Abstract: An interior trim product has an opening therein formed to overlie an air bag restraint assembly housed in the trim product. The air bag restraint assembly includes a canister for generating gas to inflate an air bag for deployment into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The opening is closed by a door having a vinyl outer covering matching the aesthetic appearance of the outer surface of the interior trim product. First and second substrates formed in the interior trim product and on the door support two hook and loop fastener strips each of which is connected to one of the substrates to form a tamper proof connection for holding the door in place prior to air bag deployment.

Abstract: An airbag canister and sensor and gas deployment unit attached to the lap belt portion of an automotive three-point seat belt system, wherein the lap belt portion is attached at one end thereof to the sill at the base of the center pillar. The airbag components are positioned adjacent the outside edge of the front seat, and intermediate the hip portion of the occupant and the vehicle door. When the seat belt is not in use, the airbag components assume a stowed position along side the center pillar intermediate the base and the usual upper shoulder belt dispenser, providing for easy entry and egress by the operator or passenger.

Abstract: A control valve including a second stage spool for controlling flow of fluid from a source thereof to a load. The valve includes one additional pressure slot and one additional return slot on each side thereof and separated by a land on the spool from the usual pressure and return slots respectively. Each of the spool lands separating the pressure and return slots defines and opening therethrough to interconnect the slots so that upon movement of the spool to connect the source to the load, a greater flow of fluid is provided and would be possible with the same size spool without the additional pressure and return slots.

Abstract: A constant force air cushion arrangement for side impact protection, including a plurality of air cells mounted on the inner door panel. A tapered stem is integrally molded on the inner surface of each cell so as to extend toward the inner door panel. An orifice opening, which may have a diaphragm mounted therein, is formed in a wall of each cell adjacent the distal end of the tapered stem. In the event of a side impact of a predetermined force, the stem enters the orifice opening, either directly, or by bursting through the diaphragm in response to the relative velocity between the door and an occupant to progressively restrict the orifice opening and, hence, the volume of air forced out through the orifice by a progressively decreasing velocity between the door and the occupant.

Abstract: A cover assembly for an air bag restraint system has a smooth outer skin with a backing layer of foam located between the outer skin cover and a retainer member. The retainer member is located above the outlet of an air bag casing and includes a plurality of flaps therein each having a pointed end located in a hidden position beneath the foam and outer skin cover and at a point generally centrally of the outlet of the casing. Each of the flaps is connected to the retainer member by integral hinge segments in the retainer member. When the air bag is inflated, it will cause the segments to pivot outwardly about the hinge segments to pierce both the foam layer and the outer skin and peel them apart so as to form a multi-sided opening through the cover assembly for deployment of the air bag.

Abstract: A rotating anvil having a cavity in the shape of a desired upset head is urged against the tail of a composite fastener protruding through a workpiece and the tail is heated and deformed into an upset head sufficiently larger than the fastener shank to prevent the fastener from being withdrawn from the workpiece.

Abstract: The fastener assembly includes a generally solid pin, positioned within a tubular fastener body and a buckle sleeve. The fastener body has a generally cylindrical configuration and includes an enlarged head adjacent one end thereof, an intermediate shank portion, and a nose portion adjacent the other end thereof. The nose portion engage the buckle sleeve, and during installation causes the buckle of the buckle sleeve to form prior to workpiece contact by the interaction between the nose portion of the fastener and the leading edge of the buckle sleeve. The sleeve buckles the intersection between a trailing section and the largest inner diameter at the end of a tapered interior section.

Abstract: A low pressure pumping system for power inflating and power bleeding the lumbar support of a vehicular seat including a low pressure air cell mounted in the back support. A two-position pneumatic switch serves to selectively alternately reverse a motor and pump to inflate the air cell to a predetermined capacity of less than 5 p.s.i., and to deflate the air cell through a bleed valve. The two-position pneumatic switch includes a double pole, double throw switch and a slide valve which is positioned open when the air cell is inflated. The motor is sized to stall when the predetermined capacity is attained to prevent over inflation of the air cell.

Abstract: A high pressure vane pump has a two-piece rotor enclosed by a housing having an inlet and an outlet and an eccentric ring for controlling the reciprocation of vanes in a guide part of the rotor; the eccentric ring is closed by opposite end plates and a moveable crown part of the rotor is supported on the guide part to provide four degrees of freedom between the guide part and the crown part including movement of the crown part axially of the guide part; movement of the crown part clockwise and counterclockwise of the guide part; and yaw movement of the crown part with respect to the vertical axis of the guide part. Rotation of the rotor causes the crown part to be shifted axially of the guide part to increase the pressure output of the pump at high speed operation and to reduce the frictional losses between the rotor and the housing during start-up.

