Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator comprising a generator housing which has a base part, and an electric igniter which has a rear side, is fastened in the base part and has connection lines on the rear side. The gas generator further comprises a propellant charge in the generator housing, the propellant charge being provided outside the igniter and an insulating bush surrounding the connection lines and fastened to the generator housing. The insulating bush consists of plastic and contains electrically conductive particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to gas generator comprising an outer housing made of plastic, in which a pyrotechnic propellant charge and an igniter having its own igniter housing are accommodated. The igniter housing consists at least partially of plastic and is welded with the outer housing.

Abstract: For opening a closure disc arranged on a pressurized container for activating a vehicle occupant restraint system, the surface area of the closure disc is locally exposed to an arc discharge between an electrode and the closure disc. By means of an electrical insulation a linear zone of interaction is delimited between the electrode and the surface area of the closure disc. The arc discharge is initiated in a punctiform manner and then continued over the length of the linear zone of interaction, the closure disc thereby being perforated along the linear zone of interaction by the arc discharge. Due to the effect of the internal pressure of the pressurized container and starting from the two ends of the weakened zone of interaction, a strip of material is then peeled and bulged open from the closure disc in a direction transverse to the linear zone of interaction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an igniter composition for use in a gas generator for a safety means in vehicles. The igniter composition consists of a gas-generating composition in an amount of 15 to 70 wt-% and of a thermite composition in an amount of 30 to 85 wt-%. The gas-generating composition consists essentially of a guanidine compound as fuel and an inorganic oxidizer. The thermite composition consisting essentially of a metal and a metal oxide. The igniter composition or the gas-generating composition and the thermite composition, each for itself, have an oxygen balance of between 0 and −20%.

Abstract: An igniting element, such as is used in a vehicle air bag igniter reduces the power dissipated by the air bag ignition circuit, as well as its space requirement and its costs, by using the ignition switch/switches as the ignition element (7) itself of the ignition circuit. The ignition circuit is integrated in a silicon chip, and has at least one ignition switch constructed as a transistor.

Abstract: A multi-stage gas generator comprises a housing with an outer wall and also inner walls, at least two combustion chambers filled with at least one propellant charge, one igniter each associated with a propellant charge for the independent activation of each propellant charge, and at least one thermal insulation arrangement between the propellant charges. The arrangement reduces a transport of thermal energy, generated on the ignition of a propellant charge, to the other non-ignited propellant charge to such a high extent that the non-ignited propellant charge remains below its autogenous ignition temperature. Instead of or additionally to the thermal arrangement a cooling arrangement may be provided.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system has a gas generator and a gas bag. A method for inflating a gas bag for restraining an occupant comprises the following steps: providing a gas generator for producing gas which is flowingly connected to the gas bag, providing at least one propellant charge within the gas generator, providing at least one igniter within the gas generator, the gas generator blowing gas into the gas bag over more than one second, preferably over more than three seconds, in order to achieve a high service time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator for a safety arrangement, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a combustion chamber delimited by a combustion chamber wall and filled with propellant granule, and also a means arranged in the combustion chamber for holding down the propellant granule. The gas generator according to the invention is characterized in that the means for holding down the propellant granule comprises a disc-shaped holding face having grid holes, wherein the holding face is pressed into the combustion chamber and is connected in a form- and force-fitting manner with the combustion chamber wall, and is prestressed and presses elastically onto the propellant granule, the grid holes having a smaller diameter than the propellant granule.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing propellant compacts for use in gas generators for safety devices in motor vehicles by extrusion, comprising the following steps:

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator comprising at least two combustion chambers filled with propellant charges and delimited by combustion chamber walls. The combustion chamber walls have outflow openings which in a non-activated state are closed by at least one applied membrane having an edge. One of an additional fastening device and a protective device is provided at least sections of the edge of the membrane. The device prevents a coming-off of the membrane from the combustion chamber wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle occupant restraint system in which, after igniting of the first stage of the gas generator, the second stage not necessary to achieve the desired restraining effect is ignited when through its igniting no further restraining effect can be produced on the occupant in the case of an accident. Thereby, it is ruled out that the non-ignited stage can ignite itself in an uncontrolled manner. Further the invention relates to a device for carrying out the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator for a safety arrangement, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a combustion chamber (4) delimited by a combustion chamber wall (4a) and filled with propellant granule (3), and also a means arranged in the combustion chamber for holding down the propellant granule. The gas generator according to the invention is characterized in that the means for holding down the propellant granule comprises a disc-shaped holding face (1) having grid holes, wherein the holding face is pressed into the combustion chamber and is connected in a form and force-fitting manner with the combustion chamber wall, and is prestressed and presses elastically onto the propellant granule, the grid holes having a smaller diameter than the propellant granule (3).

