Gas generator
AssigneeZf Airbag Germany GmbH
InventorChristian JUNG
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Abstract
The invention relates to a gas generator (10) comprising an activation device (26) which includes an energy converter (12), wherein the energy converter (12) is surrounded by a gas and is free from pyrotechnical materials, and wherein, when electric current is applied, the energy converter (12) is designed to convert electrical energy directly to thermal energy and to release the same, the released thermal energy suddenly heating and expanding the gas surrounding the energy converter (12). The gas generator (10) can be used in particular for a safety device in a vehicle. The invention further describes a safety device comprising the gas generator (10) and a method of triggering the safety device.
Claims19
A gas generator, specifically for a safety device in a vehicle, comprising an activation device which comprises an energy converter, wherein
- the energy converter is surrounded by gas and is free from pyrotechnical materials, and wherein the energy converter is designed, when electric current is applied, to convert electrical energy directly to thermal energy and to release the same, the released thermal energy suddenly heating and expanding the gas surrounding the energy converter.
A method of triggering a safety device according to claim in a vehicle, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- a) detecting an imminent collision of the vehicle with a physical object by a pre-crash sensor system,
- b) assessing the imminent collision regarding the presence of a trigger or non-trigger scenario,
- c) detecting a trigger scenario,
- d) classifying the trigger scenario into different severities,
- e) triggering the activation device in the gas generator by discharging a current pulse by at least one capacitor into at least one energy converter, wherein the computing unit adapts the duration, the current intensity and the voltage of the current pulse in response to the severity,
- f) heating and expanding the compressed gas in the gas generator, wherein the capacitor optionally discharges further current pulses into the at least one energy converter while the gas expands, and
- releasing the compressed gas to the environment of the gas generator for filling an airbag or for driving a belt tensioner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.