Abstract: A solid propellant gas generator incorporating staged gas cooling and filtration so as to generate cool, clean gasses having a composition suitable for use as an automobile airbag inflator. An intermediate cooling and filtration stage consists of aluminum beads that function as both a filter and heat sink.

Abstract: Method of placing and extracting modules in such a way that a minimum area capable of accommodating the modules can be systematically searched for. The placement of the modules is started with drawing a grid having partitions or rooms greater in number than the modules. The grid is drawn by horizontal and vertical lines. Each horizontal line extends across two horizontally adjacent rooms. Each vertical line extends across two vertically adjacent rooms. Then, rectangular modules are arranged in the drawn rooms. Thereafter, the vertical lines are shrunk so that the horizontal lines are brought close to the top or bottom side of the grid while maintaining the vertical lengths of the modules inside the rooms. Finally, the horizontal lines are shrunk so that the vertical lines are brought close to the left or right side of the grid while maintaining the horizontal lengths of the modules inside the rooms.

Abstract: An optical modulator (19) utilizes a variable beam splitter arrangement having two separate plano-periodic cylindrical lens arrays (20 and 22) arranged as a sandwiched air-spaced assembly with the plano surfaces facing outwardly from the assembly. The assembly further includes a means (26) for controllably translating or moving one of the lenses relative to the other. The periodic array is formed as alternating concave and convex cylindrical structures. In a nominal setting, the optical axes of the concave structures of one of the lens arrays are aligned with the optical axes of the convex structures of the other so that the assembly acts as an afocal window having little impact when placed in an optical system. To adjust the beam splitting properties, one lens array is slightly translated with respect to the other to cause controlled misalignment of the two lens array surfaces. The present invention is particularly suited for tuning the point spread function of an electronic imaging system.

Abstract: A system for extracting solids and free or "tramp" oil from an industrial machining fluid comprises a pressurized tank having a plurality of horizontally orientated polymeric elements therein past which fluid is free to flow without obstruction. Free oil is removed from the machining fluid through oleophilic attraction between the free oil and the surface of the polymeric elements when the tank is filled with fluid. The free oil and solids are removed from the machining fluid in a gravity separation chamber.

Abstract: Gas generant compositions without highly toxic azides are provided which, upon combustion, are converted into gaseous products with only small amounts of solid combustion products thereby minimizing the gas filtration problem. Gas generants having ammonium nitrate safely phase stabilized by mixture with wet triaminoguanidine are provided. A process for safely preparing the gas generants is also provided. These compositions are especially suitable for inflating automotive and aircraft occupant restraint bags.

Abstract: A vibration isolator grommet comprises a sleeve and an annular elastomeric element. The sleeve has a cylindrical portion with a radially outwardly extending flange at one end thereof. The elastomeric element has a flange underlying the flange on the sleeve, a cylindrical portion telescoped over the cylindrical portion of the sleeve, and a radially inwardly extending portion initially underlying the cylindrical portion of the sleeve but movable radially outwardly upon axial advancement of the sleeve relative to the elastomeric element to lock the grommet in a workpiece.

Abstract: A fluid flowmeter comprises a frame having a cavity that is open to one side thereof for the acceptance of a laminar flow module and open to the other side for the acceptance of sensing electronics that measure pressure drop across the module. The module comprises a plurality of plates that are spaced apart by wires and bound to one another to form a unitary assembly that facilitates exchange and replacement.

Abstract: Multicomponent pyrotechnic gas generating compositions are provided which comprise a single or multiple nonazide fuel. The single and multiple fuels are selected from guanidine, azole, and other high nitrogen aliphatic, aromatic, and/or heterocyclic compounds. The fuels are blended with single and multiple oxidizers. Other materials are added to the compositions for processing, aiding ignition, enhancing ballistics, reducing particulates, and scavenging undesirable gaseous decomposition products. A significant amount of nontoxic gas is formed at acceptable flame temperatures when these compositions are combusted, which allow their use in automotive air bag safety systems.

Abstract: A system for the abatement of industrial process emissions comprises a horizontal regenerative catalytic oxidizer (RCO). The system utilizes at least two regenerative chambers and at least two catalytic chambers in a controlled abatement process. Pollutants injected into the RCO from the process emissions are catalytically oxidized. The horizontal configuration of the RCO reduces the size of the RCO per cubic foot of emissions treated, and also simplifies maintenance requirements in removing and replacing, or regenerating, the catalyst. Chutes and valves situated above and below the catalyst provide maintenance means without the associated contamination concerns typically caused by catalytic migration throughout vertically configured RCOs.

