A gas generator includes a housing and a gastight container which accommodates a gas generating agent. The gastight container includes a cup body and a cover body. The cover body includes a bottom portion and a fold-over portion which covers an opening end of the cup body. The cover body is fixed to the cup body by providing, in the fold-over portion in a portion covering an outer circumferential surface of the opening end of the cup body, a first swaging portion in a portion of the fold-over portion which corresponds to a sidewall portion of the cup body and defines a gas generating agent accommodation chamber at a position adjacent to the bottom portion and a second swaging portion in a portion opposed to a portion of the fold-over portion which covers an inner circumferential surface of the opening end of the cup body.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to various devices, systems and methods of providing a restartable, hybrid-rocket system that uses Acylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and compressed air containing oxygen levels up to 40% as a propellant. Alternatively, embodiments of the present invention includes restartable hybrid rocket system that uses a heterogeneous matrix of ABS and a solid oxidizing agent in addition to compressed air as a propellant. When the ABS is exposed to an electrical potential field, the electrical field's effect on the ABS produces localized arcing between multiple layers of the ABS resulting in joule heating and pyrolysis of the ABS. The pyrolysis produces spontaneous combustion of the ABS once the oxidizer flow provides a local oxygen partial pressure greater than two atmospheres at the surface of the ABS.

A solid propellant compact (10) in the form of a compact made of a powdered and/or granulated solid propellant, especially for inflators and/or actuators of a vehicle occupant restraint system, includes at least one recess on at least one of its sides. Solid propellant compacts (10) of this type are provided in an inflator (14) comprising at least one combustion chamber. A module includes such inflator (14) with an airbag inflatable by the inflator (14). A pyrotechnical drive unit (30) comprising a housing (32), a piston (34) movable in the housing (32) includes solid propellant compacts (10) of this type.

A solid propellant compact (10) in the form of a compact made of a powdered and/or granulated solid propellant, especially for inflators and/or actuators of a vehicle occupant restraint system, includes at least one recess on at least one of its sides. Solid propellant compacts (10) of this type are provided in an inflator (14) comprising at least one combustion chamber. A module includes such inflator (14) with an airbag inflatable by the inflator (14). A pyrotechnical drive unit (30) comprising a housing (32), a piston (34) movable in the housing (32) includes solid propellant compacts (10) of this type.

An exemplary method of actuating an operational device includes activating a propellant in a pyrotechnic pressure generator, the pyrotechnic pressure generator comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending axially from a barrier to the second end, a piston slidably disposed in the bore, the propellant located in a chamber between the first end and the barrier, a gas outlet orifice through the barrier providing gas communication between the chamber, and a port at the second end in communication with the operational device; producing a gas in the chamber in response to activating the propellant, the gas escaping through the gas outlet orifice into the bore and the gas applying a force to the piston; moving the piston in a stroke from a position proximate to the barrier to a position proximate to the second end; communicating a pressure to the operational device that is equal to or greater than an operating pressure of the operational device in response to moving the piston; and actuating the operational device in response to communicating the pressure to the operational device.

An exemplary method of actuating an operational device includes activating a propellant in a pyrotechnic pressure generator, the pyrotechnic pressure generator comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending axially from a barrier to the second end, a piston slidably disposed in the bore, the propellant located in a chamber between the first end and the barrier, a gas outlet orifice through the barrier providing gas communication between the chamber, and a port at the second end in communication with the operational device; producing a gas in the chamber in response to activating the propellant, the gas escaping through the gas outlet orifice into the bore and the gas applying a force to the piston; moving the piston in a stroke from a position proximate to the barrier to a position proximate to the second end; communicating a pressure to the operational device that is equal to or greater than an operating pressure of the operational device in response to moving the piston; and actuating the operational device in response to communicating the pressure to the operational device.

Propellants for rockets, space transportation vehicles, launch vehicles and systems, crew escape vehicles and systems, launch escape towers, and space vehicle systems are disclosed. Some embodiments provide a rocket propellant comprising a mixture of a small chain alkane from 1 to 4 carbons and a small chain alkene from 3 to 4 carbons. The mixture of the small chain alkane and small chain alkene is in a proportion that lowers the melting of the mixture below the melting point of both the small chain alkane and small chain alkene.

A gas generator includes a housing main body made of metal, a holder assembly, and an igniter. The holder assembly includes a holder portion made of metal and a connector portion made of resin. The holder portion includes a first barrel portion and an annular projection. The connector portion includes a second barrel portion and a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is inserted in the housing main body and externally attached to the first barrel portion. As a portion of the housing main body corresponding to the cylindrical portion is decreased in diameter, the cylindrical portion is compressed by being sandwiched between the portion of the housing main body decreased in diameter and the first barrel portion so as to seal a gap between the housing main body and the first barrel portion.

A gas generator includes a housing main body made of metal, a holder assembly, and an igniter. The holder assembly includes a holder portion made of metal and a connector portion made of resin. The holder portion includes a first barrel portion and an annular projection. The connector portion includes a second barrel portion and a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is inserted in the housing main body and externally attached to the first barrel portion. As a portion of the housing main body corresponding to the cylindrical portion is decreased in diameter, the cylindrical portion is compressed by being sandwiched between the portion of the housing main body decreased in diameter and the first barrel portion so as to seal a gap between the housing main body and the first barrel portion.

An exemplary method of actuating an operational device includes activating a propellant in a pyrotechnic pressure generator, the pyrotechnic pressure generator comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending axially from a barrier to the second end, a piston slidably disposed in the bore, the propellant located in a chamber between the first end and the barrier, a gas outlet orifice through the barrier providing gas communication between the chamber, and a port at the second end in communication with the operational device; producing a gas in the chamber in response to activating the propellant, the gas escaping through the gas outlet orifice into the bore and the gas applying a force to the piston; moving the piston in a stroke from a position proximate to the barrier to a position proximate to the second end; communicating a pressure to the operational device that is equal to or greater than an operating pressure of the operational device in response to moving the piston; and actuating the operational device in response to communicating the pressure to the operational device.