Abstract: A flexible sheet of material forms an integral airbag module housing enclosing an inflator and inflatable airbag, which cover also acts as a deployment chute guiding the deployment of the inflating airbag to the desired deployment location in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detection of low levels of about 1 ppb of hydrophobic analyte in environmental samples using an enclosed permeable membrane enrichment device and agglutination reaction slide test apparatus.

Abstract: An inflator for a safety restraint system includes a gas storage vessel having a mouth, and a diffuser extending outwardly from the mouth and defining gas outlet ports. A combustion chamber having a flared open end is secured to the gas storage vessel peripherally adjacent the mouth and defines throttle orifices for releasing inflation gas from the gas storage vessel. A breakaway closure member is secured across the mouth of the gas storage vessel and the open end of the combustion chamber housing, the breakaway closure member including a periphery ring, a translating boss having an initiator mounted therethrough and a skirt slidingly received in the open end of the combustion chamber housing, and a frangible web connecting the boss to the periphery ring. The combustion chamber housing further defines exhaust ports opening to the gas storage vessel, and contains combustible material, which may be pyrotechnic gas generator or fluid fuel.

Abstract: Fire extinguishing or suppression apparatus and method employing a liquid pyrotechnic composition of a ternary mixture of hydroxyl ammonium nitrate, an amine nitrate salt, and water, in a closed combustion chamber of a pressure container. The apparatus is constructed to permit a large volume of water vapor exothermically generated by the reaction of a liquid pyrotechnic composition to be discharged from the combustion chamber and pressure container to an area of a fire.

Abstract: An inflator for an airbag system has a target mounted in the pressurized gas contained in the inflator. An ultrasonic transducer is mounted on an external surface of the inflator in alignment with the target. The transducer generates and receives reflected ultrasonic signals from the target. The time-of-flight of the signals which are dependent on the gas pressure are used to determine the gas pressure in the inflator. Temperature compensation is provided by fabricating the target of bimetallic material which changes the spacing of the target from the transducer with temperature or providing a temperature sensitive element, e.g. a thermocouple to electrically provide temperature compensation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for separating components (3, 20), in particular electronic components which are connected to a support such as a circuit board (1) by a fixing material such as solder and can be lifted from the support with the aid of a gripping element (17) under a preloaded force acting in the direction in which the components (3, 20) are to be lifted from the support. A lifting device (13) connected to the gripping element (17) causes the preloaded force to become effective when the fixing material reaches its melting temperature. The lifting device (17) is provided with a retaining member (9, 25, 31, 33) whose melting temperature is equal to or higher than that of the fixing material and which triggers the action of lifting the component (3, 20) when the fusible material melts.

Abstract: An airbag baffle mount for mounting an airbag cushion to an airbag module and for deflecting hot inflation gas away from a throat of the airbag cushion. The airbag baffle mount includes a generally flat retainer ring for securing the collar of the airbag cushion around an inflator of the airbag module that produces and expels the inflation gas from a plurality of inflation ports for inflating the airbag cushion upon a vehicle collision. The airbag baffle mount also includes a continuous deflection baffle extending upwardly from the retainer ring and positioned spaced-apart from the inflator, between the plurality of inflation ports of the inflator and the surrounding throat of the airbag cushion.

Abstract: In a pyrotechnic or hybrid inflator the combustion gas on its way to inflate the cushion is filtered through at least one layer of wire mesh in which the metal wire mesh is composed of wire having mechanically enhanced surface area. In particular, the strands of wire of the wire mesh is formed with and irregular, roughened peripheral surfaces.

Abstract: The assembly is useful in protecting occupants of a motor vehicle in the event of a collision. It includes a substantially closed rigid tubular metal element connected to a source of generating fluid pressure, such as a gas-generating inflator. The element is in flattened condition when installed. At the time of an imminent accident, the inflator generates fluid pressure to enlarge the flattened tubular element to increase its rigidity, strength, and resistance to buckling.

Abstract: A seat-mounted side impact airbag module deployment door and a vehicle seat having such a deployment door are provided by a deployment door having a fabric outer panel, a fabric inner panel and an intermediate panel of rigid, resilient material, and in which the inner panel has spaced, parallel engagement elements held by retaining elements on the outer surface of sidewalls of a canister housing of an airbag module assembly placed in a seat recess and attached to an internal structural member of the seat. The fabric outer panel of the deployment door matches the adjacent fabric trim cover portion of the seat into which the deployment door is mounted.

