Patent ID: 8052169

Claim:
A gas generator for inflating a gas bag of a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising: an ignitor configured to produce gas and/or heat upon activation by a control signal of the vehicle; a first chamber comprising a propellant ignitable by gas and/or heat produced by the ignitor, wherein the ignitor is a single ignitor which both ignites the propellant and produces a pressure wave, a second chamber comprising pressurized inflation gas; at least one an outlet opening through which the inflation gas can flow out of the second chamber and into the gas bag; a passage through which gas and/or heat produced by the ignitor can flow from the ignitor into the second chamber; sealing means sealing the outlet opening, wherein the gas generator is configured in such a way that after activation of the ignitor gas and/or heat produced by the ignitor ignites the propellant and the pressure wave is created in the pressurized gas under the direct or indirect impact of gas produced by the ignitor, wherein the pressure wave is created by an abrupt inflow of gas produced by the ignitor into the second chamber via the passage upon activation of the ignitor, wherein the pressure wave breaks the sealing means such that inflation gas can escape from the second chamber via the outlet opening, and wherein the gas generator is configured in such a way that the sealing means breaks and inflation gas escapes from the outlet opening before combustion gas generated by the combustion of the propellant enters into the second chamber.