Abstract: A pressure washer attachment for a string trimmer. The attachment has a housing and a liquid accelerating pump. The housing is adapted to be connected to a shaft of the string trimmer with the pump connected to a motor of the string trimmer. A liquid supply hose can be connected to the attachment such that the string trimmer motor can operate the pump to accelerate the liquid as it is discharged from the attachment for cleaning or washing.

Abstract: A fiber placement control apparatus for selectively directing a stream of fiber onto a stationary preform screen, including a rigid, straight fiber delivery tube communicating from a conventional chopper/blower assembly. A first set of four circumferentially equally spaced nozzles adjacent the exit end of the tube directs a binder into the stream of fibers, and a second set of four circumferentially equally spaced nozzles positioned downstream of the first set directs air onto the stream. By selectively operating any three of the air nozzles, the direction of the stream toward the preform screen is controlled. A conventional multidirectional gantry head may serve to move the rigid delivery tube vertically, left and right, and relative to the screen.

Abstract: A rotary direct drive servovalve having a force motor which includes a rotor assembly positioned within an isolation tube which is surrounded by a stator assembly. A permanent magnet is disposed adjacent a closed end of the isolation tube and is rotatable to position the rotor at a desired predetermined position by interaction of magnetic forces between the permanent magnet and permanent magnets disposed upon the rotor. The permanent magnet is clamped in position subsequent to adjustment to thereby provide centering forces on the rotor.

Abstract: The small airblast fuel nozzle improves cold ignition of small gas turbine engines of the type having a stagnation air pressure of only 1-11/2 inches of water available from the compressor for cold ignition. The fuel nozzle includes an inner air swirling system comprising a longitudinal cylindrical inner air swirl chamber and multiple air inlet slots spaced circumferentially on the nozzle body to supply air to the chamber. The air inlet slots each include an inner tapered section converging toward and into intersection with the chamber and an outer tapered section converging from the exterior of the nozzle body toward and into intersection with the inner section. The inner section and outer section are canted with respect to one another and in the same direction from one slot to the next so that the inner air slots collectively form a hooked cross type pattern when viewed in plan.

Abstract: A DIN rail cutter and punching apparatus for cutting a DIN rail to a selected length and for punching at least one mounting slot therethrough at a desired angular orientation comprises a shear for cutting the DIN rail and a punch and die set which is operatively coupled for operation in unison with the shear. The DIN rail cutter comprises a shear for cutting the DIN rail and is arranged for removably receiving a cutting die for accommodating any of a plurality of cutting dies for cutting different shapes of DIN rail. A rotating punch and die set for punching a DIN rail at any of a plurality of angular orientations comprises a punch mounting block; a punch rotatably mounted in the punch mounting block; a die mounting block and a die rotatably mounted in the die mounting block; the punch mounting block and the die mounting block are mounted for relative movement so as to advance and retract the punch into an out of engagement with the die.

Abstract: A hood for a power tool, such as a grinding wheel on a saw, in which the hood is rotatable relative to the frame of the tool. The tool has a system for repositionably fixing the hood at selected locations. The system includes a detent connected to the hood with a plurality of lock notches and a longitudinally movable lock pin connected to the frame. The lock pin can be positioned into one of the detent notches to prevent the hood from moving and, can be longitudinally moved to disconnect the lock pin from the detent thus allowing the hood to be repositioned. The system includes a knob to axially rotate the lock pin, a cam member to longitudinally move the lock pin upon axial rotation, and a leaf spring to bias the lock pin in an engaged lock position with the hood detent.

Abstract: A side impact protection apparatus for use on the inner panel of a vehicle door. The apparatus is a cushion including a hollow flexible skin having an inner wall secured to the inner panel, flexible ties between the skin and the inner wall or low density open-celled foam to prevent the skin from bulging, a rupturable diaphragm-covered orifice or a coupling having an extrudable elastomeric plug mounted therein connected to the inner wall, and a medium of air under pressure or hydraulic fluid or water or a polygel contained in the cushion and adaptable to discharge by rupturing the diaphragm or extruding the elastomeric plug when subjected to impact by the vehicle occupant in the event of a high force side impact against the vehicle.

Abstract: A headlamp aiming and leveling apparatus includes a level member having a housing and an indicating device for indicating the condition of the housing relative to a level condition and located within the housing, at least a portion of the housing being transparent to permit viewing of the indicating device therewithin. An adjustment member is operatively coupled to the housing for adjusting the position thereof, and thereby adjusting the indication given by the indicating device. A retaining clip mounts the level member to a headlamp. The retaining clip includes a locking portion for engaging the housing, a retaining portion for retaining the retaining clip in assembled relation with the headlamp, and a cooperating adjustment portion for cooperating with the adjustment member to achieve adjustment of the indicating device so as to indicate a level position when the associated headlamp is in a desired level condition.