Patents by Inventor Sebastian Bierwirth

Sebastian Bierwirth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240092308
    Abstract: A gas generator (10) comprises a housing (12) in which a conical combustion chamber screen (52) terminates the combustion chamber (44). On the front side, the combustion chamber screen (52) is closed by an end cap (54) to which a filter element (60) is connected which has one or more axially projecting centering extensions (64) on the edge of the filter bottom (62).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Bernhard MEHNERT, Sebastian BIERWIRTH, Karl ENGLBRECHT, Johannes EBNER, Vadim KOLBIN
  • Patent number: 11766988
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid gas generator (10) which comprises a compressed gas chamber (20) and an igniting unit (30), wherein the compressed gas chamber (20) is closed by a first igniter-side bursting membrane (21) and a second bursting membrane (22). According to the invention, a first, rapidly burning-off pyrotechnic agent (51) and a second pyrotechnic agent (52) burning off slowly in comparison to the first pyrotechnic agent (51) are located in the hybrid gas generator (10), wherein the second bursting membrane (22) is openable by positive pressure which can be generated in the compressed gas chamber (20) and the first pyrotechnic agent (51) is separated from the second pyrotechnic agent (52) in such a manner that the positive pressure in the compressed gas chamber (20) for opening the second bursting membrane (22) can be generated by the first pyrotechnic agent (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Jung, Sebastian Bierwirth, Johannes Ebner, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Martin Oberstarr, Daniel Hillmann, Uta Isenmann, Detlef Last
  • Patent number: 11247634
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid inflator especially for a vehicle safety system, comprising an igniter (10), a combustion chamber (16) including a propellant charge (18) which is separated from the igniter (10) by a first bursting element (14) held by a bursting element holder (13), and comprising a compressed gas tank (20) filled with compressed gas and having at feast one discharge opening, the discharge opening being closed by a second bursting element (24) and the compressed gas tank (20) being fluid-communicated with the combustion chamber (16) so that the compressed gas surrounds the propellant charge (18). The invention excels by the fact that the bursting element holder (13) at least in portions delimits an ignition chamber (30) containing a booster charge (15), wherein a shock wave (SW) for opening the second bursting element (24) can be formed only when both the igniter (10) and the booster charge (15) have been ignited and, respectively, activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Sebastian Bierwirth
  • Publication number: 20210394704
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator (100), especially for a vehicle safety system, comprising an exterior housing (34), an igniter unit (38) having an igniter (42), a combustion chamber (14) having fuel bodies (18, 24), the combustion chamber being arranged axially downstream of the igniter unit (38), at least one filter unit (10) being arranged within the combustion chamber (14), which filter unit (10) divides the combustion chamber (14) along a longitudinal axis (La) of the gas generator (100) into a first combustion chamber portion (15) having a first number of first fuel bodies (18) and at least one additional combustion chamber portion (20) having an additional number of additional fuel bodies (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventor: Sebastian BIERWIRTH
  • Patent number: 11155234
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflator (10) comprising an ignition unit (30) having an igniter (31), a chamber (20) arranged axially downstream of the ignition unit (30) and a diffuser chamber (40) arranged axially downstream of the chamber (20) which is comprised by a diffuser (42), wherein a combustion chamber screen (50) having an igniter-side end (51) and a diffuser-side end (52) is disposed in the chamber (20), the combustion chamber screen (50) being tapered, especially conically, in the longitudinal direction (L) of the inflator (10) from the igniter (31) toward the diffuser (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Johannes Ebner, Martin Oberstarr
  • Patent number: 10960846
    Abstract: An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ZF AIRBAG GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Franz Fuerstenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Dieter Leier, Georg Schoenhuber, Joerg Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20200238945
    Abstract: An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Franz Fuerstenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Dieter Leier, Georg Schoenhuber, Joerg Friedrich
  • Patent number: 10589709
