Abstract: A gas generator comprises a container (12) filled with a pressurized fluid (14) and having an outflow opening (16), and a piston (20; 120) which is displaceably arranged in the container (12). The piston has a shutter opening (22; 122) dividing the container (12) into a first chamber (24) and a second chamber (26), the first and second chambers (24, 26) being filled with the fluid (14). The piston (20; 120) on activation of the gas generator (10; 100) and when the outflow opening (16) has been opened, is moved by a pressure prevailing in the second chamber (26) from a predetermined initial position (AP) in the direction towards the outflow opening (16) into an end position (EP) in which the end volume of the first chamber (24) is significantly reduced compared with the start volume of the first chamber (24). There is also proposed a method of operating such gas generator.

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, hydroxylammonium 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 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.

Abstract: An inflation device (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a first pyrotechnic gas generator (12) having a cord-type fuel line (20) and an igniter (18) associated with the fuel line, and a second pyrotechnic gas generator (14) having a housing (30) and fuel elements (32) arranged in the housing (30). The cord-type fuel line (20) is passed through the housing (30) of the second pyrotechnic gas generator (14) and is adapted to release combustion products for igniting the fuel elements (32) of the second gas generator.

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: 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 method of producing a gas generator housing part of a thin-walled tube (22, 24) and a connecting piece laterally mounted thereto, is characterized by the following steps: a) providing a tube (22, 24) having a wall thickness (WS) which amounts to a maximum of 10% of a tube external diameter (D) and a minimum tensile strength which amounts to at least approximately 800 N/mm2; b) providing a connecting piece having an external diameter (do) which amounts to between 15% and 40% of said tube external diameter (D); c) aligning said connecting piece radially to said tube (22, 24) such that an end face (78) of said connecting piece faces an outer face of said tube (22, 24); d) joining said tube (22, 24) and said connecting piece by friction welding, with producing a relative rotation between said tube (22, 24) and said connecting piece and moving said tube (22, 24) and said connecting piece towards each other, f) a maximum welding time amounts to less than 1 sec, preferably less than 0.

Abstract: A hybrid gas generator comprises an elongated cylindrical outer housing, and a pressure chamber that is filled with pressurized gas and that is closed off by a membrane provided on an end face of the pressure chamber. The gas generator further comprises a pyrotechnical propellant charge that is provided for opening the membrane and is accommodated in a preferably bushing-shaped propellant charge housing. The propellant charge housing is connected to the outer housing at a location outside of the pressure chamber and a longitudinal axis of the propellant charge housing extends at a right angle to a longitudinal axis of the outer housing. The generator also has an axial outflow opening situated at one axial end of the outer housing. The outer housing has a circumferential wall with a radial insertion opening for introducing the propellant charge housing.

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: A gas generator comprises a container (12) filled with a pressurized fluid (14) and having an outflow opening (16), and a piston (20; 120) which is displaceably arranged in the container (12). The piston has a shutter opening (22; 122) dividing the container (12) into a first chamber (24) and a second chamber (26), the first and second chambers (24, 26) being filled with the fluid (14). The piston (20; 120) on activation of the gas generator (10; 100) and when the outflow opening (16) has been opened, is moved by a pressure prevailing in the second chamber (26) from a predetermined initial position (AP) in the direction towards the outflow opening (16) into an end position (EP) in which the end volume of the first chamber (24) is significantly reduced compared with the start volume of the first chamber (24). There is also proposed a method of operating such gas generator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator for generating gases, comprising a housing which has an interior space and at least one combustion chamber filled with a predetermined quantity of solid propellant. The propellant consists of a plurality of solid propellant parts arranged in the combustion chamber in an irregular manner. The compressed gas is stored in a predetermined quantity in the combustion chamber and the combustion chamber constructed as a pressure chamber sealed hermetically toward outside in a non-activated state of the gas generator.

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 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: 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: 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: mixing the constituents of the propellant and stirring the mixture into a paste with a solvent so as to form a plasticizable mass, extruding the plasticizable mass in order to form propellant compacts, and drying the propellant compacts in order to remove the solvent, a thickening agent which increases the viscosity being added to the solvent prior to pasting in a proportion of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, relative to the solvent, and the dried propellant compacts having a density of at least 70% of the theoretical density. The invention further relates to propellant compacts obtainable in accordance with this method.

Abstract: A hybrid gas generator comprises an elongated cylindrical outer housing, and a pressure chamber that is filled with pressurized gas and that is closed off by a membrane provided on an end face of the pressure chamber. The gas generator further comprises a pyrotechnical propellant charge that is provided for opening the membrane and is accommodated in a preferably bushing-shaped propellant charge housing. The propellant charge housing is connected to the outer housing at a location outside of the pressure chamber and a longitudinal axis of the propellant charge housing extends at a right angle to a longitudinal axis of the outer housing. The generator also has an axial outflow opening situated at one axial end of the outer housing. The outer housing has a circumferential wall with a radial insertion opening for introducing the propellant charge housing.

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: 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 present invention provides a composition, in particular for use in safety devices for motor vehicles, which comprises a fuel mixture consisting of at least two components in a proportion of from 20 to 60% by weight and an oxidizer mixture consisting of at least three components in a proportion of from 40 to 80% by weight, relative to the total composition in each case. The composition is wherein the fuel mixture is composed of 5 to 95% by weight of a guanidine compound, 5 to 95% by weight of a heterocyclic organic acid, and 0 to 20% by weight of further fuels, relative to the fuel mixture in each case. According to the invention the oxidizer mixture is composed of 20 to 70% by weight of one or more transition-metal oxides, 10 to 50% by weight of basic copper nitrate, and 2 to 30% by weight of metal chlorate, metal perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, alkali nitrate, alkaline-earth nitrate or mixtures thereof, relative to the oxidizer mixture in each case.

Abstract: A gas generator, in particular for vehicle occupant restraint systems, with at least one combustion chamber containing propellant, and with at least one igniter arranged close to the propellant, for igniting the propellant is characterized in that the combustion chamber is separated from the igniter by an expansion chamber surrounding the igniter and provided for the gas developing on deflagration of the ignition material.