Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a low-carbon steel tube (24). The low-carbon steel tube (24) yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about ?40° C. when stress is applied to the low-carbon steel tube sufficient to cause the low carbon steel tube to so yield.

Abstract: A method of forming a dual chamber seamless tube (64) includes providing a slug of steel (56) and cold working a first end (70) of the slug (56) to form a first chamber (114) and cold working a second end (72) of the slug (56) to form a second chamber (116). The first and second chambers (114 and 116) are axially aligned and separated by a wall portion (126) of the tube (64).

Abstract: An apparatus includes a low-carbon steel member. The low-carbon steel member yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about ?40° C. when stress is applied to the low-carbon steel member sufficient to cause the low-carbon steel member to so yield.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a low-carbon steel tube (24). The low-carbon steel tube (24) yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −40° C. when stress is applied to the low-carbon steel tube sufficient to cause the low carbon steel tube to so yield.

Abstract: An instrument panel assembly (22) comprises a structural carrier member (30) which is formed as one piece and has a first section (40) defining a first chamber (54) for receiving and supporting a first component (110). The structural carrier member (30) has a second section (80) defining a second chamber (92) for receiving and supporting a second component (130). The first component (110) comprises a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (114) received in the first chamber (54). The structural carrier member (30) further defines a deployment opening (55) through which the first protection device (114) is inflatable from the first chamber (54). The second component (130) comprises an occupant knee protection device (132) received in the second chamber (92) for helping to protect the vehicle occupant's legs in the event of a vehicle collision.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for providing fluid under pressure for actuating a vehicle occupant protection device comprises an electrically actuatable initiator (80) having terminal pins (100). A hermetically sealed metal propellant container (130) contains a propellant (82) ignitable by the initiator (80) to produce fluid under pressure. The propellant container (130) is secured to the initiator (80) by crimping. The apparatus (10) also comprises a member (86) electrically insulating between the metal propellant container (130) and the terminal pins (100) of the initiator (80) to isolate the initiator electrically from the propellant container.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) comprises an inflatable protection device (32). The apparatus (10) also comprises an actuatable inflator (30) remote from the protection device (32) for providing inflation fluid under pressure for inflating the protection device. The apparatus (10) further comprises a conduit (48) connected in fluid communication between the inflator (30) and at least a portion of the protection device (32) for directing inflation fluid from the inflator to the protection device. The conduit (48) includes at least one quick disconnect coupling (50) through which inflation fluid flows from the inflator (30) upon actuation of the inflator.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle seat (10) having a tubular seat frame (60) defining a fluid manifold (66). The apparatus also includes at least two deployable vehicle occupant protection devices (120, 130, 140, 142) for helping to protect a vehicle seat occupant from injury in the event of a vehicle collision. The protection devices (120, 130, 140, 142) are spaced apart from each other. The protection devices (120, 130, 140, 142) are in fluid communication with the fluid manifold (66) and are deployable by fluid directed into the protection devices from the fluid manifold. A single actuatable device (150) provides pressurized fluid for deploying one or more of the protection devices (120, 130, 140, 142). The actuatable device (150) is in fluid communication with the fluid manifold (66).

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a steel sheet comprises providing a slug of steel selected from the group consisting of austenitic 301 steel and austenitic 301N steel. The thickness of the slug is reduced by passing the slug through a hot rolling mill while the slug is at a temperature of about 1000° C. to about 1200° C., until the slug is formed into a steel sheet. The steel sheet is quenched to lower the temperature of the steel sheet after the steel sheet is hot rolled. The thickness of the steel sheet is further reduced by passing the steel sheet in multiple passes through a cold rolling mill. The steel sheet is reduced in thickness between about 3% and about 13% in the last of its passes through the cold rolling mill.

