Power actuator suitable for vehicle occupant restraint systems

摘要

The power actuator has a piston assembly (11) which is received in a fixed cylindrical (13) for either directly or indirectly engaging a vehicle occupant restraint member, and a propellent (14) for rapidly increasing the inner pressure of the cylinder to push the piston assembly outward so that the restraint member may be instantaneusly driven. A spring (16) is interposed between the piston assembly and the propellent to urge the piston assembly in the projection direction. The front end of the propellent fits into the central opening of the spring so that the available space may be fully utilized.