Abstract: A gas generator apparatus for an air bag is provided and includes a pressure container for receiving a high pressure, highly compressed gas. The container includes an opening closed by a seal. While the seal, by itself, would not withstand the pressure in the gas-filled container, the apparatus also includes a supporting element, which supports the side of the seal opposite the opening. The supporting element is displaceable by action of a release mechanism to effect release of gas from the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for motor vehicles in the form of an impact protection arrangement, wherein the pot-shaped housing of the sensor for the activation of the ignition device of the gas generator, has a form fitting with the flange of the gas generator housing, and is attached to it in such a way that part of the gas generator housing is contained in the sensor housing, thereby forming an air gap which is electromagnetically shielded against interfering influences. An example embodiment is described and shown in the figures of the drawings.

Abstract: A gas generator for inflating a safety bag for the protection of persons in a vehicle, is equipped with a combustion chamber that is divided into a smaller section and into a larger section by a sheet metal insert. The sheet metal insert also divides the fuel into two portions, whereby a smaller fuel portion is located closer to the ignition openings of an ignition device while the larger fuel portion is located further away from the ignition device. The divider or insert provides a passage or gas flow openings which are so located that the combustion gas generated in the smaller section must flow entirely through the smaller section before it enters into the larger section. Thus, the smaller fuel portion is combusted substantially first and the larger fuel portion is combusted thereafter to provide an inflation characteristic for the safety bag such that the bag is initially filled slower and then rapidly.

Abstract: The electric ignition includes an insulating base and a primary charge mounted on the insulating base. The primary charge includes an ignition pellet, a primary ignition powder and a elastic sleeve for retaining the ignition pellet and primary ignition powder on the insulating piece. A stepped cylindrical jacket is provided to receive the primary charge. The stepped cylindrical jacket includes at least, first and second cylindrical portions of different diamters connected to one another by a radially extending step or flange. The jacket may also include a fastening means for securing the primary charge within the jacket and securing the electric ignition to a housing or the like. The jacket may further include a torusor cylindrical flange to facilitate mounting in a housing or the like. Finally, a portion of the jacket may be surrounded by a secondary ignition agent which is enclosed by an insulating sleeve fastened on the jacket.

Abstract: An automatic-ignition device for a vehicle crash protection device for passengers having a gas generator, whereby a reliable automatic releasing action is attained in case of an overheating, especially when a light-metal main gas generator housing is used. A primary ignition mixture is contained in a housing structure which is thermally insulated from the main gas generator housing. The primary mixture housing structure forms a heat seal thermally insulated from the main gas generator housing.

Abstract: In a gas generator for a vehicle protection system having an outer jacket and an inner housing attached thereto through an edge union and consisting of an ignition carrier and a thin-walled propellant vessel, which inner housing together with a primer and a propellant charge forms a hermetically encapsulated separate structural unit, an edge lip of the ignition carrier bent radially inward over the collar type enlarged propellant vessel edge is provided, which, when the inner housing is installed in the outer jacket, is pressed axially against a stepped abutment surface of the outer jacket and is thereby held in tight press-fit engagement on the collar-like vessel edge. Due to this the gas generator has, in terms of manufacture, a very simple construction in the region of the ignition carrier attachment to the propellant vessel but yet is highly burstproof.

Abstract: A short circuit spring for an electrical connector, such as a plug-in connector, has a flat leaf spring section and a curved leaf spring section. A first hole in the flat section fits snugly in a contact making manner around an electrical terminal while a second hole in the flat section is large enough to permit a second terminal to pass through without contact. The curved section forms a tongue bent back to contact the second terminal with a tongue edge when the connector is not plugged together with a second connector to maintain a short circuit and to interrupt the short circuit when the connectors are plugged together.

