Gas generator, particularly for an air bag

A gas generator comprising

• (a) a bottle defining an inner bottle space containing compressed gas and an outlet passage through which the compressed gas may flow out of said bottle;
• (b) a housing supported within said bottle;
• said housing having a side wall defining an inner housing space communicating with said outlet passage;
• (c) a movable element disposed in said housing and being displaceable therein in a direction of motion along said side wall between an initial position and an advanced position;
• (d) an externally actuatable squib positioned in said housing for propelling said movable element from said initial position into said advanced position;
• (e) a fuse disposed in said housing and ignitable by said squib;
• (f) a combustible material disposed in said housing and being ignitable by said fuse after a predetermined delay to burn in a combustion zone;
• (g) an aperture provided in said side wall of said housing for establishing communication between said inner bottle space and said outlet passage through said inner housing space;
• and
• (h) a sealing disc secured to said side wall and obturating said aperture for preventing communication between said inner bottle space and said outlet passage;
• in said initial position of said movable element said sealing disc being pressed into engagement with said movable element by the pressure of the compressed gas in said inner bottle space;
• in said advanced position of said movable element said movable element being remote from said aperture and said sealing disc, whereby pressure of the compressed gas in said bottle space removes said sealing disc for allowing the compressed gas to flow out of the inner bottle space through said aperture, said inner housing space and said outlet passage.

A gas generator comprising

• (a) a bottle defining an inner bottle space containing compressed gas and an outlet passage through which the compressed gas may flow out of said bottle;
• (b) a housing supported within said bottle;
• said housing having a side wall defining an inner housing space communicating with said outlet passage;
• (c) a movable element disposed in said housing and being displaceable therein in a direction of motion along said side wall between an initial position and an advanced position;
• said movable element having a first portion and a tapered, second portion;
• (d) externally actuatable triggering means positioned in said housing for propelling said movable element from said initial position into said advanced position;
• (e) an aperture provided in said side wall of said housing for establishing communication between said inner bottle space and said outlet passage through said inner housing space;
• and
• (f) a sealing disc secured to said side wall and obturating said aperture for preventing communication between said inner bottle space and said outlet passage;
• in said initial position of said movable element said sealing disc being pressed into engagement with said first portion of said movable element by the pressure of the compressed gas in said inner bottle space;
• in said advanced position of said movable element said movable element being remote from said aperture and said sealing disc, whereby pressure of the compressed gas in said bottle space removes said sealing disc for allowing the compressed gas to flow out of the inner bottle space through said aperture, said inner housing space and said outlet passage;
• said tapered, second portion of said movable element being in engagement with said sealing disc during motion of said movable element from said initial position to said advanced position for gradually opening said aperture.