Gas generator, in particular for a vehicle occupant protection system, spring for arranging in a gas generator, airbag module, and vehicle occupant protection system

A gas generator (10), in particular for a vehicle occupant protection system, comprising at least an igniter (15) and a combustion chamber (17) containing a pyrotechnic solid fuel bed (18), wherein a spring (30) is arranged in the combustion chamber (17), which spring can be elongated in the direction of an end (22) of the combustion chamber (17) remote from the igniter (15), wherein the spring (30) has a plurality of spring segments (31, 32, 33) having outside diameters (Q1, Q2, Q3) of different size, wherein each spring segment (31, 32, 33) has a plurality of spring turns.

The gas generator (10) according to claim 1, wherein between the igniter-side end (37) and the second end (36) of the spring, a second spring segment (32) is configured which has such inside diameter (QI2) that the second spring segment (32) at least in sections encloses the igniter (15), and is movable in the axial direction.