Abstract: The use of unitary liquid fuel storage chambers provides advantages in the manufacturing and assembly of inflators for use in airbag passive restraint systems. A unique process of injecting liquid fuel through a conduit which is controlled to discharge the liquid fuel beneath the rising surface of the liquid fuel in the container and then sealing the storage chamber with a unique stopper provides consistently accurately filled unitary fuel containing storage chambers. The filled and sealed unitary storage chambers can then be either stored or assembled into an inflator. The assembly of the inflator can be at a location separate from that at which the storage container is loaded with fuel, whereby the relatively hazardous loading and handling of liquid fuels can be separated from the inflator assembly area.

Abstract: A simplified airbag module assembly includes three unique features. These comprise a retainer tube with an anchor tab, a module housing with an attachment flange, and an airbag with a button hole for the anchor tab. Only two fasteners are required to complete the module assembly.

Abstract: The process comprises the steps of gripping top and bottom boundaries of the face portion of the main panel of the cushion and pulling it so that the front face portion is generally planar and the side panels extend generally outward from the canister. First and second folding combs move inward from the opposite sides of the cushion. From the front a third folding comb moves rearward. Plates of the combs interdigitate with portions of the cushion inbetween, thus creating accordion folds. Fourth and fifth folding combs move in from the sides and their plates interdigitate with the plates of the other three combs, tucking excess portions of the cushion inbetween the accordion folds already formed. The package thus formed is compressed and then moved into the canister. A dust cover is slid over the front of the canister.

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.

Abstract: A regenerative liquid propellant rocket motor including a body having an integrally formed central tube. A primary combustion chamber is disposed in the body. A secondary combustion chamber is formed by the central tube of the body. A reservoir of liquid propellant is disposed in the body. A regenerative piston is slidably disposed in the body for delivering the liquid propellant to the primary and secondary combustion chambers. The piston includes a plurality of injection ports for injecting the liquid propellant. An ignitor is disposed in the body for initiating combustion of the liquid propellant. A nozzle is formed at a free end of the central tube for producing thrust, wherein upon ignition of the ignitor combustion occurs in the primary combustion chamber driving the piston into the liquid propellant reservoir and the liquid propellant is injected into the primary combustion chamber to produce combustion products which are channeled into the secondary combustion chamber and expanded through the nozzle.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a housing for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint module to a vehicle steering wheel armature includes at least two snap-in fasteners for holding the housing in assembled relation with the armature. A resiliently compressible member is interposed intermediate the steering wheel armature and the housing to permit overtravel of the snap-in fasteners relative to the armature during assembly with the housing and to thereafter exert a force upon the housing to maintain a firm engagement of the snap-in fasteners with the housing and with the armature, and thereby maintain engagement between the housing and the armature.

Abstract: A vehicle air bag installation including an inflatable air bag assembly mounted in a rectangular opening in the vehicle instrument panel for deployment of the air bag through the opening. A rectangular door engages a recessed abutment around the opening when closed. A plurality of spaced apertures are provided in spaced brackets supported by the instrument panel in a recessed region for receiving fasteners for attaching the door to the instrument panel. The fasteners comprise thermoplastic resin bodies having a cylindrical bulbous head, flared wings or shoulders extending from the bulbous head for providing height alignment, a lower portion for centering the fastener in the aperture comprising a plurality of gripping teeth formed as an angled flute for securing the door to the instrument panel. Integral channels molded into the underside of the cover substrate releasably engage the heads of the fasteners.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety system for a motor vehicle having first and second sensor means, by means of which sensor parameters representing the vehicle movement dynamics of the vehicle are detected. Furthermore, vehicle movement means and restraining means are provided, actuators which influence the vehicle movement dynamics of the vehicle being actuated by means of the vehicle movement means on the basis of the detected sensor parameters of the at least first sensor means, and a restraining system being activated by means on the restraining means on the basis of the detected sensor parameters of the second sensor means. The essential feature of the invention consists in the fact that a signal representing the condition of the road pavement is formed on the basis of sensor parameters of the second sensor means, and this signal is used in the vehicle movement means to actuate the actuators.

Abstract: A MOS field-effect transistor (T2) is provided in conjunction with transistors (T1 and T3) as polarity reversal protection in an electrical circuit arrangement (1). Polarity reversal protection of this type is realized by the drain-source path of the transistor (T2). Transistors (T1 and T3) form a comparator. If the drain-source voltage of the transistor (T2) becomes negative then the transistor (T3) switches on. This, in turn has the effect of switching off the transistor (T2) thereby providing polarity reversal protection. The electronic circuit arrangement (1) configured according to the invention can advantageously be used in an airbag system (10).

Abstract: A regenerative liquid propellant engine system includes a body having opposed ends. A combustion chamber is disposed in the body. A reservoir of liquid propellant is also disposed in the body. A regenerative piston is slidably disposed in the body for delivering the liquid propellant to the combustion chamber. When combustion occurs in the combustion chamber the piston is driven into the liquid propellant reservoir and the liquid propellant is injected into the combustion chamber to produce combustion products. A storage tank stores a quantity of liquid propellant and a pump delivers the liquid propellant from the storage tank to the liquid propellant reservoir. The regenerative piston produces the necessary pumping pressure to operate the pump, thus, the mechanical complexity and inefficiencies of other pumping techniques is avoided.

Abstract: An improved method for the fabrication of filter assemblies for use in automotive air bag inflators by spirally winding a hollow cylindrical combustion screen comprised of layers of filter material. The spirally wound filter is then cut into individual units of desired length by the use of a conventional cutting device and additional filtering layers can optionally be added to form an inflator filter assembly.