Gas generator

• US 6,499,764 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
• Original Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
• Inventors: Zhang, Jiang, Kraft, Josef, Bretfeld, Anton, Bayer, Karl, Brede, Uwe, Anacker, Lothar, Weuter, Waldemar, Scheiderer, Gerrit, Berenz, Eduard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/921,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 280/737, 280/741, 280/736, 222/5, 102/530, 102/531, 137/68.13, 137/68.29, 137/68.3
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators

Abstract

A gas generator includes an ignition charge, at least one ignition element for igniting the ignition charge, a storage chamber containing a compressed gas, which storage chamber is closed by a closure element, and an impact element destroying the closure element under pressure. A piston is provided as the impact element, which piston, after the destruction of the closure element, forms an exit gap with the opening closed by the closure element. The cross-sectional area of which exit gap changes in according to the position of the piston.

Claims

1. Gas generator, comprising:

an ignition charge, at least one ignition element for igniting the ignition charge, a storage chamber containing a compressed gas, which storage chamber is closed by a closure element, an impact element destroying the closure element under pressure, a piston being provided as the impact element, which piston, after the destruction of the closure element, forms an exit gap with the opening closed by the closure element, wherein the cross-sectional area of which exit gap changes according to the position of the piston, and a deformable damping element provided to dampen the displacement of the piston, wherein the front of the piston pushes against the deformable damping element to dampen the displacement of the piston.

2. Gas generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the ignition charge has at least one additional ignition composition ignitable in a time-staggered manner.

3. Gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the deformable damping element is spaced from the closure element so that the front of the piston pushes against the deformable damping element only at the end of the displacement of the piston.