Abstract: A system and method for triggering deployment of a vehicle air bag in response to a crash or sudden vehicle deceleration wherein a modified acceleration value is obtained by subtracting a correction term from data representative of sensed instantaneous vehicle acceleration; integrating the modified acceleration value to obtain a modified velocity value; estimating the transitory jerk of the acceleration data using a rank filter; obtaining the product of the estimated transitory jerk and the modified velocity; comparing the resulting velocity-jerk product to a threshold value therefor; and triggering deployment of the air bag when the velocity-jerk product exceeds the threshold value therefor.

Abstract: A gravity cartridge filter for filtering fine particles from a fluid comprises a cartridge for disposition in a contaminated fluid tank. The cartridge comprises a plurality of layers that include a fluid passage in vertical juxtaposition with a filter medium, such as a mat, in each layer whereby gravity effects settling of particles suspended in the fluid onto the medium within each respective layer.

Abstract: A gear sub-assembly for a bicycle chain derailleur system comprises a plurality of gears of different pitch diameter oriented and retained in a conical array by gear support arms having locking means at each end thereof releasably engageable with the gears at each end of said gear sub-assembly. Torque is transmitted from the gears intermediate the end gears to said arms, thence to the end gears, thence to a wheel hub.

Abstract: An indoor golf facility comprises an air supported ultraviolet light translucent canopy overlying an undulating natural grass playing surface. A plurality of curtains are suspended from the canopy and are arranged in an array defining a plurality of fairways, each of which is divergent from a tee portion to a green portion.

Abstract: An accelerometer (10) having a sensing mass (36) which is displaced in response to acceleration so as to alter the amount of light coupled between a pair of optical fibers (42, 44). An optical coupling is responsive to displacement of the sensing mass indicative of a vehicle crash situation. In operation, the sensing mass (36) interrupts the transmission of light through the output optical fiber (44) as the amount of sensing mass displacement reaches proximate a second position. The accelerometer further provides magnetic damping and testing/recalibration capabilities, and the ability to couple a plurality of accelerometers together in either a daisy chain configuration, or a star configuration.

Abstract: An inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a plastic housing encased in fiber windings that is rupturable upon the production of a predetermined combustion gas pressure internally of the housing to effect venting of the gases into the air bag and inflation thereof.

Abstract: A system (10) and method for actuating a vehicle air bag (38) uses an optical detector (12) to generate an output (22) representative of the distance between a vehicle occupant and a fixed structure within the vehicle. The output (22) is subsequently used by a signal processor/discrimination unit (26) to generate data representative of actual occupant conditions, such as transitory occupant position, velocity and/or acceleration. The occupant condition data is used to select the temporally optimal one of a plurality of different predetermined parameter-based crash discrimination strategies (R,S,T,X,Y,Z), and perhaps further used as a decisional criterion in at least one strategy. Each strategy employs different decisional criteria to provide a different range of actual times to fire.

Abstract: A vehicle crash discrimination method and system for controlling the actuation of a vehicle passenger restraint device (e.g., an air bag or a seat belt harness) comprises determining a vehicle velocity value and comparing it to a predetermined velocity threshold value. If the predetermined velocity threshold value is exceeded, the slope of vehicle acceleration with respect to time (i.e. jerk value) is determined and compared to a predetermined slope threshold value. The passenger restraint device is actuated if the predetermined slope threshold value is exceeded. The present method accurately discriminates between low-velocity crashes in which actuation of the passenger restraint device is not desired and low-velocity, long-time -period crashes in which actuation is desired by setting the velocity threshold equal to approximately half the velocity of a maximum allowable crash in which actuation of the passenger restraint device is not desired.

Abstract: A multi-spool turbofan engine has a high pressure spool that operates at high idle RPM so as to power accessories and minimize acceleration time from idle to full rated RPM without producing high idle thrust which compromises the landing maneuver and ground operation.

Abstract: An automated drive-up vending facility (10) and method utilizes a plurality of automatic transaction machines (12) located around the periphery of a storage building (14), whereby customers can drive their vehicles along side the building, insert an account/debit card into a card reader (16), and make product selections via a touch screen display terminal (18). The products are stocked within building (14), and an automated picking/sorting subsystem (20) retrieves the selected products for deposit into a dispensing chute (22). Selection and product information is provided at the display terminals (18) via an interactive menu driven program. Selection of products subject to sales restrictions automatically actives video conferencing equipment (26) so that a sales attendant can confirm customer authorization to purchase the selected product.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling actuation of a vehicle passenger safety device in response to an event possibly requiring actuation of the safety device, wherein a modified differentiated measure is generated from received vehicle acceleration information by subtracting the absolute value of a prior-in-time value therefor from its current value, whereby the distortion introduced by negative prior-in-time values is significantly reduced. The resulting modified jerk measure is more useful in discriminating crash events than is a nominal jerk measure, given the latter's predisposition to fail as a useful measure upon encountering negative prior-in-time values.