    Abstract: An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Franz Fuerstenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Dieter Leier, Georg Schoenhuber, Joerg Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20190359166
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid gas generator (10) which comprises a compressed gas chamber (20) and an igniting unit (30), wherein the compressed gas chamber (20) is closed by a first igniter-side bursting membrane (21) and a second bursting membrane (22). According to the invention, a first, rapidly burning-off pyrotechnic agent (51) and a second pyrotechnic agent (52) burning off slowly in comparison to the first pyrotechnic agent (51) are located in the hybrid gas generator (10), wherein the second bursting membrane (22) is openable by positive pressure which can be generated in the compressed gas chamber (20) and the first pyrotechnic agent (51) is separated from the second pyrotechnic agent (52) in such a manner that the positive pressure in the compressed gas chamber (20) for opening the second bursting membrane (22) can be generated by the first pyrotechnic agent (51).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Christian Jung, Sebastian Bierwirth, Johannes Ebner, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Martin Oberstarr, Daniel Hillmann, Uta Isenmann, Detlef Last
  • Publication number: 20190291684
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflator (10) comprising an ignition unit (30) having an igniter (31), a chamber (20) arranged axially downstream of the ignition unit (30) and a diffuser chamber (40) arranged axially downstream of the chamber (20) which is comprised by a diffuser (42), wherein a combustion chamber screen (50) having an igniter-side end (51) and a diffuser-side end (52) is disposed in the chamber (20), the combustion chamber screen (50) being tapered, especially conically, in the longitudinal direction (L) of the inflator (10) from the igniter (31) toward the diffuser (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Johannes Ebner, Martin Oberstarr
  • Patent number: 10336289
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid inflator (10) comprising a combustion chamber (20) and a pressure gas tank (30), wherein in the idle state of the hybrid inflator (10) an outlet opening (31) of the pressure gas tank (30) is closed by a bursting element (32) which in the case of function of the hybrid inflator (10) can be destroyed by means of a penetration element (40), wherein a mixing chamber (70) is formed between the pressure gas tank (30) and the combustion chamber (20). In accordance with the invention, between the combustion chamber (20) and the mixing chamber (70) at least in portions a partition wall (80) having a combustion chamber side (81) and a mixing chamber side (82) is formed, wherein the partition wall (80) includes at least one combustion chamber opening (85) which in the idle state of the hybrid inflator (10) is closed by a cover (88) formed on the mixing chamber side (82) of the partition wall (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Ebner, Sebastian Bierwirth, Martin Oberstarr, Detlef Last
  • Patent number: 10106118
    Abstract: A gas generator (10) comprises an outer housing, which has at (east two housing parts (12), which are connected to each other, in the form of a diffuser bowl (14) with outflow openings (16) towards the outside and a cover (20) directly connected to the diffuser bowl (14). Inside the gas generator (10), at least one first and one second combustion chamber (30, 36) are provided, wherein the first combustion chamber (30) is delimited by an inner wall (32) and the second combustion chamber (36) is located within the space delimited by the diffuser bowl (14) and the cover (20). The diffuser bowl (14) and/or the cover (20) comprise a section (24) that is shaped, in particular deep-drawn, into an indentation, forming at least partially a circumferential section of the inner wall (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Fabien Cristoforetti, Dieter Sptizenberger
  • Patent number: 10046728
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflator (10), especially for a vehicle safety system, comprising a combustion chamber (20) containing a pyrotechnical solid propellant bed (21). In accordance with the invention, an igniting mixture (25) is located in the combustion chamber (20), wherein a filler element (30, 30?) is arranged to be movable between the igniting mixture (25) and the solid propellant bed (21) in the idle state of the inflator (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Bierwirth
  • Patent number: 9840224
    Abstract: An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the locator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes a circumferential wall (16, 22) which surrounds a combustion chamber (44) and a filter (46) which extends at least partially along the wall (16, 22), wherein the wall (16, 22) has at least one supporting portion (124) which constitutes an axial support for the filter (46) and is integrally formed with the wall (16, 22), and wherein either plural supporting portions (124) are formed by embossed beads, the heads being spaced apart from each other in circumferential direction, and wherein a supporting portion (124) is formed by a completely circumferential embossed bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Thomas Schober, Josef Bommer, Tobias Breddermann, Dietmar Schwebel
