Patent ID: 8028627
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A gas generator for an occupant protection system in a motor vehicle, comprising: an outer housing; a gas generating substance; an interior space formed in the outer housing for containing the gas generating substance; an outflow opening for discharging gas generated in the interior space out of the gas generator, and a flow connection in a form of a channel of the gas generator between the interior space and the outflow opening, wherein a cross section of the flow connection between the interior space and the outflow opening is designed to be temperature-dependently variable, wherein by changing the cross section of the flow connection, an additional flow path between the interior space and the outflow opening is provided, and wherein the additional flow path is designed such that gas flowing towards the outflow opening through the additional flow path experiences a smaller number of changes of direction than gas flowing through a flow path existing before the change of the cross section.