Abstract: An intubation instrument has an abraded and adsorbent sheath that is telescoped both internally and externally of a tube. The sheath is provided with a handle to facilitate retraction thereof as the tube is inserted into a body cavity, thereby minimizing transportation of pathogens into the body.

Abstract: An improved acceleration sensor (10) includes a housing (12) having an internal passage (14) defined therein, a sensing mass (18) located within the passage which moves from a first position within the passage towards a second position therein in response to acceleration inputs to the sensor housing, and a pair of electrical contacts (22) projecting into the passage so as to be bridged by the sensing mass when it reaches its second position within the passage, thereby closing an electrical circuit. The supported end (28) of each of the contacts includes diametrical arms (32) which are themselves secured to the housing only at their outboard ends (36). The arms are thus free to rotate elastically when the sensing mass deflects the contact's cantilevered free end (30), thereby permitting greater elastic travel of the contact's free end, with its enhanced reliability and an attendant increase in contact dwell.

Abstract: A method and system for improving reliability of a vehicle crash discrimination system by minimalizing the effect of resonance inherently produced by structural elements of the vehicle includes using at least two accelerometers (18,20) mounted to different structural elements (22, 24) of the vehicle. The accelerometers are preferably mounted in close proximity to each other to produce similar acceleration data, but corrupted by dissimilar structural resonance. Signal analysis processing (36) is performed to extrapolate the common acceleration data to generate an output (38) substantially uncorrupted by structural resonance for use in the vehicle crash discrimination system. Detection of operability of the accelerometers (34) can also be performed to provide for switching to a backup mode filtering process (44) to insure operability of the discrimination system upon failure of one of the accelerometers.

Abstract: Autoigniting compositions and processes for a gas generator of a vehicle occupant restraint system result in rapid autoignition at relatively low temperatures from approximately 135.degree. C. to 210.degree. C., thereby allowing the gas generator to operate at lower temperatures to facilitate use of an aluminum canister. The autoignition compositions of the present invention are safely manufactured by wet blending, remain effective following long-term high temperature ageing, and produce an energy output that is suitable for use with gas generating compositions.

Abstract: Nonazide gas generating compositions are formed from a nonazide fuel, an oxidizer, and a heat absorbing additive in the form of a glass compound. The additive effects a reduction in the combustion temperature of the gas generant, thereby resulting in inflating gases having a reduced content of toxic gases such as NO.sub.x and CO. The gas generants are therefore nontoxic and useful for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint system.

Abstract: A vehicle impact detection system (10) for controlling the actuation of an occupant safety restraint device (24) includes a sensor array (12) affixed to an outer surface (16) of the vehicle for continuously generating a two dimensional output (14) representative of the condition of the outer surface, and a processor/evaluation circuit (20) for performing advanced array signal processing on the sensor array output. The system (10) can reliably predict severe impacts within a few milliseconds of initial impact, and therefore is particularly suited for controlling the actuation of a safety restraint device in response to side impacts.

Abstract: A method and system for discriminating motor vehicle crashes to actuate a safety restraint (10) utilizes an optical vehicle occupant position detector (12) to generate data (22) representative of the position of an occupant relative to fixed structure within the vehicle. The data (22) is subsequently used by a signal processor/discrimination unit (26) as criteria for a parameter based crash discrimination analysis, and for adjusting parameters of the discrimination analysis, such as changing the discrimination threshold values. The occupant position data optimizes the discrimination analysis used in the system (10) due to the system's ability to customize the discrimination analysis in real time to match actual conditions of a vehicle occupant. Occupant position is determined by detecting the relative intensity, or average of scattering angles of a light beam (34) reflectively scattered by the occupant (24).

Abstract: A catheter comprises a relatively stiff drainage tube having an inflatable sheath telescoped thereover. The sheath is inflated after insertion of the tube and sheath into the urethra of a patient. The sheath has a plurality of circumferentially spaced relative thin sections that form circumferentially spaced catheter retention balloons at the insertion end of said tube when said sheath is inflated thereby to facilitate complete drainage of the bladder.

Abstract: A floating escutcheon prevents contact damage during mating and unmating of pin and socket connectors and comprises a hollow member slidably supported relative to one of the connectors and having a central aperture for the acceptance of the other connector in telescoping relationship only when the angle between a central axes of the pins and sockets is less than a predetermined angle.