Abstract: A gas generator for a safety device for a motor vehicle, comprises at least two distinct chambers which communicate with each other through at least one opening or nozzle. A first chamber is isolated from the outside. A second chamber or “diffusion” chamber is able to receive gases generated by the combustion of a solid pyrotechnical charge placed in the first chamber, and to discharge them towards the outside. The solid charge is a mixture consisting of at least one oxidizing charge and a reducing charge, the oxygen balance of which is equilibrated. A heat generator is provided which generates sufficient heat for triggering and sustaining the combustion of the charge without any other interaction, notably of the chemical type, between the heat generator and the charge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas generator (1) for a safety device for a motor vehicle, which comprises at least two distinct chambers respectively designated as first (2) and second (3) chambers, which communicate with each other through at least one opening or nozzle, the first (2) of these chambers being isolated from the outside, the second one (3) a so-called ‘diffusion’ chamber being able to receive gases generated by the combustion of a solid pyrotechnical charge (5) placed in the first chamber (2), and to discharge them towards the outside. It is remarkable in that: said solid charge (5) is a mixture consisting of at least one oxidizing charge and a reducing charge, the oxygen balance of which is equilibrated; a heat-generating means (6) is provided which generates sufficient heat for triggering and sustaining the combustion of said charge (5), this without any other interaction, notably of the chemical type, between this means (6) and this charge (5).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas generator device used in automobile safety to inflate an airbag. This device is characterized in that it comprises at least one gas source for inflating the airbag and at least one gas outlet orifice, called the first orifice, for gas to flow into the airbag, characterized in that it includes means for making the gas pass through other gas outlet orifices, called second orifices, which are distributed over the device so that it is given a neutral-thrust configuration when it is initiated, although not in service, the device also including means for closing off these second orifices when the device is in service, so that when the device is initiated, the gas passes via the first outlet orifice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas generator device used in automobile safety to inflate an airbag. This device is characterized in that it comprises at least one gas source for inflating the airbag and at least one gas outlet orifice, called the first orifice, for gas to flow into the airbag, characterized in that it includes means for making the gas pass through other gas outlet orifices, called second orifices, which are distributed over the device so that it is given a neutral-thrust configuration when it is initiated, although not in service, the device also including means for closing off these second orifices when the device is in service, so that when the device is initiated, the gas passes via the first outlet orifice.

Abstract: An electro-pyrotechnic initiator suitable for use in igniting a pyrotechnic generator of gas for inflating an air bag, said initiator being connected to an electric cable comprising two conductive wires, said initiator comprising: (i) a thermosensitive charge which is carried by a heating resistive element consisting of a resistive strip and which is initiatable by said heating resistive element, ((ii) an electric circuit connecting said resistive element to said conductive wires, and (iii) means of electromagnetically protecting said electric circuit, said heating resistive element, said electric circuit and said means of electromagnetically protecting being integrated into a circuit of conductive strips which are joined to said conductive wires and which are printed on a support, said support being in the form of a thin parallelepedial card with two opposite flat faces, said conductive strips being printed on the same face of said support to provide a complete circuit comprising said conductive strips, t

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic gas generator (1) intended especially for motor vehicle safety. The generator (1) includes a pyrotechnic charge (12) of plastic-bonded powder of “Lova” type and a gas exit orifice (14a, 14b) closed by an erodable ring (15) which has a cylindrical orifice (16) shut off by a cover (17). The rupture pressure of the cover (17) and the initial diameter of the orifice (16) are determined so as to avoid the initial extinction of the charge. In the course of functioning the diameter of the orifice (16) increases to avoid the risk of overpressure within the generator. The generator (1) can be employed in a protective device using an inflatable cushion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an initiator for a pyrotechnic gas generator intended for motor vehicle safety.

Abstract: The invention relates to an initiator for a pyrotechnic gas generator intended for motor vehicle safety. The initiator (2) is built from a circuit support (10) on which conductive strips are printed which include electromagnetic protection and the ends of which are joined together by a resistive element covered with a thermosensitive charge (6). The conductive strips are connected to an electric cable (3). The support (10) is coated in a cylindrical overmoulded insulation (4, 5). A fragmentable cylindrical cap (8) containing an igniter composition (9) forms, together with the initiator (2), an igniter (1) for pyrotechnic generators intended for motor vehicle safety.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of protecting the occupants of a motor vehicle by an inflatable airbag. The invention relates to a process consisting in inflating an airbag (1) by a pyrotechnic generator (2) containing a double-composition charge (9) formed around a main charge having a linear burning rate V1 and at least part of the ignition faces of which are covered with a skin of moderate pyrotechnic composition having a linear burning rate V2 satisfying the relationship: 0.05 V1≦V2≦0.5 V1. The invention thus makes it possible to inflate the airbag gradually during the first milliseconds of deployment of the latter.

