a gas-directing channel reaching into the propellant bed (22).

Abstract: A gas generator has an igniter and a compressed gas container which contains a first filling gas and has an outflow opening that is closed by a first bursting diaphragm. Upon activation of the gas generator the igniter produces a shock wave which runs at least in part through the compressed gas container before destroying the first bursting diaphragm. The compressed gas container is filled with a mixture of the first filling gas and at least one second substance having a molar mass higher than that of helium, the proportion of the second substance being between 1 and 13 mole percent of the total filling quantity or reaching, at maximum, the total mass of the first filling gas, and the first filling gas being helium, hydrogen, or a mixture of the two gases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag module (10) for a vehicle safety system, including a gas bag (48), a gas generator (12), a module housing (46), and a pyrotechnical actuator unit (16) which is fitted to a module component by an attachment section (22), the space which is acted upon with an internal pressure upon an activation of the gas generator (12) and is at least partly limited by the gas bag interior being defined as a gas bag chamber (52). After its activation, the actuator unit (16) breaks into the attachment section (22) fixed at the module component and at least one separated fragment (24), the separated fragment (24) being situated outside of the gas bag chamber (52), and a restraint element (30) being provided which limits the freedom of movement of the separated fragment (24).

Abstract: A gas generator, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system, has a pyrotechnical propellant (16), a combustion chamber (12) filled with the pyrotechnical propellant (16), an igniter (14) associated with the combustion chamber (12), a pressure chamber (18), filled with compressed gas, which is adjacent to the combustion chamber (12) and has a first opening (22) remote from the combustion chamber (12) closed by a first diaphragm (26), the diaphragm (26) being destroyed upon activation of the igniter (14), and a second pressure chamber (28) which is filled with compressed gas and has a second opening (34) closed by a second diaphragm (36).

Abstract: A component of a safety system in motor vehicles comprises a core which has end and side faces and is made of an explosive material. The component further comprises a jacket made of a solid semiconductor material that surrounds the explosive material on the side faces of the core, and an ignition element situated between electric contact surfaces on one of the end faces of the core. The ignition element initiates an ignition of the explosive material when current flows through it. The explosive material consists of a porous fuel and of an oxidizer incorporated into the porous fuel. The porous fuel and the solid semiconductor are made of the same material.

Abstract: For manufacturing a gas generator (1), a tubular body (10) having an opening (14) in a circumferential wall (12) and a housing part (16) having an attachment end (26) are provided. The geometry of a proximate rim (20) of the opening (14) and that of the attachment end (26) are coordinated such that a first contact region encircling the opening (14) and a second contact region on the attachment end (26), which is circumferentially closed, are formed. The housing part (16) is placed onto the tubular body (10) such that the first contact region is in contact with the second contact region. Then the body (10) and the housing part (16) are joined to each other by capacitor discharge welding.

Abstract: A gas generator has a tubular housing in which a combustion chamber containing a propellant charge, an outflow chamber and a clearance volume are disposed, positioned behind one another axially. A partition disk is provided between the clearance volume and the outflow chamber and has a central opening and an integrally formed tube section which surrounds the opening and extends to its free end away from the clearance volume towards the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A gas generator for a vehicle occupant restraint system a rigid outer housing (12), a chamber (14) formed in the outer housing (12), in which a compressed gas is present at least upon activation of the gas generator (10), a component immovable (20; 34; 62) relative to the outer housing (12), at least one outflow opening (22) formed in the immovable component (20; 34; 62), and a least one resilient element (26), which is clamped inside the outer housing (12) and rests against the immovable component (20; 34; 62) at least in its normal position. In its normal position, the resilient element (26) closes a flow path between the chamber (14) and external surroundings of the gas generator (10) and is deformed elastically under the influence of compressed gas, whereby it clears a flow cross-section (30) whose size is increasing with increasing pressure.

Abstract: A gas generator has a first chamber containing a first amount of substance of a solid propellant providing filling gas and a second chamber containing a second amount of substance providing filling gas. An igniter is associated with the first chamber only. The first chamber has outflow openings providing a flow connection with an environment of the gas generator. After activation of the gas generator, the second chamber is connected with the environment of the gas generator with regard to flow exclusively via the first chamber.

Abstract: A gas generator has a cylindrical gas generator housing (22) and a connecting piece (14) which is welded to the gas generator housing (22). The connecting piece (14) has extensions (28) spaced apart in peripheral direction on the side facing the gas generator housing (22) and has a recess (31) between the extensions (28). The connecting piece (14) is welded to the gas generator housing (22) at the extensions (28).

Abstract: A gas generator includes a generator housing (12), an igniter device mounting opening (18) which has an edge (22), an igniter device and a booster chamber (24) having a peripheral wall (26). The igniter device has a prefabricated igniter (16) sealed off towards the exterior, a booster charge (23) adjoining the igniter (16) and an injected plastic base (20). The edge (22) of the igniter device mounting opening (18) for fastening the igniter device to the generator housing (12) is embedded in the injected plastic base (20) during injecting. Connectors (14) leading to the igniter (16) are embedded into the plastic base (20) during injecting and the plastic base (20) continues in one piece into the booster chamber (24) by forming a peripheral wall (26) of the booster chamber (24) which the booster charge (23) directly adjoins.

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: A gas generator for use in a safety arrangement for vehicles comprises a combustion chamber and a gas-generating propellant contained in the combustion chamber, the propellant having an auto-ignition temperature of more than about 200 degrees C., and an outer wall having a wall section directly adjoining a part of the propellant. The wall section has a smaller wall thickness than the outer wall adjacent to the wall section and is arranged relative to the propellant so that the portion of the propellant adjoining the wall section heats up to the auto-ignition temperature under bonfire conditions faster than the propellant in the rest of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A gas generator has a combustion chamber containing a pyrotechnic propellant charge and a biasing unit biasing the propellant charge. A holding device is provided, which holds the biasing unit in a predetermined, fixed, compressed position and which is designed to be releasable, so as to selectively release the biasing unit, so that it arrives at a release position in which it exerts a biasing force on the propellant charge.

Abstract: A gas generator comprises an oblong outer housing and an elongated combustion chamber insert with a tubular wall arranged in the outer housing. The combustion chamber insert contains a solid propellant, has a first and a second axial end and is held in the outer housing. The tubular wall of the combustion chamber insert is fixed at both axial ends by a form fit in radial and axial direction to the outer housing.

Abstract: A gas generator includes a housing having an inner wall delimiting an igniter chamber peripherally, and at least one igniter opening into the igniter chamber. The gas generator further includes a cap arranged for displacement along the inner wall and delimiting the igniter chambe, said cap having a cylindrical peripheral wall and a radially extending cover wall. The peripheral wall has a first section extending from the cover wall in displacement direction (R) and a second section extending in a direction opposite thereto. The first and second sections lie against the inner wall and guide the cap during a displacement thereof. The cover wall is turned axially into the interior of the cap.