Abstract: A variable pump or motor is providing including a housing with inlet and outlet ports and a vaned rotor. Spool ends are provided at either end of the rotor thereby enhancing the effective sealing of the pump and its overall efficiency. Piston actuators are also described. A sealing means is provided in conjunction with the use of a flexible belt wherein volumetric efficiency is substantially improved.

Abstract: A rollover condition is detected responsive to the comparison of a figure of merit with a threshold, wherein the threshold is given generally as a function of a period of time commencing with a time of inception determined from one or both of a measure of lateral acceleration and a measure of angular velocity. The measures of lateral acceleration and angular velocity are filtered, and are compensated to remove offset errors. In one embodiment, the figure of merit comprises a measure function that incorporates a damping term and a product term. The product term comprises a force measure and a kinetic energy measure, wherein the force measure is responsive to the measure of lateral acceleration, and the kinetic energy measure is responsive to the measure of angular velocity. The product term may further comprise a potential energy measure that is responsive to a measure of roll angle.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a material which takes on a color or which changes its colors when selectively sensitized by ionizing radiation (especially by low doses of radiation) and which is not sensitive to visible and ultraviolet light etc. This is achieved by microcapsules containing a radiation sensitive composition comprising leuco compounds (a) and organic halogen compounds (b) as indispensable components.

Abstract: A pretensioner 10 for a seat belt 12 employs a strap 30 fixed about a pulley 34 and also fixed at an opposite end 36 to a housing 18. Upon pretensioner activation, an actuator 20 is propelled across a rectangular passage 72 thereby impelling a portion 31 of the strap 30 extending across the passage 72. Torque created by the strap 30 about the pulley 34 effects slideable and rotary engagement of the geared pulley 34 with a geared hub 38. The geared hub 38 co-axially and rotatably communicates with a seat belt retractor spool 46 wherein a seat belt retractor spool shaft 40 axially extends through hub 38 and spool 46. Activation of the pretensioner 10 therefore results in ignition of a gas generant 22 that produces sufficient gas pressure to drive the actuator 20, thereby effecting rotary movement in the pulley 34, the hub 38, the shaft 40, and the spool 46. A seat belt 12 wound about the spool 46 is thereby pretensioned.

Abstract: An occupant detection system comprises an electric field sensor in the seat bottom of a vehicle seat for discriminating objects on the seat, and a range/proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object proximate to a restraint actuator. The electric field sensor discriminates normally seated occupants from other seating conditions, and disables a restraint actuator unless a normally seated occupant is present. The range/proximity sensor disables the restraint actuator if an occupant is located in an at-risk so as to be susceptible to injury by the restraint actuator.

Abstract: An occupant detection system comprises an electric field sensor in the seat bottom of a vehicle seat for discriminating objects on the seat, and a range/proximity sensor for sensing the proximity of an occupant's torso relative to the seat back of a vehicle seat. The electric field sensor discriminates normally seated occupants from other seating conditions, and disables a restraint actuator unless a normally seated occupant is present. The range/proximity sensor disables the restraint actuator if an occupant has not been proximate to the seat back for a period of time greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A pretensioner 10 for a seat belt 12 employs a strap 30 fixed about a pulley 34 and also fixed at an opposite end 36 to a housing 18. Upon pretensioner activation, an actuator 20 is propelled across a rectangular passage 72 thereby impelling a portion 31 of the strap 30 extending across the passage 72. Torque created by the strap 30 about the pulley 34 effects rotary advancement of the geared pulley 34 with a geared clutch 37 engaged therewith. The geared clutch 37 co-axially and rotatably communicates with a seat belt retractor spool 46 wherein a seat belt retractor spool shaft 40 axially extends through the clutch 37 and spool 46. Activation of the pretensioner 10 therefore results in ignition of a gas generant 16 that produces sufficient gas pressure to drive the actuator 20 through a linear passage 72, thereby effecting rotary movement of the pulley 34, the clutch 37, the shaft 40, and the spool 46. A seat belt 12 wound about the spool 46 is thereby pretensioned.

Abstract: Methods for semisolid manufacturing of precision parts, turbine rotors for example, comprised of a plurality of high melting point alloys are given. Generally, a semisolid/thixotropic process is operated under vacuum utilizing a cooled mold. The process preferably comprises a vacuum chamber, inductive heaters to bring two or more high melting point slugs to either a solid or thixotropic phase, and a plunger that accelerates one or more high melting point solid slugs into one or more thixotropic slugs and then into a mold. Prior to heating, preconditioning at least one of the slugs to form a non-dendritic microstructure simplifies processing. The semisolid microstructure solidifies as the completed forged assembly cools. Thixotropic forging of a multi-alloy assembly achieves optimized properties in specific locations of the final product.