Abstract: The invention relates to an initiator for a pyrotechnic gas generator intended for motor vehicle safety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-wire pyrotechnic initiator unit intended for motor-vehicle safety. The initiator unit comprises a socket molded over electrodes which are connected, on the one hand, to a pyrotechnic ignition device and, on the other hand, to unstripped electrical wires via deformable conducting pincers capable of cutting the insulating sheath of the wires. The wires are supported by an elastic ring which can be snap-fastened in the socket and which presses the conducting pincers. The initiator unit is useful for manufacturing two wire pyrotechnic gas generators for inflatable cushions or seat belt tensioners in which the unstripped wires are only incorporated at the end of the assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of protecting the occupants of a motor vehicle by an inflatable airbag.The invention relates to a process consisting in inflating an airbag (1) by a pyrotechnic generator (2) containing a double-composition charge (9) formed around a main charge having a linear burning rate V.sub.1 and at least part of the ignition faces of which are covered with a skin of moderate pyrotechnic composition having a linear burning rate V.sub.2 satisfying the relationship:0.05 V.sub.1 .ltoreq.V.sub.2 .ltoreq.0.5 V.sub.1.The invention thus makes it possible to inflate the airbag gradually during the first milliseconds of deployment of the latter.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic gas generator for motor-vehicle safety in the form of a one-piece cylindrical body (1) which comprises a side wall (2) and a transverse wall (3) which divides the body (1) into an upstream compartment (4) and a downstream compartment (5). These compartments (4, 5) each contain a pyrotechnic charge (6, 7) and an ignition system (15, 16). A lid (30) and a can (31) are fixed to the external side wall (2) and constitute a diffusion chamber. A safety unit (26) grips part of the side wall (2) and makes it possible, depending on the electrical signals received by the generator (100), either to inflate the airbag partially or to inflate the airbag completely with the possibility of modulating the rate of inflation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic generator of hot gases (1) and to a process for its manufacture. The generator is in the form of a cylindrical tube (2) which comprises a side wall (3) the length (L) of the generatrices of which is at least two times greater than its external diameter (D), the said tube (2) being made up of two parts, an upstream part (4) including especially an ignition system and a pyrotechnic charge (14), and a downstream part (5) forming a diffuser (22). The process of manufacture consists in inserting and fixing a nozzle (17) into the tube (2) and then successively introducing a filtering grid (16), an enclosure (12), a wedging ring (11), the ignition system and a leakproof plug (21). The invention makes it possible to produce a generator intended to inflate a cushion for protecting the occupants of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas microgenerator intended more particularly for automobile safety. The microgenerator (1) comprises an igniter support (2) provided with a central bore (3) extended by a cylindrical neck (4) in which an igniter body (5) is fixed by crimping, two electrodes (8, 9) passing through this igniter body. A resistor (10) embedded in an ignition composition (11) links the two electrodes together. A shatterable case (13) containing an ignition powder (14) surrounds the resistor and the ignition composition. The electrodes in their lower part include cutting slots into which are inserted two electrically conducting sheathed wires (20, 21) coming from a supply cable (19). A closure piece (24), which is snap-fitted into the central bore locks the microgenerator. The microgenerator can be used to operate a belt retractor or to ignite a generator intended to inflate an airbag.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic gas generator (1) intended for motor vehicle safety. The generator (1) comprises a hollow cylindrical body (2, 3) having gas outlet orifices (4) and being closed by a ring (6). The generator (1) contains an annular pyrotechnic charge (18) arranged around an ignition device (14, 16, 17) carried by the closure ring (6). The charge (18) essentially consists of a silicone binder and a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and of sodium nitrate. Its dimensions are less than the internal dimensions of the body of the generator, so that the ratio (dead volume/volume of the block) lies between 2 and 1 in order for it to be possible for the gases originating from the ignition device (14, 16, 17) to cover all of the free surfaces of the charge (18). A thin metal casing (25) is interposed between the charge (18) and the orifices (4). The generator is used for inflating an air bag.