Abstract: A power and free conveying system includes a track assembly having a power track and a free track spaced vertically from the power track, a power trolley supported on the power track for movement therealong and a free trolley supported on the free track for movement therealong. The free trolley includes a moveable holdback dog engageable and disengageable with the power trolley. The free trolley includes a retractable dog having a first position engageable with the power trolley and a second position disengageable with the power trolley and engageable with the holdback dog to completely disengage the free trolley from the power trolley upon engaging another one of the free trolley.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a movement characteristic of an object has a housing, an emitter emitting electromagnetic radiation, a detector for receiving electromagnetic radiation, a rod having a graduated scale with a plurality of first regions and second regions for reflecting the electromagnetic radiation from the emitter. A plurality of rollers positions the rod within the housing. As the object moves the first and second regions, the emitter and detector reflect different levels of electromagnetic radiation. The detector generates an output voltage corresponding the level of reflected radiation from the scale. The output voltage is then converted into displacement, velocity, or acceleration.

Abstract: A trim component for mounting to a structural member of an automotive vehicle including a body fixedly mounted to a structural member, the body including a plurality of energy absorbing ribs spaced relative to one another along the body and disposed adjacent to the structural member when the trim component is mounted thereto. The energy absorbing ribs include a series of fingers extending from the body and spaced relative to one another. The fingers deflect upon contact with the structural member in response to a force acting on the body to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the force.

Abstract: An automotive seat belt pretensioner assembly is provided which includes a housing assembly (12) for receiving a cable (18) that is driven by a piston (16) toward an open end (54) of an actuator housing (24) in response to the operation of a pyrotechnic gas generating device (20). A plastic end cap (26) is provided for covering the housing end (54). The cap (26) includes a frangible end wall (54) for permitting passage of an end (46) of the cable (18). The frangible end wall (54) includes a pattern of reduced wall thickness (56).

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a crash test on a motor vehicle is described, in which the vehicle is accelerated on a track by means of a driving arrangement before it strikes an obstacle. A data recording unit associated with the vehicle and serving to record the measuring data of the crash test is not mounted on the vehicle itself, but on a follower vehicle guided behind the vehicle. This follower vehicle has associated with it a braking mechanism, which brings about braking of it before the vehicle crashes against the obstacle. A measuring cable connection is provided between the vehicle and the follower vehicle, which has a length at least great enough to cover the distance between the vehicle in the crashed condition and the follower vehicle in the braked condition. Preferably, a cable storage device for the measuring cable is provided on the follower vehicle, from which the measuring cable is hung in meander-like loops and is automatically released on braking of the follower vehicle.

Abstract: A press 14 used to impart shape to a workpiece through a tool actuator assembly 62, 63, 64. The press 10 has a crown 16 and a bed 17 between which the workpiece is located. Columns 57, 58, 59, 60 extend between the crown 16 and the bed 17. Each tool actuator assembly 62, 63, 64 is attached to a side of the press and is adjustably mounted between a pair of adjacent press columns.

Abstract: A upper track roller mechanism for an automotive vehicle sliding door is provided in which the upper track is formed as a generally U-shaped track member having centering mechanisms associated with it for preventing vertical movement of the roller into rubbing contact with upper or lower portions of the track. The centering mechanisms may include one or more chamfers formed on the outer wall of the track and a washer carried adjacent the roller in juxtaposition with the portion of the track.

Abstract: A guide mechanism for a sliding door of a vehicle includes a wedge with a protruding blade of thickness t fastened to an edge portion of the door, and a guide body fastened to a header of the vehicle. The vehicle header and edge portion of the door are adjacent one another when the door is in a closed position. First and second flexible wings are connected to the guide body forming a pair of wings defining a slot between the first and second wings with the wings separated a minimum distance, .delta..sub.0, across the slot. First and second flanges respectively connected to the first and second wings extend away from one another forming a lead-in channel having a dimension greater than the minimum distance, .delta..sub.0, for guiding the blade to engage the slot when the door is in the closed position. Making the blade thickness, t, greater than the minimum distance, .delta..sub.

Abstract: A power and free conveying system includes a track assembly having a power track and a free track spaced vertically from the power track, a power trolley supported on the power track for movement therealong and a free trolley supported on the free track for movement therealong. The free trolley includes a moveable holdback dog engageable and disengageable with the power trolley. The free trolley includes a retractable dog having a first position engageable with the power trolley and a second position disengageable with the power trolley and engageable with the holdback dog to completely disengage the free trolley from the power trolley upon engaging another one of the free trolley.