Abstract: Apparatus for tensioning a strap of a vehicle safety belt system, comprises a cylindrical drum, a first roller journaled on a stationary axis parallel to that of the drum and spaced radially outwardly from the surface thereof, a second roller mounted with its axis parallel to the axis of the drum at a radius between that of the surface of the drum and the first roller, and pyrotechnically powered means for causing angular movement of the second roller about the axis of the drum. Guide means are located at a greater radial distance from the axis of the drum than the second roller and oriented so that, prior to detonation of the pyrotechnic charge, the angular position of the second roller about the axis of the drum is between the first roller and the additional guide means. The strap passes between the second roller and the surface of the drum but radially outwardly of the first roller. Prior to detonation of the pyrotechnic charge, the strap does not touch the surface of the drum.

Abstract: A take-up mechanism for safety belts in vehicles comprises an automatic belt winding assembly which is connected to a windup assembly which includes a motor having a piston which rotates relative to an associated cylinder to drive the belt winding assembly in a direction to tighten the belt, for example when an emergency arises such as a potential accident. The drive motor includes a piston having a vane portion rotatably mounted in a cylinder so that either the piston or the cylinder is rotatable for a short rotation period upon the ignition of a pyrotechnical drive charge which when ignited provides a propellent for driving the motor. The construction of the mechanism is such that kinetic energy stored in the rotating masses of a clutch are used to effect a positive coupling of the take-up mechanism with the shaft carrying the wound up seat belt. The drive motor thus has a limited rotational path which is shorter than the length of the belt portion to be retracted.

Abstract: A winding attachment for passenger safety belts in vehicles comprises an automatic takeup roller over which the belt is entrained having a roller shaft and a clutch disc connected to the shaft which is rotatable in one direction to drive the shaft in a direction to cause the roller to retighten the belt. At least one cylinder having a closed end and an opposite opened end has a piston therein which is movable after ignition of a propellant charge which is contained in the cylinder and which generates a propellant gas which moves the piston in the cylinder toward the open end. A tension member has one end connected to the piston and is engaged adjacent its opposite end around the clutch disc so that when the piston is moved by the ignition of the propellant charge, the tension member causes the clutch disc to drive the takeup reel so as to tighten the seat belt.

Abstract: A winding attachment for passenger seat belts for use with a windable takeup roller over which the seat belt is wound and which includes a takeup roller shaft and a rotatable clutch disc which is connected to the shaft when the disc is rotated in a shaft tightening direction comprises a rotatable cylinder with a hollow cylindrical piston shaft relatively rotatable within the cylinder. The cylinder has a cylinder wing which is rotatable therewith and which is located within the cylinder and the piston shaft has a wing connected to it which rotates within the cylinder in a path which intersects the path of rotation of the cylinder wing. Propellant contained within the hollow cylinder is ignited and it produces propellant gases which expand in the cylinder against the cylinder wing in the piston shaft wing to produce relative rotation of the cylinder and piston shaft for a period of time until the wings meet causing the stopping of the rotation.

Abstract: A take-up mechanism for the seat belt of a vehicle comprises an automatic belt winding assembly having a reel with a reel shaft for dispensing and rewinding the belt. A pull-up assembly for rewinding a belt of the winding assembly includes a rotary piston motor drivable by pressurized gas, usually generated from a pyrotechnic charge, and a ring which is co-rotatably connected to a rotary vane of the motor. The ring is coupleable to the reel shaft of the automatic winding assembly by engagement of a blocking element with a notched wheel co-rotatably mounted to the reel shaft. A sensor element is engageable with the notched wheel upon abrupt movement of the vehicle to block rotation of the reel in the dispensing direction. A control disc is rotatable with respect to the notched wheel and is engaged with the blocking element for moving the blocking element to engage the notched wheel upon the occurrence of either an abrupt vehicle motion or when the belt is moved in the dispensing direction abruptly.

Abstract: A gas generator construction particularly for the inflation of inflatable protective bags which are used in safety systems of vehicles comprises a housing with a central tubular housing part which contains an ignition device that is surrounded by a reaction chamber containing a gas generating charge which in turn is surrounded by an outer filter housing. The gases which are generated in the reaction chamber are directed through openings and into the filter housing and then outwardly through slots of the filter housing for use in expanding the protective bag. The reaction chamber and the filter chamber are formed by an annular substantially S-shaped wall member which has a bottom forming wall portion for the reaction chamber which is joined to the central tubular part, for example, by welding.