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.

The disclosure relates to a gas generator for a vehicle safety system, comprising an ignition unit, a propellant configured in a combustion chamber in a form of a propellant bed extending along a longitudinal axis of the gas generator. A sleeve having an axial opening protrudes into the propellant bed such that it surrounds the ignition unit at least partially and portions of the propellant are stored inside and outside the sleeve.

A gas generator, such as for a safety device in vehicles, comprises a pressure chamber which is filled with compressed gas and which is closed off from an environment outside of the gas generator by a membrane. The compressed gas contains a gaseous oxidant which is composed predominantly of oxygen. The pressure chamber receives a solid fuel, wherein the compressed gas is in direct contact with the fuel before the gas generator is activated. When the gas generator is activated, an igniter separated pressure-tightly from the pressure chamber triggers a conversion of the gaseous oxidant with the solid fuel, with heat being generated. The fuel is in the form of a gas-permeable fuel body made up of one or more fibers, and the molar fraction of the gaseous oxidant in the compressed gas is at least 1.1 times the amount of oxidant required for a stoichiometric conversion of the gas-permeable fuel body. A module and a vehicle safety system comprise such a gas generator.

A gas generator including an outer vessel including a housing provided with a gas discharge port, the outer vessel accommodating therein an igniter and a gas generating agent, wherein any of surfaces of the outer vessel includes an annular fragile portion, and the annular fragile portion is a groove formed in a continuous annular shape or a groove formed in a discontinuous annular shape.

A dual stage inflator for an inflatable vehicle safety device including a housing defining a first chamber. The first chamber contains a first gas generant material. An ignitor cup is disposed in the first chamber and defines an interior containing an ignitor material. A first ignitor device extends into the interior of the ignitor cup. A combustion cup and a lid disposed in the first chamber cooperate to define a second chamber containing a second gas generant material. The combustion cup includes a cup sidewall and an open end. The lid is normally in a closed position relative to the cup sidewall to close the open end of the combustion cup and is moveable away from the cup sidewall in response to an increase of pressure within the combustion cup for venting combustion gas out of the combustion cup. A second ignitor device extends into the combustion cup. At least one of the lid and the cup sidewall includes an axially elongated venting geometry that is gradually revealed in response to movement of the lid away from the cup sidewall.

A gas generator, such as for a safety device in vehicles, comprises a pressure chamber which is filled with compressed gas and which is closed off from an environment of the gas generator by a membrane. The compressed gas contains a gaseous oxidant which is composed predominantly of oxygen. The pressure chamber receives a solid fuel, wherein the compressed gas is in direct contact with the fuel before the gas generator is activated. When the gas generator is activated, an igniter separated pressure-tightly from the pressure chamber triggers a conversion of the gaseous oxidant with the solid fuel, with heat being generated. The fuel is in the form of a gas-permeable fuel body made up of one or more fibers, and the molar fraction of the gaseous oxidant in the compressed gas is at least 1.1 times the amount of oxidant required for a stoichiometric conversion of the gas-permeable fuel body. A module and a vehicle safety system comprise such a gas generator.

A pyrotechnical gas generator includes at least one pyrotechnical charge, at least one ignitor, and a cylindrical casing enclosing the at least one charge and the at least one ignitor, the cylindrical casing having an axial direction and a radial direction and including an annular wall extending along the axial direction of the casing, and gas ejection holes arranged on the annular wall. Each gas ejection hole extends in a output plane forming a non-zero angle with a tangential plane which is tangent to the annular wall at the gas ejection hole.

The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.

The present invention provides a gas generator including: a housing having a top plate, a bottom plate located axially opposite to the top plate, and a circumferential wall located between the top plate and the bottom plate and provided with a gas discharge port; a partition wall provided with a single first communication hole, the partition wall being radially disposed in the housing to partition an interior of the housing into a first combustion chamber on the side of the top plate, which accommodates a first gas generating agent, and a second combustion chamber on the side of the bottom plate, which accommodates a second gas generating agent; a cylindrical guide member disposed between the first igniter attached to the bottom surface and the first communication hole, and provided with a second communication hole in a cylindrical wall thereof, the cylindrical guide member being disposed so as to enclose the first igniter, such that a second end opening thereof is connected to the first communication hole of the partition wall, the second end opening or the first communication hole being closed by a first closing member in a state where the second end opening or the first communication hole faces the first combustion chamber, the second communication hole closed by a second closing member in a state where the second communication hole faces the second combustion chamber, and a rupturing pressure of the first closing member being set lower than a rupturing pressure of the second closing member.

Provided is a gas generator including a housing including a top plate, a bottom plate, and a peripheral wall, the bottom plate being axially opposite the top plate, and the peripheral wall including a gas discharge port and being located between the top plate and the bottom plate. In the gas generator, an internal space of the housing is separated into a first combustion chamber and a second combustion chamber by a partition wall axially and radially partitioning the internal space of the housing, the first combustion chamber being formed to accommodate a first gas generating agent and being on the top plate side, and the second combustion chamber being formed to accommodate a second gas generating agent and being on the bottom plate side. A first igniter and a second igniter are disposed at the bottom plate, the first igniter being configured to burn the first gas generating agent, and the second igniter being configured to burn the second gas generating agent. The partition wall includes a cylindrical portion and an annular portion, the cylindrical portion being formed to surround the first igniter and include a communication hole for making the first combustion chamber and the second combustion chamber to communicate with each other, and the annular portion being formed extend radially outward from a second opening on the top plate side of the cylindrical portion. A first opening of the cylindrical portion axially opposite the second opening is in contact with the first igniter, and an outer periphery of the annular portion is in contact with the peripheral wall of the housing, and, thereby, the first combustion chamber and the second combustion chamber are separated from each other.