Abstract: An energy absorption device for safety nets and/or for rope constructions, in particular an impact damping device and/or a shock damping device and/or a traction rope brake device, has a brake unit which comprises at least one deflection element and at least one brake element extending at least section-wise around the deflection element and which is configured for an at least partial absorption and/or conversion of kinetic energy in at least one load case, in particular an impact case, and has a connection unit, which is configured for a fixation of the brake unit in at least one location of use, wherein the brake element is guided around the deflection element in a U-shape, wherein the brake element includes at least one first brake portion and at least one second brake portion, the brake portions differing from one another at least in regard to their local load capacities, and the first brake portion including at least one material recess, in particular an oblong hole.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a device that attenuates shock loads experienced by a body supported by a moveable structure during a high energy impact event. The device includes an elongated metal bar with a principal axis coinciding with a length dimension of the bar, and an anti-rotation member configured to rotationally fix the metal bar at a first torque application point to one of the body and the moveable structure. A torque application member is located at a second torque application point on the bar, and spaced apart from the anti-rotation member by a distance defining a working section of the bar. The torque application member is connected to the other one of the body and the moveable structure, and configured to impart a twisting moment to the working section of the bar proportional to an acceleration induced inertia load between the structure and the body.

Abstract: Provided are a seat belt retractor and a seat belt apparatus the number of components of which can be reduced and the size and weight of which can be reduced. A pretensioner 5 includes a rotor 51 that is connected coaxially with a spool 2 and that has a plurality of engaging teeth 51a formed on the outer periphery thereof, a power generating means 52 that engages with the engaging teeth 51a and rotates the rotor 51, and a cover member 53 that houses at least the rotor 51, and the cover member 53 is disposed inside the base frame 3, and can bear the spool 2.

Abstract: One modular aviation equipment rack has vertical and horizontal tubing members fixed together via a plurality of identical corner pieces to form a rectangular frame. Two opposing faces of each vertical tubing member have holes drilled therein in a repeating pattern, and two opposing faces of each horizontal tubing member have holes drilled therein in a repeating pattern. Each corner piece has a vertical flange received by a vertical tubing member, and a lateral flange received by a horizontal tubing member. Each vertical flange has apertures corresponding to the vertical tubing member holes, and each lateral flange has apertures corresponding to the horizontal tubing member holes. Two of the vertical tubing members are coplanar, and a backer strip is secured to a back face of one of the coplanar members. The backer strip is configured to provide electrical ground for the rack.

Abstract: A connector assembly or connecting device for elastically connecting a steering wheel of a vehicle to a rotary member supported by a stationary member fixed to the vehicle body such that the rotary member is rotatable upon rotation of the steering wheel to steer the vehicle, the connector assembly including a first member to be fixed to the rotary member for rotation with the rotary member, a second member to be fixed to the steering wheel for rotation with the steering wheel, an elastic body interposed between the first and second members to elastically connecting the first and second members, and a relative-rotation restrictor located between the first and second members, for restricting an amount of elastic deformation of the elastic body upon rotation of the second member relative to the first member, to restrict a maximum angle of relative rotation of the first and second members permitted by the elastic deformation of the elastic body, for thereby restricting a maximum angle of rotation of the steering

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising two members having rotational movement relative to each other to be retarded, of which the first member comprises an axle and the second a housing (25) adapted to receive the axle. This device is characterized by retarding means comprising at least a part of the wall (24) bounding the housing, of elastically deformable flexible material, and having, facing the axle, at least one working surface (28) of cam form, and at least one projection on that axle, adapted to cooperate with a working surface (28) associated therewith to retard the movement with the resisting couple being adapted to the driving couple at each angular position. Preferably, the first member is a rotor and each projection is a gadroon extending the length of a generatrix of the axle.

Abstract: This invention offers advantages over the prior art by providing a simple, inexpensive mechanism and method for reducing the shock load on the drive of a rotary or linear actuator when the motion of the actuator output shaft is slowed, even to the point of stopping. This is referred to as bringing the actuator to a “soft stop.” This invention uses a single spring wherein the spring may be a torsion, ribbon or compression spring. The mechanism generally includes a spring, a spring cup and a drive cup. When the motion of the output shaft is slowed or reaches its limit of travel, the spring begins to store energy and brings the drive cup to a soft stop.

