Abstract: The invention refers to batch casting, semi-continuous casting or continuous casting and rolling of copper, providing the addition of lead or refining the melt copper or the melt microalloyed copper to a lead content equal to or higher than 200 weight ppm. This minimizes the number of pores and defects, decreasing the number of incidences or breaks during casting and in service. However, it does not reduce the electrical conductivity. The addition of lead allows the cast and roll of copper microalloyed with elements such as S, Se, As, Sb, Bi, Sn, Zn, Ni, Fe, Ag and Te, in concentrations of the order of tens of weight ppm. The copper microalloys manufactured in this way have annealing temperatures and strain strengths higher than those obtained from the equivalent tough-pitch copper or the equivalent microalloyed copper with lead content lower than 15-20 weight ppm.

Abstract: We provide a new copper microalloy with high-conductivity, excellent heat resistance and high strain strength, which can be obtained by conventional continuous or semi-continuous casting, which essentially consists of at least one element selected from the following list:______________________________________ 5-800 mg/Kg Pb (lead) 10-100 mg/Kg Sb (antimony) 5-1000 mg/Kg Ag (silver) 5-700 mg/Kg Sn (tin) 1-25 mg/Kg Cd (cadmium) 1-30 mg/Kg Bi (bismuth) 20-500 mg/Kg Zn (zinc) 10-400 mg/Kg Fe (iron) 15-500 mg/Kg Ni (nickel) 1-15 mg/Kg S (sulfur) ______________________________________in all cases, with 20-500 mg/Kg O (oxygen). The alloy is suitable for all the applications that require an electrical conductivity similar to that of pure copper, but with a better heat resistance, better mechanical properties and lower standard deviation values in strain strength.

Abstract: A ring gear and a plurality of planet gear carriers diametrically disposed, at substantially equal angles to each other, in a plane therewithin, each carrier rotatably supporting a separate one of a pair of planet gears at each opposite end thereof. The planet gears engage with and are rotated by the ring gear. Each planet gear has an eccentrically disposed mass that revolves about the center of rotation of the planet gear while revolving about the center of rotation of the planet gear carrier, creating centrifugal and Coriolis forces that are additive. An instant angular disposition, with respect to its planet gear carrier, of the center of mass of one of a pair of planet gears is always the same as that of the other of the pair but does not coincide with that of any other planet gear. This creates a couple that is applied to an output shaft when the force of the former and the rotation of the latter are in the same direction. When they are not, the couple is applied to a reaction plate.

Abstract: A free falling cinch tongue has a lock bar which is supported to be freely rotatable about a fixed axis to move a belt clamping surface on the lock bar toward and away from a belt clamping surface on the cinch tongue frame.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a spool driven by an electric motor. Seat belt webbing is wound around the spool. A worm wheel rotates with the spool and meshes with a worm that is axially movable. A set of electrical brushes is axially movable with the worm along the shaft. The set of electrical brushes is electrically coupled to a control circuit through a set of conductor strips. The set of brushes slide along the set of conductor strips as the worm moves axially. In response to movement of the brushes along the conductor strips, the control circuit provides signals to control the motor and, thus, the spool.When an occupant initially withdraws the webbing to buckle the webbing, the tension force acting on the webbing moves the worm axially. In response, the motor is actuated to rotate the spool in the belt withdrawal direction and provide motorized assist for the webbing withdrawal.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor comprises a spindle having seat belt webbing wound thereon. The spindle is supported for rotation in belt withdrawal and belt retraction directions. A member is movable between a first position in which the spindle is free to rotate in the belt withdrawal direction and a second position in which the spindle is blocked from rotating in the belt withdrawal direction. A permanent magnet is fixed to the member. An energizable electromagnet includes a core located adjacent the permanent magnet for attracting the permanent magnet to thereby move the member to one of its first and second positions when the electromagnet is de-energized. The core repels the permanent magnet to thereby move the member to the other one of its first and second positions upon energization of said electromagnet.

Abstract: An inertial torque converter for converting a first torque into a second torque includes first and second unidirectional clutches which operate in opposite directions and which allow an output torque shaft to freewheel between received torque pulses. The converter includes a driving sun gear rotatable about a first axis, at least one planetary gear driven by the sun gear and a first eccentric mass mounted for rotation with the planetary gear about a second axis parallel to and radially spaced from the first axis. Preferably, two such planetary gears and masses are provided. The masses are connected through their journals to a carrier having a shaft portion which is connected to the first and second clutches. The second clutch is connected to the output torque shaft and the first clutch is connected to a housing of the converter to transmit the reaction torque of the converter thereto.

Abstract: A spindle has belt webbing wound on it. The spindle is supported for rotation in belt retraction and belt withdrawal directions. The spindle is biased to rotate in the belt retraction direction. A drive member has a longitudinal central axis and is movable in a direction along the axis from a first position to a second position. The drive member is disposed in a coaxial telescoping relationship with a rotatable driven member. A drive portion of the drive member engages a surface on the driven member to rotate the driven member in response to movement of the drive member to the second position. Rotation of the driven member causes the spindle to rotate in the belt withdrawal direction and pay out belt webbing to establish slack in the belt webbing. A notch on the driven member receives the drive portion of the drive member to block rotation of the driven member, thereby blocking rotation of the spindle in the belt retraction direction to maintain slack in the belt webbing.