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 dual chamber inflator 10 utilizes a housing 12 having two combustion chambers 14 and 16, respectively contained within a monolithic body 18. A partition 32 integral to the monolithic body 18 and centrally disposed thereof, forms two discrete propellant chambers 14 and 16 in fluid communication with the housing 12.

Abstract: At least one electromagnetic lens having a first contour is disposed proximate to a dielectric substrate having a first edge having a second contour. A plurality of antenna feed elements, for example, end-fire antennas, are disposed on the dielectric substrate along the second contour. A signal applied to a corporate feed port is switched to the antenna feed elements by a switching network, wherein each antenna feed element launches an electromagnetic wave that is diffracted by the at least one electromagnetic lens so as to form an associated beam of electromagnetic energy. Different antenna feed elements generate different beams of electromagnetic energy in different directions. A pair of electromagnetic lenses with associated antenna feed elements at different edge locations on the dielectric substrate provide for bi-static operation. A reflector may be used to redirect the beams of electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A radar system (14, 20, 22) generates a plurality of data points (x, y) representative of the position of a tracked object (48), and a representation of an associated path (50, 60) is formed therefrom. At least one quality measure, and at least one heading measure, of said representation, is calculated corresponding to at least one map coordinate (44). The quality and heading measures are stored in memory as a track map. Data from other tracked objects (58) is used to update the track map (38), resulting a plurality of heading values at associated map coordinates (44) that are representative of a path (42) followed by the tracked objects (48, 58).

Abstract: A pretensioner 10 for a seat belt 12 utilizes a strap 34 coiled about a clutch assembly 46 wherein the clutch assembly 46 is in normal operation of a vehicle, rotatable about a portion of a webbing reel shaft 16. The pretensioner 10 contains a first passage 20 and a second passage 22 for the respective containment of the clutch assembly 46 and an actuator 32, wherein each passage is formed perpendicular and in volumetric intersection with the other. The pretensioner 10 also contains a gas generant composition 30 in combustive communication with the actuator 32. Upon ignition, the gas pressure produced by the pyrotechnic 30 propels the actuator 32 into the strap 34, thereby effecting rotary advancement of the clutch assembly 46 and the shaft 16, and thus pretensioning the seat belt 12 wound about a spool 13 of a seat belt retractor 14, wherein the spool 13 is rotatably engaged with a second portion of the shaft 16 and thus provided in coaxial relation with the clutch assembly 46.

Abstract: A vehicle crash is sensed by generating a magnetic flux in a body portion of a vehicle from an intrinsic magnetomotive force in the body portion, conducting the magnetic flux in a closed magnetic circuit within the vehicle, generating a signal responsive to the magnetic flux, and discriminating the vehicle crash responsive to the signal, wherein the magnetic circuit comprises the body portion, which is subject to impact during the vehicle crash.

Abstract: An electric field sensor (12) comprising at least one electrode (26) mountable within a seat (14) is operatively coupled to a sensing circuit (38), which applies an oscillating signal (28), comprising at least one frequency or at least one pulse, to at least one electrode (26) and generates a signal (32) responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to the electric field sensor (12). At least one frequency or pulse width of the applied signal (28) are adapted to be at most weakly responsive to a wetting condition of the seat (14).

Abstract: A locking power clamp assembly for repetitive use to uniformly and securely clamp a closure member over a container opening is disclosed. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm member having a clamping contact surface. The clamping arm member has an elongated dimension and is capable of generally rotational movement such that when the clamp assembly is opened the clamp arm member will move in a generally perpendicular direction away from the plane of the closure member. The clamp arm member also moves in a radial direction away from the peripheral edge of the closure member. The clamp assembly further includes at least one frame member. The clamp assembly also includes at least two link arm members each being of a different length. The clamp assembly uses a fluid operated piston and cylinder assembly with the piston being connected to one of the link arm members. The clamp assembly is connected to the frame member.

Abstract: A first electric field sensor in a seat bottom identifies whether there is normally seated, forward facing occupant on a vehicle seat by generating an electric field and sensing the effect of proximate objects thereupon. A second electric field sensor determines if an object is within an at-risk zone proximate to a safety restraint system by sensing from a proximate location the electric field generated by the first electric field sensor, and is responsive to the degree to which an object detected in the at-risk zone is electrostatically coupled to the vehicle seat. A range/proximity sensor may be provided to measure the proximity of an occupant to the seat back, so as to accommodate occupant movement prior to the deployment of the safety restraint system, and to improve occupant discrimination.

Abstract: A controlled U-hook pull-action clamp mechanism comprising, an elongated actuator member having a first pivot pin at one end thereof, and an operating portion generally located at the other end thereof, said actuator member being movable between open and closed positions to open or close the clamp mechanism, a link member attached near one end thereof via a second pivot pin to a mid-part location on said actuator member, a slidable pivot member attached to a second end of said link member, a U-shaped clamp member, with the ends of said clamp member being attached to the outer ends of the slidable pivot member, a base member, having a slide aperture therein within which said slidable pivot member is movable in back and forth directions to activate the U-shaped clamp from a closed clamped condition to an open unclamped condition.