Abstract: The cylindrical compressor casing of a gas turbine engine has a plurality of radially inwardly and axially rearwardly opening anti-surge grooves disposed on a radially inner surface thereof whereby foreign objects ingested into the engine and entering the grooves are free to move axially rearwardly of the engine.

Abstract: A foam backed precured joint seal comprising a strip of precured elastomer wider than the joint to be sealed, the strip centrally adhered along its length to an elongated foam backing.

Abstract: Preferred gas generant compositions incorporate a combination of 5-aminotetrazole nitrate and an oxidizer. The oxidizer may be selected from a group including nonmetal and metal nitrates, nitrites, chlorates, chlorites, perchlorates, and oxides. 5-aminotetrazole nitrate is characterized as an oxygen-rich fuel and is therefore considered to be a self-deflagrating fuel. To tailor the oxygen balance in certain applications, however, the use of an oxidizer is preferred. Methods of formulating the compositions are also described. These compositions are especially suitable for inflating air bags and actuating seatbelt pretensioners in passenger-restraint devices.

Abstract: A plurality of events representative of a situation in which the host vehicle is operated are selected, including at least one set of related events. Input data is provided to an inference engine from either a first set of data representative of a target in a field of view of the host vehicle, a second set of data representative of the position or motion of the host vehicle, or a third set of data is representative of an environment of said host vehicle. The inference engine operates in accordance with an inference method to generate an output representative of a probability of occurrence of at least one event of the set of events, responsive to the input data, and possibly to one or more outputs at a past time. A countermeasure may be invoked responsive to one or more outputs from one or more inference engines.

Abstract: A pretensioner 10 for a seat belt 12 utilizes a perforated strap 34 loosely coiled about a hub 38 wherein the hub 38 is, in normal operation of a vehicle, rotatable with a webbing reel shaft 40. A plurality of protrusions 42 are circumferentially spaced about the hub and mesh with the perforated strap 34 upon activation of the pretensioner 10. The pretensioner 10 contains a first passage 44 and a second passage 46 for the respective containment of the hub 38 and an actuator 20, wherein each passage is formed perpendicular and in volumetric intersection with the other. The pretensioner 10 also contains a gas generant composition 22 in combustive communication with the actuator 20.

Abstract: A skirt assembly system for use on a mobile home. The skirt assembly system includes a plurality of telescoping studs. The skirt assembly system also includes a plurality of tracks wherein the stud are secured within the tracks with an edged of the stud facing out. The skirt assembly system also includes studs fastened to a side wall of the tracks. The skirt assembly system also includes a brace connected to the telescoping studs on one side thereof and connected to a bottom of the mobile home on an opposite end of the brace.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a detector for detecting seat occupancy with at least two flat electrodes and a separating medium that separates the two electrodes from each other. The invention provides that the separating medium (3) has at least one spacing zone (4) and one deformation zone (5), which has a greater compressibility than the spacing zone (4).

Abstract: A sense electrode (12) is driven by a first oscillatory signal (26) and at least one control electrode (14) is driven by a second oscillatory signal (30). In first (38) and second (40) states (36), the second oscillatory signal (30) respectively has a first and second phase with respect to the first oscillatory signal (26). The proximity of an electric-field-influencing media (20) to the proximity sensor (10) is responsive to the difference of third (50) and fourth (52) signals that are respectively measured when the second oscillatory signal (30) is in respective first (38) and second (40) states. The proximity sensor (10) is calibrated with a known capacitance operatively coupled to the sense electrode (12) with a plurality of switches (S1, S2) adapted so that the switches (S1, S2) have a relatively small effect on the capacitance of the sense electrode (12).

Abstract: A magnetic sensor, comprises at least one first coil at an associated at least one first location of a body of a vehicle and at least one magnetic sensing element operatively connected to at least one second location of the body of the vehicle. The at least one first coil is operatively coupled to a ferromagnetic element of a vehicle body, the at least one first and at least one second locations are in magnetic communication through a first portion of the vehicle and through a second portion of the vehicle, the first portion of the vehicle comprises a portion of the body that is susceptible to deformation by a crash, the first portion is distinct from the second portion, and at least one of the at least one first coil and the at least one magnetic sensing element comprises a coil of an electromagnetic device selected from a motor, a solenoid, a window control motor, a seat control motor, a mirror control motor, and a door lock solenoid.

Abstract: A pressurized water closet operating system comprises a water vessel, an external manifold mounted directly on said vessel, and an internally mounted flush valve assembly. The manifold comprises a water pressure regulator, an air induction system, and a manually operable flush valve actuator. The manually operable flush valve actuator controls the discharge of water under pressure from the water vessel into the toilet bowl.