Abstract: Steering wheel comprising a drive rim consisting of an internal polyurethane core, covered at least partially with a coating of a material with an aesthetically finer quality. The steering wheel is manufactured starting from a driving rim with a polyurethane core by means of a procedure comprising the following steps: grinding of the surface of the polyurethane core, providing a coating element of wood having plane shape and size congruent to at least one portion of the polyurethane core, applying of the coating element to the polyurethane core and respective bending of the same by means of a hot press provided with a suitable template, removing the excess part of the coating element, honing of the portion of the rim coated by the coating element, and protective varnishing of the coated rim.

Abstract: In a pump chassis (112), spring-loaded members (108a, 108b) engage a pumping cassette (114) to it in a predetermined position. The members each include pairs of latches (110a, 110b) that are each beveled to form a ramp so that the latches and associated members are forced outwardly to enable the pumping cassette to be seated within the pump chassis. The latches engage the pump cassette as it is seated, holding it securely. A release button (138) is attached to a spring-loaded shaft (144) that extends into the interior of the pump chassis. The shaft has a ramp formed on its inner end. When the user depresses the release button, the ramp rides under inwardly extending arms (162a, 162b) provided on the members, forcing the members and attached latches to move outwardly. As the members move outwardly, the pumping cassette is released and readily removed.

Abstract: An ignition enhancer and gas heater composition for vehicle occupant restraint systems (commonly known as “airbags”) contains a non-azide fuel, an oxidizer and a metal. The ignition enhancer composition provides reliable and consistent ignition of a main propellant composition to produce a sufficient amount of gas to inflate an attached airbag within ten to eighty milliseconds or successfully heat the stored gas in a hybrid system. In a preferred embodiment, the enhancer composition contains 5-aminotetrazole, strontium nitrate, boron nitride, mica or clay and aluminum.

Abstract: A stepper motor controller and method for controlling the motion of a stepper motor by selectively energizing the motor's windings so that the current level in the windings match a desired current profile. The motor controller comprises a master logic device, preferably a microprocessor or microcontroller, which is programmed with logic for issuing control signals corresponding to the sequence with which the windings of the stepper motor are energized and the desired current profile. A portion of the control signals are received by a slaved logic device, which is programmed with logic for generating ramp command signals corresponding to the desired current profile. The slaved logic device produces a ramp command signal that is received by a digital potentiometer, which preferably includes an up/down counter. The output signal produced by the digital potentiometer corresponds to a current count value of the up/down counter, and it is controlled by the ramp command signals.

Abstract: The invention provides a permeable treatment wall comprising one or more high-permeability columns, as well as a methods for preparing such a permeable treatment wall.

Abstract: A dual stage gas generator for inflating an airbag used in vehicle occupant restraint systems. Wherein the gas generator contains primary and secondary combustion chambers and a common gas exiting port for controlling the combustion pressure in both combustion chambers. Said gas generator when activated can cause an airbag to inflate at different rates dependent on the firing sequence used. The low output performance level occurs when only the primary stage is deployed. Simultaneous firing of both the primary and secondary stage constitutes the upper performance limits, while staging results from deployment of the primary stage and some time later deployment of the secondary stage. The staging provides a means to supply inflation gas in a variable rate fashion.

Abstract: An airbag cover includes a tear seam formed by a groove in the front side of the airbag cover as well as the groove in the back side of the airbag cover. These grooves are separated by a transverse layer. The transverse layer has a length, thickness and angle or orientation with respect to the airbag cover. This length, thickness, and angle vary at different locations along the tear seam. These variations permit control over the speed at which the deployment door opens as well as the order in which different portions of the tear seam tear.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering wheel is provided with an airbag. The steering wheel has a central part for connection to a steering wheel attachment, having a cavity for housing a module comprising an airbag, an outer ring and a plurality of substantially radial spokes connecting the outer ring to the central part of the steering wheel. The module is provided with a peripheral metal part overlapping spokes so as to give the steering wheel a sporting appearance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-stage gas bag inflator, operable initially, when activated, to cause the gas bag to deploy slowly and then, after a delay, to deploy rapidly, includes a housing having at least first and second chambers of preferably different size, separated by a bulkhead. One chamber is preferably smaller since it can be used to produce a smaller amount of gas to cause the initial slow deployment of the gas bag. A gas generant charge is ignited in the first chamber, and after some delay, a gas generant charge in the second chamber is ignited. The multi-stage inflator according to this invention can be used to provide the varying inflation rates needed to adjust the inflation of air bags to accommodate the severity of the collision and the position of the occupants. The inventive inflator is small in size and economical to produce.

