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: 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: A blinker-hazard flasher circuit has a single comparator (37) for comparing measured circuit output signals (36) containing information with reference signals having different voltage threshold levels to ascertain the information regarding the status of the flasher circuit, for example whether there is a short-circuit or whether the lamps operated by the circuit are in an operational or failed condition. A reference signal generator (40) for generating reference signals at the different voltage threshold levels receives control signals from a central processing unit. These control signals determine the sequence of the voltage threshold levels. The different levels of the reference signals provide different comparator output signals which are further processed and evaluated for obtaining the status information in response to the measured circuit output signals.

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: An electronic blinker circuit for a vehicle has an analog relay control section (24) and a digital circuit control section (25) arranged in a housing having only eight terminals. A holding circuit in the digital circuit section prevents an unintended oscillation when relay contacts are opened while a manual warn-blinker switch is still closed. When the engine ignition is switched off the blinker circuit requires a low quiescent current flow that is typically only 10 .mu.A.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an azide-free gas-producing composition, in particular for use in safety devices for motor vehicles, comprising or consisting essentially ofa fuel consisting of from 20 to 50% by weight of guanidine nitrate and from 0 to 20% by weight of cyanuric acid, isocyanuric acid, cyamelide and/or melamine;from 45 to 80% by weight of an oxidant, wherein the oxidant is selected from the group consisting of copper oxide (CuO) and CUO together with potassium perchlorate and/or potassium chlorate, andfrom 0 to 5% by weight of processing aids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a particle-free, gas-producing mixture for use in a gas generator for a safety device, in particular for a vehicle-occupant restraint system, with a total water content of the gas-producing mixture of at most 0.3%, consisting of:a) an energy-rich fuel with an oxygen value of not less than -35%;b) an oxidant mixture of ammonium nitrate and ammonium perchlorate, wherein the ammonium nitrate is contained in a proportion of 35 to 50 wt. %, and the ammonium perchlorate in a proportion of 3 to 10 wt. %, in each case relative to the total weight of the mixture;c) optionally, relative to the total weight of the mixture, a phase-stabilizing additive for the ammonium nitrate in a proportion of at most 5 wt. % relative to the weight of the ammonium nitrate;d) 0 to 3 wt. % combustion moderators relative to the total weight of the mixture, ande) 0 to 5 wt. % processing aids relative to the total weight of the mixture.