  • Publication number: 20170341617
    Abstract: An inflator as well as a method of manufacturing an inflator, a module including an inflator and an airbag module. In an inflator, especially for a protective device in a vehicle, comprising plural components a sealant is applied in the area of abutting components, especially a sealant which adheres to both abutting components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Franz Fuerstenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Dieter Leier, Georg Schoenhuber, Joerg Friedrich
  • Patent number: 9815431
    Abstract: An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes an igniter sleeve (38) which at least partially encloses an igniter (34) and an igniter chamber (42) filled with a booster charge and is adjacent to a first combustion chamber (44) filled with fuel, wherein the igniter sleeve (38), related to a central axis B of the igniter sleeve (38), has overflow orifices (98) unevenly distributed in circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Thomas Schober, Josef Bommer, Tobias Breddermann, Dietmar Schwebel
  • Publication number: 20170259775
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid inflator especially for a vehicle safety system, comprising an igniter (10), a combustion chamber (16) including a propellant charge (18) which is separated from the igniter (10) by a first bursting element (14) held by a bursting element holder (13), and comprising a compressed gas tank (20) filled with compressed gas and having at feast one discharge opening, the discharge opening being closed by a second bursting element (24) and the compressed gas tank (20) being fluid-communicated with the combustion chamber (16) so that the compressed gas surrounds the propellant charge (18). The invention excels by the fact that the bursting element holder (13) at least in portions delimits an ignition chamber (30) containing a booster charge (15), wherein a shock wave (SW) for opening the second bursting element (24) can be formed only when both the igniter (10) and the booster charge (15) have been ignited and, respectively, activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: Sebastian Bierwirth
  • Publication number: 20170232923
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid inflator (10) comprising a combustion chamber (20) and a pressure gas tank (30), wherein in the idle state of the hybrid inflator (10) an outlet opening (31) of the pressure gas tank (30) is closed by a bursting element (32) which in the case of function of the hybrid inflator (10) can be destroyed by means of a penetration element (40), wherein a mixing chamber (70) is formed between the pressure gas tank (30) and the combustion chamber (20). In accordance with the invention, between the combustion chamber (20) and the mixing chamber (70) at least in portions a partition wall (80) having a combustion chamber side (81) and a mixing chamber side (82) is formed, wherein the partition wall (80) includes at least one combustion chamber opening (85) which in the idle state of the hybrid inflator (10) is closed by a cover (88) formed on the mixing chamber side (82) of the partition wall (80).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Johannes Ebner, Sebastian Bierwirth, Martin Oberstarr, Detlef Last
  • Patent number: 9643564
    Abstract: An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes a combustion chamber sleeve (60) which at least partially encloses a combustion chamber (56) filled with fuel, wherein the combustion chamber sleeve (60) is designed such that it changes its shape by pressure formed during combustion of the fuel so as to release a discharge orifice (112) leading out of the combustion chamber (56) into a further combustion chamber (44) of the inflator, for a combustion gas formed during combustion of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Bierwirth, Achim Hofmann, Hans-Peter Neumayer, Dieter Spitzenberger, Hannes Nuiding, Thomas Schober, Josef Bommer, Tobias Breddermann, Dietmar Schwebel
  • Publication number: 20170028964
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflator (10), especially for a vehicle safety system, comprising a combustion chamber (20) containing a pyrotechnical solid propellant bed (21). in accordance with the invention, an igniting mixture (25) is located in the combustion chamber (20), wherein a filler element (30, 30?) is arranged to be movable between the igniting mixture (25) and the solid propellant bed (21) in the idle state of the inflator (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventor: Sebastian Bierwirth