Abstract: The present invention includes methods of selecting cases in which to pack items in an item order and selecting the sequence and configuration of placement of items into the selected cases. One such method includes examining an order comprising a list of items to be packed, determining the cases available for packing, determining the minimum number of cases required for packing the items in the list of items to be packed, selecting a case to be packed with one or more of the items in the list of items to be packed, wherein said selecting a case comprises determining a desired average volume per case and selecting the smallest of the cases available to be packed that comprises a volume in excess of the average volume per case, and determining the configuration of placement in the case to be packed of items in the list of items to be packed. Such steps may be repeated until all items in the item list are selected and configured for packing.

Abstract: In an automobile, a knee bolster is provided, with either an airbag or shoulder belt, for capturing and absorbing the translational kinetic energy of the occupant's lower torso, for prevention of submarining, and for controlled rebound. The bolster includes a member for capturing and dissipating a portion of the kinetic energy of an occupant during a collision, and a member for storing another portion of said kinetic energy. A collision between the lower portion of the body of the occupant and the bolster tends to restore the body in such a way that the rebound impact against the seat is applied to the occupant's back rather than his head or neck.

Abstract: A passenger compartment mounted sensor possesses a low bias and is responsive to velocity change which requires the acceleration to be sustained above the bias level for an extended prior of time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating gas generation in an airbag in which the sensor is external to the gas generating vessel. The apparatus is a sensor which mounts on a toroidal shaped pressure vessel. The sensor activates a percussion primer in vessel when the vehicle decelerates to initiate gas generation without a passage from the vessel to the sensor.

Abstract: A cantilevered, soft landing boat loading system for semiconductor processing furnaces includes an alignment mechanism, a paddle, and a boat loader. The alignment mechanism includes five handles for five degrees of freedom. The boat loader is supported from a vertical plane.

Abstract: A damped sensor is utilized outside the crush zone of a vehicle. The energy required for release of a firing pin resulting from damped movement of a sensing mass is small in comparison with energy absorbed by a bias spring acting on the sensing mass.

Abstract: An air bag system adapted to be mounted on the axis of a steering wheel of a vehicle includes a sensor mounted inside an inflator for the air bag. The sensor is maintained safe prior to mounting the air bag system on the steering wheel and when mounted the sensor is caused to arm.

Abstract: A passenger compartment mounted sensor senses crashes when located outside of the crush zone in response to velocity changes. The velocity change needed to fire the sensor is much greater than the velocity change associated with overcoming the sensor bias.

Abstract: A velocity change sensor comprises a body having a passage within which is a movable sensing mass normally maintained in an inactive position by a magnetic biasing force, but which is movable from its inactive position to an operating position in response to acceleration exceeding the biasing force. Movement of the mass is fluid damped to delay its movement to the operating position for a period of time during which the acceleration must exceed the biasing force.

Abstract: A velocity change sensor adapted for mounting on a vehicle equipped with a passenger protective device, such as an inflatable air bag, comprises a body fitted with a normally open electrical switch connected to the passenger protective device's operating mechanism and adapted to be closed by a sensing mass upon movement of such sensing mass a predetermined distance in response to acceleration of the vehicle above a predetermined threshold. The sensing mass is biased to a normally inactive, initial position under a force which establishes the acceleration threshold. A biasing mass engages the sensing mass when the latter is in its initial position but moves out of engagement with the sensing mass in response to acceleration of the vehicle above the threshold level to permit movement of the sensing mass from its initial position toward its passenger protective device operating position.

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing and recording changes in the velocity of a vehicle involved in a crash comprises a sensing mass biased to an initial position in which it remains until it is acted upon by an acceleration pulse of such magnitude as to overcome the biasing force, whereupon the mass moves from its initial position a distance proportional to the magnitude and duration of such pulse. If the magnitude and duration of the pulse are less than preselected values, decay of the pulse enables the biasing force to return the mass to its initial position. If the magnitude and duration of the pulse are greater than such preselected values, however, retaining means act on the mass to retain the latter in its position of maximum movement from its initial position, thereby providing an indication of the velocity change. Preferably, indicia is associated with a sensing means to facilitate determination of the velocity change.

Abstract: The timing device of this invention includes a housing which contains at least one mechanism whose motion is partially controlled by a liquid which substantially fills the housing and by a mass having a density approximately equal to or less than that of the surrounding liquid.

Abstract: The projectile fuze of this invention comprises a housing having a cavity which is substantially filled with a liquid. A body having an average specific gravity less than that of the fluid is accommodated in the cavity and is movable forwardly by buoyant forces which arise during projectile launch.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing deceleration of a vehicle and actuating a passenger protective device comprises a sealed, gas filled housing containing a cylinder and a piston within the cylinder movable in response to deceleration of the vehicle. A clearance between the piston and the cylinder is so selected that the movement of the piston is damped by the gas. The gas flow is viscous resulting in a sensor responsive to a constant velocity change of the vehicle above a prescribed threshold, regardless of the shape or duration of the crash pulse.

Abstract: Acceleration sensing apparatus comprises a casing having a pair of substantially perpendicular passages communicating with each other and accommodating spaced apart, normally open electrical contacts. One of the passages contains mercury which is operable to flow into the other passage in response to predetermined acceleration of the casing and bridge the conductors so as to establish a current path therebetween.