Gas generator free of pyrotechnics
AssigneeTRW Airbag Systems GmbH
InventorsFranz Fuerst, Armin Stark, Marc Winterhalder, Siegfried Zeuner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas generator, in particular for vehicle passive restraint systems, is constructed without pyrotechnical components for gas production, gas release, or gas heating. The gas generator includes a compressed gas container having an opening that is releasably closed by a closure such as a burst diaphragm, and at least one electrical and/or magnetic device arranged to destroy or release the closure upon triggering. It is also possible to achieve gas heating without the use of pyrotechnical components by coupling electrical and/or magnetic energy from the electrical and/or magnetic device into the gas container and particularly into the gas contained therein.
Claims18
A gas generator for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a gas container having an outlet aperture, a gas contained under pressure within said container, a closure closing said outlet aperture, two electrodes arranged spaced from one another within said gas container adjacent and spaced from an inner side of said closure facing and exposed to said gas with a gap between said electrodes and said closure, and an electrical power source that is respectively connected to said two electrodes and that is adapted to cause an electrical discharge between said electrodes.
A gas generator for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a gas container having an outlet aperture, a gas contained under pressure within said container, a closure closing said outlet aperture, an electrode arranged within said gas container adjacent and spaced from an inner side of said closure facing and exposed to said gas with a gap between said electrode and said closure, and an electrical power source that is respectively connected to said electrode and to said closure, and that is adapted to cause an electrical discharge across said gap.
A gas generator for use in a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a gas container having an outlet aperture, a gas contained under pressure within said container, a closure closing said outlet aperture, an electrode arranged within said gas container adjacent and spaced from an inner side of said electrode facing and exposed to said gas with a gap between said electrode and said closure, and an electrode power source that is respectively connected to said electrode and to said closure, wherein said closure and said electrode each respectively are in the form of a capacitor plate, and together form a capacitor that is adapted to be electrically charged by said electrical power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.