Abstract: A device for tightening a vehicle seatbelt has a piston-like drive member arranged in a guide tube. A propellant gas drives the drive member by expanding in a pressure chamber adjoining the drive member. A movement transmitting system connects the drive member and the seatbelt to be tightened. The drive member is a step piston which is provided with a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber. A propellant gas discharge system supplies the propellant gas to the pressure chambers. The propellant gas flows into the first pressure chamber and the step piston is set into motion by the propellant gas. The propellant gas acting in the first pressure chamber clears a discharge orifice in the second pressure chamber after covering a first distance so the propellant gas flowing into the second pressure chamber and acting therein additionally drives the step piston.

Abstract: A load limiting apparatus for a vehicle safety restraint belt is inserted in the force path between a mounting for a seat belt and a vehicle occupant. The load limiting apparatus has a vessel which contains fluid. The fluid is moved from one part of the vessel to another through a valve having a tapering profile to decrease the open area of a constriction as a function of the deceleration of the vehicle in a crash. Ideally the load limiting is self regulating and the force absorbed increases with increasing crash severity.

Abstract: A rear seat vehicle seat belt buckle arrangement includes a buckle head and webbing for attaching the buckle head to a load bearing part of the vehicle. The webbing is fixed to at least two spaced apart attachment locations connected to the load bearing part of the vehicle. The webbing may be a single piece of webbing looped through a slot in the buckle head or two separate lengths of webbing and it may be attached to opposite or to spaced apart rings mounted to a mounting bracket bolted to a fixed part of the vehicle (e.g. a floor plate). The fixing bolt preferably passes between the two splayed parts of the webbing to retain the splayed form. This provides more comfort to the passenger and more flexibility whilst optimizing the safety of the restraint by restricting forward movement of the passenger in a crash and applying crash leads appropriately.

Abstract: A portable plant chlorophyll imaging system is described which collects light reflected from a target plant and separates the collected light into two different wavelength bands. These wavelength bands, or channels, are described as having center wavelengths of 700 nm and 840 nm. The light collected in these two channels is processed using synchronized video cameras. A controller provided in the system compares the level of light of video images reflected from a target plant with a reference level of light from a source illuminating the plant. The percent of reflection in the two separate wavelength bands from a target plant are compared to provide a ratio video image which indicates a relative level of plant chlorophyll content and physiological stress. Multiple display modes are described for viewing the video images.

Abstract: A load limiting device is used with a vehicle seat belt during a crash to allow a limited and controlled forward motion of a vehicle occupant after the retractor has locked. The load limiting device decreases the forces exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant's torso. The load limiting device has a metal member and means for deforming the metal member associated with the seat belt. Excessive load on the seat belt is transferred to the metal member by deforming the metal member.

Abstract: A buckle for a vehicle safety restraint for use with a pretensioner has an actuating button for operating a latch for the tongue of the safety restraint. The button is connected via pulleys to a counterbalancing mass. When the pretensioner is operated and the buckle is retracted, the inertia of the mass counteracts the inertia of the button. Thus the button is prevented from moving in relation to the buckle in a direction which would tend to unlatch the tongue of the safety restraint.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle and latch indicating system employs a seat belt buckle with a Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor spaced from a magnet above a gap through which a ferromagnetic latch protrudes. The latch may reside at three distinct positions: unlatched, latched, and latched without the presence of a hasp. The latch functions as a magnetic field concentrator with the result that the sensed magnetic field is dependent on latch position. The GMR sensor provides a signal indicating the sensor is working at all times, and provides specific information based on physical positioning of the critical components of the belt and which indicates that the buckle is mated to the seat belt hasp.

Abstract: A new filtration system for gas generators, especially side impact airbag inflators for use in automobiles, has a sheet of expanded metal formed into a tube, cylinder or other geometric form and a bed of expanded metal chips. The interior of the geometric form is filled with chips of expanded metal and this configuration has been found extremely effective in cooling and filtering the gases produced during the combustion of a gas generant. The filtration system disposed between the gas generant bed and the gas exit apertures of the inflator housing. The weight of the filtration system should be at least four times the weight of the gas generant placed in the inflator housing.

Abstract: An airbag for an airbag module in a vehicle has an upper fabric ply, a lower fabric ply and a middle ply which are connected to one another along their circumferential regions. The middle ply extends between the upper fabric ply and the lower fabric ply essentially parallel to these and is firmly connected to the upper fabric ply and the lower fabric ply with a direct close fit only along its circumference. The lower fabric ply has a gas inlet port and the middle ply has a gas passage.