Abstract: An inflator, more particularly for a vehicle occupant restraint system, has a tubular inflator housing which is closed off at its end faces and has radial exit ports via which the gas is able to exit the inflator. The inflator housing has in its interior at least one combustion chamber packed with propellant, at least one ignition unit for igniting the propellant in the combustion chamber and at least one filter which is located upstream of the exit ports. A filter insert featuring an outer housing is provided, the outer housing having a plurality of housing parts which at least partly surround the filter disposed in the filter insert. The outer housing together with its housing parts is radially secured to the inflator housing without the provision of an axial stop.

Abstract: In the case of a semiconductor igniter, particularly for the gas generator of a protection system for vehicle occupants, consisting of a semiconductor layer which is arranged on a carrier with the insertion of a thermal insulation layer, is connected at the end side to electric contact areas and during the current passage in the ignition path range heats up in an ignition-triggering manner, while maintaining a high ignition efficiency, a mechanically secure linking of the semiconductor layer to the carrier is achieved in that the thermal insulation layer is limited to the ignition path range of the semiconductor layer and the semiconductor layer is connected directly with the carrier at its end sections kept free of the thermal insulation layer.

Abstract: In a method and an air bag system for depleting the kinetic energy of a vehicle occupant in case of a vehicle accident involving heavy, negative acceleration, the air bag system comprising a control unit for inflating an air bag which activates the air bag system on the basis of electric signals of an acceleration sensor provided in the vehicle, further sensor elements are provided by means of which the parameters determining the individual kinetic energy of the vehicle occupant are sensed and electrical signals representing these parameters are transmitted by the sensor elements to an electronic analyzer connected to the control unit, this electronic analyzer establishing on the basis of these signals a point in time t4 at which the vehicle occupant is likely to come into contact with the inflated air bag of the air bag system, the electronic analyzer calculating on the basis of the established point in time t4 a prior point in time t2 at which the inflation of the air bag is to commence and signalling this

Abstract: A gas generator with a housing (14), and outflow opening (16) in the housing (14), via which gas can emerge, and with a bursting membrane (17) which closes the outflow opening in the non-activated state of the gas generator and which is destroyed on activation, the bursting member (17) having an outer edge at which it is permanently fastened to a wall (24) which defines at least one axial section of the outflow opening (16), is characterized in that the wall (24) is rounded or extends inwards and obliquely in the outflow direction downstream immediately after the fastening region (31) of the bursting membrane (17).

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator, comprising a first gas-generating stage and at least one gas-generating stage arranged downstream of the first stage, and also comprising a device for detecting a pressure change in the gas generator, wherein the device for detecting the pressure change comprises a chamber divided by a movable part into two partial chambers which are gas-tight with respect to each other, the partial chambers having openings which are in flow connection with the first stage and each have different cross-sectional areas, so that the pressure change spreads at different speeds in the two partial chambers and brings about a movement of the movable part, and the movable part being connected with a movement meter, which due to the movement of the movable part generates an electrical impulse to activate the second stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inflator for a safety device, in particular for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a housing (1, 15; 22, 23), a combustion chamber formed in the housing and including a solid propellant (6) for generating hot gas, and a coolant (13) introduced into a predetermined flow path of the hot gas. The inflator in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the flow path of the hot gas passes through a nozzle (10) comprising a pitot zone (20) in which the hot gas emerging from the combustion chamber (21) has a high static pressure, and comprising a nozzle neck (19) in which the hot gas builds up a high dynamic pressure, and in that the coolant (13) is arranged in a sleeve-shaped reservoir (11) extending from the pitot zone (20) at least in part into the nozzle neck (19). The inflator in accordance with the invention permits an effective reduction in the exhaust gas temperature of the generated hot gas.

Abstract: A gas generator for an airbag system of a vehicle comprises a combustion chamber to accommodate a propellant which is able to be activated. The combustion chamber has outflow openings for a gas which is generated after the propellant has been activated. The outflow openings are covered inside the combustion chamber by a filtering device. The filtering device is arranged spaced apart from the outflow openings. The filtering device divides the combustion chamber in axial or radial direction into a combustion space for the propellant or into one or more expansion chambers for the gas which is generated. The filtering process of the filtering device becomes more reproducible in the region of the outflow openings and is therefore improved. There is a better utilization of the filtering material and a greater lifespan of the filtering device is likewise achieved.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system is provided which includes a gas bag transposable from a space-saving, folded resting condition into a deployed condition. A restraint means is provided which is capable of decelerating at least part of the wall of the gas bag in a controlled manner. The restraint means contains at least one coiling device. At least one catch strap is arranged in the interior of the gas bag and influences the shape of the gas bag in the deployed condition. The catch strap is at least in part accommodated on the restraint means when the gas bag is in the resting condition.