Abstract: An airbag module including an inflator assembly and an airbag cushion. The inflator assembly has an inflator and at least one fastener for mounting the airbag module within a vehicle. The airbag cushion includes an inboard cushion sheet and an outboard cushion sheet having an outer periphery secured to an outer periphery of the inboard cushion sheet. The outboard cushion sheet defines an open mouth receiving the inflator assembly, and a first tether and a second tether extend between the outboard cushion sheet and the inboard cushion sheet on opposite sides of the open mouth. The first tether and the second tether divide the airbag cushion into a first airbag segment for cushioning a first seat occupant of a vehicle, a central segment containing the inflator assembly, and a second airbag segment for cushioning a second occupant of a vehicle seat occupant, and each of the first and second tethers define at least one inflation gas passage.

Abstract: An airbag deflection mount for mounting an airbag cushion to an airbag module and for deflecting hot inflation gas away from a throat of the airbag cushion. The airbag deflection mount includes a generally flat retainer ring for securing a collar of the airbag cushion around an inflator of the airbag module that produces and expels the inflation gas from a plurality of inflation ports for inflating the airbag cushion upon a vehicle collision. The airbag deflection mount also includes a plurality of deflectors extending upwardly from the retainer ring and positionable, spaced-apart from the inflator, between the plurality of inflation ports of the inflator and the throat of the airbag cushion. The plurality of deflectors deflect hot inflation gas away from the throat of the airbag cushion and substantially prevent the throat of the airbag cushion from being burned by the hot inflation gas.

Abstract: An airbag module case for use with a side-impact airbag module also including an airbag cushion containing an inflator assembly having two mounting projections extending through the airbag cushion. The airbag module case includes a lower shell and an upper shell for substantially containing the airbag cushion and the inflator assembly. A tear seam hinge joins the lower shell to the upper shell and allows the upper and the lower shells to open and receive the airbag cushion and the inflator assembly, and to close with an inflator seat of the bottom shell receiving the inflator assembly and airbag cushion and an inflator closure of the upper shell overlapping the inflator seat of the lower shell.

Abstract: Device for and method of dive monitoring, wherein the pressure in a diving flask of a breathing equipment and the ambient pressure which the diver is exposed to at the respective water depth are detected. A decompression computing means is used to determine the respective decompression stops which the diver has to observe in surfacing, and how much time surfacing will require altogether. A performance index is derived from the variation of the pressure versus time in the diving flask, which index is a measure of the physical work performed by the diver. This performance index is supplied to the decompression computing means and is considered in the calculation of the total surfacing period.

Abstract: A hybrid inflator for a vehicle airbag module produces an initial release of essentially unheated, stored, pressurized gas from the gas storage chamber of the inflator by way of a projectile, releasable from a nozzle opening in a combustion chamber housing upon combustion of a gas-generating combustible material housed within the combustion chamber housing, which ruptures and passes through a frangible burst element retaining the stored, pressurized gas in the gas storage chamber of the inflator, thereby permitting, initially, the unheated, stored, pressurized gas to discharge through the ruptured burst element and flow externally past the combustion chamber housing in an isolation housing and then to exit the inflator through gas exhaust ports in the inflator.

Abstract: An integral label/gasket for use in crimped sealing engagement with an airbag inflator. The integral label/gasket combines a flat, generally annular label, an annular, deformable outer gasket seal and an annular, deformable inner gasket seal into one component. The outer gasket seal is secured to and extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the label adjacent an outer edge of the label, and the inner gasket seal is secured to and extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the label adjacent an inner edge of the label. The label, for printing handling and operational warnings and other information thereon, has adhesive on a top surface thereof for securing the label to a baseplate of an airbag inflator.

Abstract: The reaction canister of a passenger-side motor vehicle airbag module is extruded with a groove in at least one side wall forming a thinned section running the length of the canister. This creates a weakened and bendable region which allows the side wall to buckle under an impact through the instrument panel of the vehicle. This buckling absorbs impact energy, avoiding or reducing injury to the occupant.

Abstract: A side-impact airbag is essentially tubular and formed from two substantially identical panels. One of the panels is shortened, as by pleating and stitching. The resulting airbag, when inflated, has a unique assymetrical shape which minimizes any tendency to slap against a vehicle's occupant.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for the production of stranded wire from copper wire, whereby the stranded wire is wound upon a spool by means of a transfer mechanism. A control arrangement is provided, which regulates the rotation of the spool, the motion of a transfer element which is a component of a transfer mechanism and a separate drive for the transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A trough-shaped airbag canister and module assembly has an integral diffuser and diverter for permitting simultaneous deployment of a head/torso airbag and a knee airbag. The integral diffuser and diverter in the canister diffuses a first portion of inflation gases from an inflator to a mouth of a head/torso airbag and diffuses and diverts a second portion of the inflation gases through a kneebag inflation port in a sidewall of the canister and into a mouth of a knee airbag.