A safety system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) comprises a gas tank (20) in which pressurized gas is stored, a valve (22) associated with the gas tank (20), at least one airbag (24) connected to the valve (22) via a fluid line (30), and a control device (26). In the control device (26) vehicle information (32) is stored and the control device (26) is configured to control the valve (22) in an accident situation of the automotive vehicle (10) on the basis of the vehicle information (32) and to fill the airbag (24) with the gas stored in the gas tank (20). The invention further shows a method of controlling a safety system of an automotive vehicle and a control device.

Gas generator including means to provide a pressurized gas, a gas exit portion and a throttle member located in said gas exit portion, having one or more openings for the passage of said gas and being deformable by a gas flowing through said throttle when the pressure of said gas is above a predetermined pressure, to prevent or reduce gas flow.

Gas generator including means to provide a pressurized gas, a gas exit portion and a throttle member located in said gas exit portion, having one or more openings for the passage of said gas and being deformable by a gas flowing through said throttle when the pressure of said gas is above a predetermined pressure, to prevent or reduce gas flow.

The disclosure relates to a gas generator fora vehicle safety system. The gas generator has a longitudinal axis, an outer housing in the form of a compressed-gas container. In an inoperative state of the gas generator, the housing is filled with compressed gas. The housing is closed at one housing end with a closure element by a welded joint, which extends along the longitudinal axis from the welded joint into the housing. The housing has at least one bead for mechanically relieving the welded joint of load. A bead base of the bead is provided in a region of an axial longitudinal extent of the closure element.

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).

An inflator-based system provides for the actuation of valves and other devices using automotive air bag inflators, for example. One or more inflators can be connected to a valve body with an adapter such that upon inflator activation, inflator gases can act on a piston or similar device to achieve desired movement or operation of the valve or device. An inflator-based actuator can provide for a single action or multiple actions of a valve or other device. Such a system can provide safer and more reliable alternatives to electro-explosive ordnance devices found in pyrovalves, for example. Other uses for an inflator-based actuation system can include a lanyard pull initiator, a dual cartridge cutter, a bolt cutter, a hot gas generator (HGG) body, and a HGG pressure cartridge, to name a few examples.

An inflator-based system provides for the actuation of valves and other devices using automotive air bag inflators, for example. One or more inflators can be connected to a valve body with an adapter such that upon inflator activation, inflator gases can act on a piston or similar device to achieve desired movement or operation of the valve or device. An inflator-based actuator can provide for a single action or multiple actions of a valve or other device. Such a system can provide safer and more reliable alternatives to electro-explosive ordnance devices found in pyrovalves, for example. Other uses for an inflator-based actuation system can include a lanyard pull initiator, a dual cartridge cutter, a bolt cutter, a hot gas generator (HGG) body, and a HGG pressure cartridge, to name a few examples.

In a vehicle occupant protection system, a gas generator assembly (12) comprises at least one separate support (24) mountable to the vehicle and at least two gas generators (16, 18) which are tightly mounted on the support (24). A control unit (22) determines the times of activation of the at least two gas generators (16, 18) simultaneously or time-delayed in order to be able to activate one of the gas generators (16, 18) already in advance of a possibly imminent crash situation so that the airbag (14) is filled in such a way that it starts an interaction with an associated vehicle occupant which moves the vehicle occupant by a predetermined distance.

In a vehicle occupant protection system, a gas generator assembly (12) comprises at least one separate support (24) mountable to the vehicle and at least two gas generators (16, 18) which are tightly mounted on the support (24). A control unit (22) determines the times of activation of the at least two gas generators (16, 18) simultaneously or time-delayed in order to be able to activate one of the gas generators (16, 18) already in advance of a possibly imminent crash situation so that the airbag (14) is filled in such a way that it starts an interaction with an associated vehicle occupant which moves the vehicle occupant by a predetermined distance.

An airbag assembly may include an airbag and an inflator that provides inflation gas to inflate the airbag. A filter module may be positioned such that inflation gas exiting the inflator must first pass through the filter module. The filter module may be formed of a sheet of metal that is wrapped into a generally spiraling tubular shape. The filter module may have an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer. The intermediate layer generally encircles the inner layer, and the outer layer generally encircles the inner layer and the intermediate layer in a spiraling fashion. The inner layer, the intermediate layer, and the outer layer each may have a pattern of holes and dimples that are separate from and/or displaced from each other. The dimples may protrude toward an adjacent layer to maintain spacing to enable relatively unrestricted gas flow from the holes of the inner layer through unaligned holes of the intermediate layer and the outer layer. The resulting tortuous gas flow path may help to slow, cool, and/or purify the gas before it exits the inflator.