Gas generator, particularly a mechanically triggerable gas generator

• US 5,460,096 A
• Filed: 05/26/1994
• Issued: 10/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comet GmbH Pyrotechnik Apparatebau
• Original Assignee: Comet GmbH Pyrotechnik Apparatebau
• Inventors: Kothe, Thorsten
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US08/249,852
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 102/430, 102/443, 102/444, 102/469, 102/470, 102/530, 102/531, 280/741
• US Class Current: 102/530
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/4628 characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators actuating a cable B60R22/4619
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/0815 Intermediate ignition capsules, i.e. self-contained primary pyrotechnic module transmitting the initial firing signal to the secondary explosive, e.g. using electric, radio frequency, optical or percussion signals to the secondary explosive initiators for blasting cartridges or air bags F42B3/10

Abstract

Gas generators having mechanical triggering have a cylindrical casing in which the various component parts are accommodated. The assembly of known gas generators is rather complex because of the different component parts. In the gas generator according to the invention the individual component parts are distributed in such a manner that essentially three units are formed, namely a priming agent, a pyrotechnic charge and an ignition unit comprising a holder means and an ignition charge. The priming agent is separated from the pyrotechnic charge by the ignition unit. The gas generator constructed in this way permits simple charging of the casing with the priming agent, the pyrotechnic charge and the ignition unit.

Claims

1. A mechanically triggerable gas generator comprising a cylindrical casing in which a pyrotechnic charge, an ignition unit and a priming agent are arranged, wherein the casing has an inside diameter, said casing having two interconnected container spaces accessible from openings in opposite end faces of the casing, the ignition unit and the pyrotechnic charge being arranged in a first container space, and the priming agent being arranged in a second container space, and wherein the ignition unit comprises a holder means comprised of a ring and cover, the cover being joined to the ring said ring having an outside diameter and an inside diameter which is substantially constant throughout the thickness of the ring and said ring comprising a single solid element between said inside diameter and said outside diameter, said ring having substantially equal diameter openings at both ends, the cover separating the pyrotechnic charge from the ignition unit, and wherein an ignition charge is arranged in the ring and in contact with said priming agent.

2. The gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the iginition charge is at least partly contained in the holder means.

3. The gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is gas tightly joined to the ring.

4. The gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is in the form of a thin sheet.

5. The gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the priming agent closes off the ignition charge at least partly on the side remote from the pyrotechnic charge.

6. The gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said has two container spaces are accessible from openings in opposite end faces.

7. The gas generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein a separator element constricting inside diameters of the two container spaces is arranged between the container spaces.

8. The gas generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the separator element is a component part of the casing.

9. The gas generator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the separator element is in the form of a circumferential collar arranged between the two container spaces on the casing.

10. The gas generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the outside diameter of the ring of the ignition unit and the inside diameter of the first container space are approximately equal in size.