Abstract: A motor vehicle's rear bench seat has a back seat structure acting as a reclining back and at least one cam plate for guiding the seat back structure relative to a part affixed to the car structure. An element is provided for the absorption of energy, acting in case of a collision, between the cam plate and the part affixed to the car structure.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper including an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a space between the inner and outer cylinders, first and second end walls in the inner cylinder, a piston rod extending only through the first end wall and supported therein by a ball bearing assembly, a first portion of the piston on one side of the first end wall and within the inner cylinder, a second portion of the piston on the opposite side of the first end wall and external to the inner cylinder, a piston head on the first portion of the piston rod within the inner cylinder, a first chamber in the inner cylinder between the piston head and the first end wall, a second chamber in the inner cylinder between the piston head and the second end wall, an accumulator in communication with the second chamber, a fluid-containing seal between the first end wall and the second portion of the piston rod, and a closed fluid circuit between the accumulator and the fluid-containing seal through the space between the inner and outer cylinders.

Abstract: A motion converting device includes a plurality of branched elements. Each branched element includes a base beam, an intermediate beam, and a coupling beam. The base beam is elastically deformable, and one end of the base beam is fixed such that the base beam is slanted with respect to a base. The intermediate beam is also elastically deformable, and one end of the intermediate beam is fixed to the base beam at a position which is offset from a central portion of the base beam towards another end of the base beam. The coupling beam is likewise elastically deformable, and one end of the coupling beam is fixed to the same position as the intermediate beam. At each of the branched elements, the other end of the base beam is fixed to another end of an intermediate beam of another branched element, such that the plurality of branched elements is disposed in a loop-like arrangement.

Abstract: A force limiter for a safety belt system is provided, which allows relative rotation-between a shaft and an anchoring part in a first direction when a predetermined torque acts between the shaft and the anchoring part. The force limiter comprises at least one deformable element which, in an initial condition thereof, extends from the anchoring part to the shaft and is at least in part trained about the shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A break-away bracket for connecting structural beams in a vehicle such as connecting a transmission cross-member to a frame rail. The break-away bracket connects to the cross-member by use of a connecting pin. During normal operation, the cross-member is fixed to the bracket, which, in turn, is welded to the frame rail and acts as a normal fixed bracket. During the imposition of excessive loads on the front of the vehicle, a slot connecting between a hole for the connecting pin and an edge of the bracket allows the pin and cross-member to pull away from a portion of the bracket. The bracket yields, allowing axial displacement between the cross-member and the frame rail while still keeping the connection between the two components intact.

Abstract: A damper of vibrations of the viscous fluid type has a two-piece housing of which a plate is formed by a spinforming process. The formed plate has a plurality of internal walls of which at least a portion of the walls are usable as bearing surfaces after being spinformed and require no further machining thereof. The damper includes a plurality of individual bearings for radially and axially positioning a rotatable weight within the housing to form preselected spaces between the housing and the weight. An annular supply chamber and the preselected spaces have a viscous fluid disposed therein to provide a damping medium between the rotatable weight and the housing.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device used as a load limiting member in a structure to control its response to applied loads is disclosed and functions by utilizing a spool assembly 20 having flanged ends 36 and an interior cavity 34 of sufficiently large diameter to cause it to deform plastically at a prescribed load. In application, the spool 20 is utilized as a pivot point for the legs 14 of an aircraft seat 12. When properly designed and integrated into the seat arrangement 10, the spool 20 will twist about its axis, deforming plastically when the impact load exceeds the spool yield value. Through this deformation, spool 20 absorbs the kinetic energy of the movement of seat 10 at a substantially constant rate, thereby controlling the level of loads transmitted to the seat occupant. By proper sizing and selection of materials, it is possible to control load response in a predictable manner.

Abstract: An energy absorber system utilizing a pair of housings having facing cavities and with a hollow deformable torsion member interconnecting the housings. One portion of the torsion member is received in the cavity of one housing and another portion of the torsion member is received in the cavity of the other housing. The housing cavities have cross-sectional conformations which receive the torsion member in such a manner that relative rotation therebetween is prevented. Rotation of one housing relative to the other deforms the torsion member elastically and/or plastically. Such deformation absorbs the energy of forces tending to rotate the housings.