Abstract: An energy absorbing bolster (32) is provided for attachment to downward facing surfaces of an energy absorbing steering column support bracket (24). The bolster (32) includes longitudinally spaced mounting flanges (40, 42) for securement to the support bracket (24) and a energy absorbing linkage (44) arranged between the mounting flanges, the linkage taking the form of front and rear carrier portions (64, 46), depending from the support bracket and a bridge portion (66), and a load transfer portion (68) arranged between them.

Abstract: A trim component for mounting to a structural member of an automotive vehicle presenting an edge including a body adapted to be fixedly mounted to the structural member and extending substantially along the length thereof. The body presents a primary surface facing the interior of the vehicle and a contoured mounting surface disposed opposite the primary surface and corresponding to the shape of the structural member. The contoured mounting surface includes a plate disposed adjacent the edge presented by the structural member when the trim component is mounted thereto.

Abstract: A socket end closure arrangement comprises a socket 4 in an article 5 and a closure 1 for the socket end. The closure 1 comprises a plug 2 for fitting into the socket 4, and to which plug 2 is attached, preferably tangentially, a disc-like flange 3. The plug 2 has spherically-arranged surfaces having a curvature substantially derived from the surface of a sphere and permitting selection of the orientation of the plug in fitting of the plug 2, preferably in interference-fit manner, into the socket 4 from a plurality of alternative orientations about at least one axis transverse to the longitudinal axis y of the socket 4. The flange 3 preferably locates into a surface recess 7 to become flush with the surface of the article 5. The plug may be physically structured in providing resilience and accordingly may be segmented 24. The axis y may be non-perpendicular to the plane of, or tangent to, the article surface, and the axis x of the recess 7 may not be aligned with axis y.

Abstract: An automotive seat belt pretensioner assembly is provided which includes a housing assembly (12) for receiving a cable (18) that is driven by a piston (16) toward an open end (54) of an actuator housing (24) in response to the operation of a pyrotechnic gas generating device (20). A plastic end cap (26) is provided for covering the housing end (54). The cap (26) includes a frangible end wall (54) for permitting passage of an end (46) of the cable (18). The frangible end wall(54) includes a pattern of reduced wall thickness (56).

Abstract: A split joint construction for a space frame on an automotive vehicle includes at least one rocker member extending longitudinally, at least one structural member having extensions extending longitudinally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, each of the extensions having at least one channel to receive the rocker member, and a fastening mechanism for securing the structural member and rocker member together.

Abstract: A door closer mechanism, particularly for heavy trucks, provides closer mechanism (30) having a pedal (32) for drawing a cable (36) in tension. The door (16) of the truck (10) includes a hinge (18) mounted on the body (12) of the truck (10), and the cable (36) drivingly engages an arm (26) of the hinge (18) to effect closure of the door (16).

Abstract: An improved structure is provided for supporting pillars of automotive vehicles which provides energy absorption through provision of a pair of energy absorbing chambers (52,50) defined by an interior trim pillar (28) and interior (26) and exterior (24) panels forming the "A" pillar of a vehicle (10), respectively. Energy absorbing media (30), such as springs (76,78,86), elongated tubes (84) and viscous fluids are taught for use as energy absorbers.

Abstract: A control circuit (46) for an air bag disabling system (16,22) includes a resistive test load (66) arranged in parallel with the resistive elements of the air bag (48) and in some embodiments includes a fuse (64) in series with the resistive test load (66), the resistive test load providing for the operation of the vehicle air bag system independent of the disabling effected by the disabling system and the fuse providing indication of operation of the air bag disabling system.

Abstract: A structural door belt seal (56) for an automotive vehicle is provided which includes an elastomeric seal member (60) mounted on a belt edge portion (51) of the door (50) and a stiffening member (70) carried within the elastomeric seal member (56), and further including a reinforcing member (72) extending outwardly from the elastomeric seal member (56) with the stiffening member (70).

Abstract: A analytical method is provided for predicting human evaluation response to the quality of sounds produced by the operation of the power door lock actuator assembly involving the computation of predicted sound preference from recorded data on certain sound parameters of a sample or samples of the power door lock actuator mechanism.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint device is provided for an automotive vehicle for operation between the upper portion of the vehicle occupant and the vehicle side. The device 32 is an airbag assembly carried within and forming a structural part of the roof side rail 30 of the vehicle. The airbag assembly 32 includes an inflator housing 46 positioned within the roof side rail 30 and a trim cover 66 overlies the roof side rail and defines a downward facing passage 70 so that inflation of an airbag 66 effects downward opening of the airbag 60 between the occupant seat 26, the door 16 and window 17 of the vehicle.