Abstract: A solid propellant gas generator incorporates staged gas cooling and filtration so as to generate cool, clean gasses having a composition suitable for use in an automobile airbag inflator. Ceramic foam balls are used as a primary heat sink within the filter thereby increasing the dimensional stability of the gas generator.

Abstract: A filter for an air bag inflator comprises juxtaposed layers of pierced sheet metal, wire cloth of a first relatively low mesh, ceramic filter media and wire cloth of relatively larger mesh in a radially outwardly extending array.

Abstract: A buckle for a seat belt of a motor vehicle includes a release button (24) which is provided to release the latch plate from the locking means. A resilient protrusion or protrusions on the button presses the latch plate, when inserted in the buckle, against the frame of the buckle thereby reducing the tendency of the latch plate and frame to rattle against each other and consequently the noise generated by vibration of the buckle is reduced.

Abstract: An integrated vehicle occupant energy management system (10) and method (100) performs front and side impact detection (102), determination of occupant position and type (106), and control of seat belt tension (104 and 108) and deployment of one or more air bags (114) from a single unit (12) position at the vehicle's b-pillar. Real time and dynamic management of occupant energy is provided to optimize energy absorption through seat belt tensioning as a first response to a crash situation, and follow-up deployment of one or more air bags as needed.

Abstract: An optical subsystem (14) for use in an electronic imaging system (10) utilizes a spatial filter (20) having a concentric optical path profile for removing unwanted structures in the optically formed image. In a first embodiment, the filter (20) includes an axisymmetric conical surface (24) formed on an optical substrate (22) to provide a light path modifying profile designed to achieve a desired circular point spread function in an image plane (16). Other embodiments include an elliptical/conical profile, and an axisymmetric, concentric ring profile. The filter profile may be single-point diamond turned into a flat filter substrate, or can be combined/integrated with the profile of an existing optical system element, such as lens (18). The present invention further provides a method for removing unwanted artificial image structures by generating an imaging system point spread function which is a hollow, closed path.

Abstract: A wide FOV imaging system (10) includes an objective lens (14), a convergent reflective element (18) positioned proximate an intermediate image (16) formed by the objective lens, and a re-imaging lens (20) for re-imaging the intermediate image. The present invention significantly improves image fidelity while minimizing optical components by utilizing a convergent reflective element proximate the intermediate image to reverse the propagation of aberrations produced by the objective lens (14) to, as a result, significantly cancel or reduce the aberrations contributed by the re-imaging lens.

Abstract: A solid propellant gas generator incorporating staged gas cooling and filtration so as to generate cool, clean gasses having a composition suitable for use as an automobile airbag inflator. An intermediate cooling and filtration stage consists of aluminum beads that function as both a filter and heat sink.

Abstract: A vehicle safety belt system of the lap and shoulder type comprises a main belt wound on a retractor, the free end of the belt being securable to the vehicle body work, a slidable tongue fitted to the main belt and a main buckle securable to the vehicle body work into which the tongue is lockingly insertable. The retractor prevents the main belt from being withdrawn when the retractor is subjected to an acceleration or deceleration in excess of a predetermined value. The retractor is mounted adjacent the top of the vehicle seat back. The retractor is prevented from moving forwardly in the event of an accident, but is releasable to allow the seat back, and with it the retractor, to be folded forward when desired.

Abstract: A trigger lock for a gun comprises a pair complimentary housings that overly opposite sides of the gun trigger guard. One of the housings has a connector shaft with a plurality of teeth thereon that extends through the trigger guard. The other of the housings has a latch plate with a plurality of teeth thereon engageable with the teeth on the connector shaft to effect locking of the housings to one another and to the gun. Each of the housings has an elastomeric pad that is compressible about the trigger of the gun to preclude movement thereof. The housings are separable from the gun upon opening of a lock and depression of a release button.

Abstract: A filter utilizes a filter bed having a ceramic media to remove particulates from process emissions upstream of a regenerative incinerator to prevent fouling of the incinerator. To prevent the filter from fouling, the filter is adapted to "bake-off" contaminants from the filter bed by providing a flow of hot innocuous air through the filter. In addition, fluid can be flushed through the filter.