Passenger automotive restraint generator

A gas generator comprising,

• a single impact extruded perforated elongated housing having a first end and a second end,
• an end cap base enclosing said first end of said housing,
• an end cap enclosing said second end of said housing,
• a perforated bulkhead positioned at an intermediate location within said housing, said bulkhead forming first and second elongated chambers within said housing and having formed therein a ball valve including a ball valve chamber and first and second openings connecting said ball valve chamber to said first and second elongated chambers, respectively, with the entrance to said second chamber being denoted a first position and the entrance to said first chamber being denoted a second position, said ball valve chamber housing a ball therein that is movable,
• whereby, said ball is operable to move between said first and second positions to restrict flow of gas through said bulkhead,
• whereby, at a second instant, said first chamber is pressurized, forcing said ball of said ball valve into said first position, suppressing gas flow into the second chamber and thereby insulating said first chamber from said second chamber,
• whereby, at a third instant, a pressure drop in said first chamber loosens engagement of said ball of said ball valve in said ball valve chamber from said first position and increased pressure in said second chamber forces said ball into said second position and isolates said second chamber from said first chamber,
• first and second elongated gas generating charges of solid pyrotechnic material contained in said first and second elongated chamber, respectively,
• first and second elongated perforated igniter tubes provided in operative relation with said first and second elongated gas generating charges, respectively, each of said perforated igniter tubes having a first end and a second end, and
• an initiator provided in operative relation with only one of said perforated igniter tubes.