Abstract: A low carbon high strength steel consists essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.12% carbon, about 0.70% to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.020% phosphorous, up to about 0.015% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, about 0.25% to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.05% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a low-carbon steel tube (24). The low-carbon steel tube (24) yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −40° C. when stress is applied to the low-carbon steel tube sufficient to cause the low carbon steel tube to so yield.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for use with a removable child seat (12) in a vehicle (14) comprises a vehicle seat (20) on which a removable child seat may or may not be present, and a seat belt webbing pretensioner (40) for retracting seat belt webbing (30) associated with the vehicle seat. A first sensor (58) provides a first output signal in response to a vehicle collision of a magnitude above a predetermined threshold. A second sensor (60) provides a second output signal in response to the presence of a child seat (12) on the vehicle seat (20). A controller (50) receives the first and second output signals and, in response to the first output signal, actuates the seat belt webbing pretensioner (40) when a child seat (12) is not present on the vehicle seat (20) and inhibits actuation of the seat belt webbing pretensioner when a child seat is present on the vehicle seat.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (16) and a roof (18) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) is inflatable away from the vehicle roof (18) into a position between the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12) and a vehicle occupant. The apparatus (10) also includes a plastic housing (26) for storing the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) in a stored position. An inflation fluid source (24) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). A fill tube (22) directs the inflation fluid into the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The fill tube (22) is connected to the housing (26) by plastic connection portions (160) of the housing that have a surface (162) in continuous engagement with portions of an outer surface (164) of the fill tube.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises a canister (30) and an inflatable device (80) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. The inflatable device (80) has a first portion (82) fixed in the apparatus (10) and also has a second portion (86). The apparatus (10) includes an inflation fluid source (96) for providing inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device (80). A cover (50) for covering at least a portion of the canister (30) has a first portion (54) and a second portion (52). The first portion (54) of the cover (50) moves upon inflation of the inflatable device (80) to provide an opening (60) through which the second portion (86) of the inflatable device is deployed. The first portion (82) of the inflatable device (80) engages and is fixed to the second portion (52) of the cover (50) by structure (100) free of a retaining ring inside the canister (30) when the inflatable device is deflated and when the inflatable device is inflated.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a steering wheel (22) of a vehicle (10) comprises a first steering column part (32), a second steering column part (34), and supporting structure (46) supporting the first steering column part and the vehicle steering wheel for movement relative to the second steering column part. An energy absorbing device (20) is interposed between the first steering column part (32) and the second steering column part (34) for resisting movement of the first part relative to the second part. The energy absorbing device (20) comprises a fluid (50) having a viscosity which varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The energy absorbing device (20) also comprises at least one orifice (76) through which the fluid (50) flows upon movement of the first part (32) relative to the second part (34).

Abstract: An inflator (10) for providing inflation fluid to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device includes a pressure vessel (12) defining a chamber (30) for inflation fluid. The pressure vessel (12) has a passage (48) for inflation fluid flow from the chamber (30). A burst disk (52) blocks fluid flow through the passage (48). A support (62) has a tubular portion (64) with a first end (67) spaced apart from the burst disk (52) prior to the inflation fluid entering the pressure vessel (12) and a second end (68) opposite the first end. The burst disk (52) deforms into contact with the first end (67) due to the pressure of the inflation fluid when the inflation fluid is disposed in the chamber (30). An actuatable igniter assembly (60) bursts the burst disk (52) to enable fluid to flow from the chamber (30) through the passage (48). The second end (68) of the tubular portion (64) engages the igniter assembly (60).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle comprises a knee bolster (20) for engaging at least one leg of the occupant to restrain the occupant. The knee bolster (20) comprises a metal tube (50) having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The metal tube (50) when in the expanded condition positions the knee bolster (20) to help protect the vehicle occupant. The apparatus (10) also comprises a pyrotechnic transfer line (60, 62, 64) extending within the collapsed metal tube (50). The pyrotechnic transfer line (60, 62, 64) when ignited generates fluid under pressure in the metal tube to expand the metal tube from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition. The apparatus (10) further comprises an igniter (70) for igniting the pyrotechnic transfer line (60, 62, 64).

Abstract: A vehicle safety system (10) includes a first vehicle occupant safety device (50) including a first pyrotechnic device (60) that is electrically energizable in response to a first actuation signal (76). The system also includes a second vehicle occupant safety device (50) including a second pyrotechnic device that is electrically energizable in response to a second actuation signal (80). The system includes at least one sensor (14-28) for sensing a first occupant or vehicle condition and for providing a first output signal indicative of the sensed first condition. An electronic control unit (ECU) (30) receives the first output signal (14-28) and in response to the first output signal determines whether one or both of the first and second safety devices should be actuated. An radio frequency (RF) transmitter (40) electrically connected with the ECU (30) is selectively actuatable by the ECU to transmit first and second individually coded RF signals (72, 80).

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a low-carbon steel pressure vessel, which may be used as an inflator housing (18), comprises providing a cylindrical billet of low-carbon steel which comprises by weight about 0.07% to about 0.15% carbon, about 1% to about 2% manganese, less than about 0.02% phosphorous, less than about 0.015% sulfur, about 0.5% to about 2.10% chromium, about 0.2% to about 1.0% nickel, about 0.2% to about 0.7% molybdenum, less than about 0.65% copper, less than about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance of the composition iron. A tube is formed with a cylindrical wall by axially piercing the cylindrical billet, while the cylindrical billet is heated is at a temperature of about 1000° C. to about 1300° C. The thickness of the cylindrical wall is then reduced to a first thickness by a first cold drawing of the tube. The tube is annealed after the first cold drawing. The thickness of the cylindrical wall is further reduced to a second thickness by a second cold drawing.