Abstract: An inflatable restraint system includes an airbag which is expanded by an inflator assembly to restrain movement of an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a collision. The inflator assembly includes a plurality of grains or bodies of gas generating material which are disposed in a longitudinally extending array and are enclosed by a filter assembly and a housing. To promote a rapid and uniform combustion of the grains to quickly generate a large volume of gas, passages extend through the grains between spaces at opposite ends of the grains. Uniform combustion of the grains is promoted by having the passages located on concentric circles with the longitudinal axes of the passages spaced apart by equal distances along the circles. The axes of the passages on one concentric circle are circumferentially spaced from the axes of the passages on another concentric circle. The grains positioned with the passages in axial alignment and are cushioned by resilient retainer tubes which engage the outside of the grains.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor of the vehicle sensitive type and which is selectively convertible to function as an automatic locking type seat belt retractor in which the protraction of the webbing to a particular extent achieves the conversion and the vehicle sensitive mode is restored upon a selected amount of webbing retraction.

Abstract: Structure for generating nitrogen gas for inflating an air bag vehicle occupant restraint comprises a grain made of an azide based material which generates gas upon combustion. The grain has an ignition enhancing coating thereon consisting essentially of 20 to 50% by weight of an alkali metal azide, 25 to 35% by weight of an inorganic oxidizer, 10 to 15% by weight of a fluoroelastomer binder, 15 to 25% by weight of magnesium, and 1 to 3% by weight of fumed silicon dioxide. The coating may also include 1 to 6% by weight of graphite as a roughening agent.

Abstract: Structure for generating nitrogen gas for inflating an air bag vehicle occupant restraint comprises a grain made of an azide based material which generates gas upon combustion. The grain is made of a gas generating material which includes 61-68% by weight of sodium azide, 0-5% by weight of sodium nitrate, 0-5% by weight of bentonite, 23-28% by weight of iron oxide, 1-2% by weight of fumed silica, and from about 2 to about 6% by weight of graphite fibers having a diameter of 3-15 microns and an average length of 40 to 125 thousandths of an inch.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a ring gear connected for rotation with a seat belt reel. A planet gear and sun gear are freely rotatable about their axes. The planet gear is connected to a locking pawl, and a spring normally maintains the pawl in a release position. When the seat belt reel rotates at a rate of acceleration above a predetermined level, the inertia of the sun gear and the planet gear overcomes the action of the spring, causing the planet gear to move bodily around the sun gear. Movement of the planet gear moves the pawl to a lock position, in which it prevents withdrawal of the seat belt from the reel.

Abstract: A device for guiding and selectively clamping an occupant restraint belt used in a vehicle. The device has a frame with an opening through which the belt extends. The frame has two clamping surfaces that are spaced apart in the direction of belt extension. A clamp member moves between the first and second clamping surfaces transversely to the direction of belt extension to engage the belt and deform a portion of the belt into a serpentine configuration and to clamp the belt against the two clamping surfaces. The clamp member is moved relative to the clamping surfaces by a mechanism that responds to the application of force to the frame by the belt.

Abstract: A spring expander for oil control piston rings incorporates two spring mechanisms. One spring mechanism produces circumferentially directed hoop stress in the expander body when the expander body itself is contracted. A second radially acting spring mechanism is provided by circumferentially spaced spring fingers which radially deflect. Because the two spring mechanisms act together, the expander has a combined spring rate which is lower than the spring rate of either the circumferential spring mechanism or the spring rate of the radial spring mechanism. The expander also has expansion stops which limit the radial expansion of the spring fingers, and thereby limit the expansion of the associated rail ring to reduce pop-out during assembly. Contraction stops limit radial contraction of the rail ring with respect to the expander and maintain a clearance between the expander and the cylinder wall.

Abstract: A lock mode selection structure for seat belt retractors having a vehicle sensitive lock mode and an automatic lock mode in which a specific interval of withdrawal activates the automatic lock mode in a pilot pawl lock structure and thereafter the vehicle sensitive lock mode is restored by selected rewind or retraction movement of spool.

Abstract: An end release type of buckle for safety belt harness in vehicles and a method of assembly wherein a channel shaped elongate chassis transversely supports a latch and a latch blocking element, the latter pivotal at one end and biased toward blocking the latch. A closure plate biased to follow insertion and removal of a buckle tongue is reciprocably mounted for longitudinal movement to the web of the chassis. A release slider is provided which reciprocates to remove the blocker against its bias and to depress or open the latch. A tubular case encloses and detentably assembles the chassis and operably guides the release slider while supporting the operating bias applying elements. A cup-like cover is pressed longitudinally over the case and is detentably located and secured to said case. When not in use the latch is held open by the closure plate. When a tongue is pressed into the buckle the closure plate retreats from blocking the entry slot and the latch obeys the bias to lock.

Abstract: A joint is formed by positioning a connector within channel members to be joined which has a rotatable eccentric with different length radii to engage the lateral edges of the channels, and rotation of the eccentric causes its longer length side to engage the channel edges first, bringing the channel members tightly together as they are fastened.

Abstract: A journalling structure for seat belt retractors and especially pawl bars thereof and comprising sockets in which raised arcuate portions are provided in thrust relation to the ends of stub shafts in minimization of friction under end thrust circumstances and where similar radial load bearing surfaces engage the flat surfaces of the stub shafts providing axial poising of the shafts and minimization of friction. The sockets are molded plastic and may be integrally formed in frame and saddle construction.