Abstract: A method of providing gas assistance to a plastic injection molding process including an initial burst of gas at the supply pressure.

Abstract: A neural network radar processor (10) comprises a multilayer perceptron neural network (100.1) comprising an input layer (102), a second layer (122), and at least a third layer (124), wherein each layer has a plurality of nodes (108), and respective subsets of nodes (108) of the second (122) and third (124) layers are interconnected so as to form mutually exclusive subnetworks (120). In-phase and quadrature phase time series from a sampled down-converted FMCW radar signal (19) are applied to the input layer, and the neural network (100) is trained so that the nodes of the output layer (106) are responsive to targets in corresponding range cells, and different subnetworks (120) are responsive to respectively different non-overlapping sets of target ranges. The neural network is trained with signals that are germane to an FMCW radar, including a wide range of target scenarios as well as leakage signals, DC bias signals, and background clutter signals.

Abstract: A Villari effect seatbelt tension sensor 10 comprises a sensor housing 30 having a sensor chamber 32 therein. A first end 34 of the sensor housing 30 has a plurality of pull rod holes 36 therein for acceptance of a plurality of pull rods 60. A Villari effect sensor 20 comprising a magnetostrictive sensor rod 22 is disposed axially within the sensor chamber 32 and abuts the first end 34 of the sensor housing 30. A plunger 40 is disposed within the sensor chamber 32 and is slidably movable therein. One end of the pull rods 60 is secured to the plunger 40. A spring 50 is disposed between the plunger 40 and a second end 26 of the sensor rod 22 to bias the sensor rod 22 toward the first end 34 of the sensor housing 30.

Abstract: A novel electric motor rotor has a plurality of laminate discs 20 having a central aperture 22 and a plurality of slots 30 therein for acceptance of a plurality of electrically conductive bars 50. The slots 30 have a radially outwardly extending tab 34 protruding from a radially inner surface for positioning the conductive bars 50. Additionally, the slots 30 have a radially outer surface 40 having a pair of radiused sections 42 for bearing the centrifugal force of the conductive bars 50 as the rotor 10 spins, and a relieved bridge section 44 for enhanced electromagnetic properties.

Abstract: A method and system for wastewater treatment is described and is particularly suitable for industrial lagoons and pits. Specifically, an ozone gas is homogeneously distributed through an upper stratum of a contained liquid thereby creating an aerobic “cap”, while still maintaining an anaerobic lower stratum. A perforated tube or plurality of tubes fixed within the upper stratum serves to distribute the ozone. Alternately, a buoyant vehicle propelled across the surface of the liquid may also serve to distribute the ozone and create the ozonated “cap”. The vehicle provides an additional benefit of crust fragmentation and prevention thereby inhibiting and eliminating fly propagation, and hygienically improving lagoon or pit operation.

Abstract: A pressurized water closet operating system comprises an accumulator vessel for storing water and air under pressure. A flush valve controls the discharge of water from the vessel and comprises a cylinder having a lower end in fluid communication with the outlet of said vessel, a piston defining upper and lower chambers therein, an orifice in the piston, an aperture in the cylinder providing fluid communication between the interior of the accumulator vessel and the lower chamber in the cylinder, a valve on the piston normally closing the lower end of the cylinder so as to close the water outlet and openable upon upward movement of the piston to permit the discharge of water, and a normally closed flush valve actuator openable to effect fluid communication between ambient air pressure and the upper chamber in the cylinder whereby a fluid pressure differential across said piston effects upward movement thereof and opening of the valve.

Abstract: A vacuum filter includes a cylindrical filter drum 12 having both a perforate section 14 and an imperforate section 16. The drum is positioned in a tank 20 so that the imperforate section is oriented upwardly therein. A level controller is provided to maintain the level of contaminated fluid below the top of the imperforate section but above the perforate section. A filter belt 54 wrapped around the filter drum is repositioned by rotating the drum when the differential pressure between the interior and exterior of the drum reaches a predetermined value. The inlet ends 35 of the suction pipes 34 are continuously positioned at the lowest point of the drum so that the pump does not lose suction when the drum is rotated thereby facilitating continuous filtration of the contaminated fluid through the vacuum filter.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a recuperator for a gas turbine engine comprises the steps of stamping a plurality of spaced integral ribs on a metal plate so as to define a plurality of high pressure channels, stamping a plurality of spaced integral ribs on a second metal plate so as to define a plurality of low pressure channels, joining said first and second metal plates to form a cell, and joining a plurality of said cells to one another.

Abstract: A nozzle having an internally threaded bore communicating through a mold body with a source of a pressurized gas, and an externally threaded pin received within and engaging the threaded bore. The pin has a machined longitudinal surface creating an air passage through the bore when the pin is in place. At the outlet end of the nozzle the pin carries one or more washers having air passages machined therein.