Abstract: Method for analyzing a crash event. The method may comprise receiving an acceleration of a vehicle over a predetermined length of time, the vehicle involved in the crash event, determining a change in velocity of the vehicle based on the acceleration, determining vehicle information relating to the vehicle involved in the crash event, and estimating a damage cost for the vehicle involved in the crash event, and/or estimating injuries to occupant(s) of the vehicle involved in the crash event. Estimating damage cost(s) may include determining crash force information for the vehicle, determining physical-damage characteristics of the vehicle subsequent to the crash event, and calculating the estimated damage cost to the vehicle. Estimating injuries to the occupant(s) may include determining occupant information relating to the occupant of the vehicle, calculating estimated forces exerted on the occupant, and calculating an injury probability for various body portions for the occupant.

Abstract: Method for analyzing a crash event. The method may comprise receiving an acceleration of a vehicle over a predetermined length of time, the vehicle involved in the crash event, determining a change in velocity of the vehicle based on the acceleration, determining vehicle information relating to the vehicle involved in the crash event, and estimating a damage cost for the vehicle involved in the crash event, and/or estimating injuries to occupant(s) of the vehicle involved in the crash event. Estimating damage cost(s) may include determining crash force information for the vehicle, determining physical-damage characteristics of the vehicle subsequent to the crash event, and calculating the estimated damage cost to the vehicle. Estimating injuries to the occupant(s) may include determining occupant information relating to the occupant of the vehicle, calculating estimated forces exerted on the occupant, and calculating an injury probability for various body portions for the occupant.

Abstract: Method for analyzing a crash event. The method may comprise receiving an acceleration of a vehicle over a predetermined length of time, the vehicle involved in the crash event, determining a change in velocity of the vehicle based on the acceleration, determining vehicle information relating to the vehicle involved in the crash event, and estimating a damage cost for the vehicle involved in the crash event, and/or estimating injuries to occupant(s) of the vehicle involved in the crash event. Estimating damage cost(s) may include determining crash force information for the vehicle, determining physical-damage characteristics of the vehicle subsequent to the crash event, and calculating the estimated damage cost to the vehicle. Estimating injuries to the occupant(s) may include determining occupant information relating to the occupant of the vehicle, calculating estimated forces exerted on the occupant, and calculating an injury probability for various body portions for the occupant.

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) is located on a steering wheel (14) and includes a lower portion (28) and an upper portion (26). The upper portion (26) is rolled folded and the lower portion (28) is folded in a star pattern. The roll folded portion (26) has an outside surface formed by a front panel (30) of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) that is intended to face the occupant when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated. During inflation, the roll folded portion (26) unrolls such that at least a portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflates forward of the steering wheel if the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, while inflating, encounters an obstruction located too far forward relative to the steering wheel.

Abstract: A method of folding an air bag (10) includes locating the air bag in a first configuration with front and back parts (140, 142) overlying each other and with a side part (70) folded and extending outwardly from the front and back parts. First and second portions (150, 152) of the air bag (10) are on opposite sides of a top to bottom centerline (154). A retainer (114) is located adjacent the top edge (144) of the configuration. The air bag (10) is folded from bottom to top to a second configuration in which it overlies and has a height corresponding to the height of the retainer (114). The first and second portions (150, 152) of the air bag (10) have portions (151, 153) that project laterally beyond the sides (124, 126) of the retainer (114). The laterally projecting portions (151, 153) are moved laterally inward to overlie the retainer (114), and the air bag (10) has a width corresponding to the width of the retainer.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20), an inflator (30), and a cover (40). The inflator (30) inflates the protection device (20). The cover (40) includes a center section (155) interposed between first and second side sections (151, 152). The cover (40) has a strong tear seam (170) and a weak tear seam (160). The weak tear seam (160) releases when subjected to a first force by the protection device (20). The strong tear seam (170) releases after the weak tear seam (160) releases. The protection device (20), while being inflated, releases the weak tear seam (160) and moves at least one of the side sections (151, 152) away from the center section (155). The protection device (20) deploys through a first area provided by moving the side section (151, 152). The protection device (20) urges a vehicle occupant (15) away from the center section (155).

Abstract: An inflatable device (10) has a vent (42) for enabling venting of inflation fluid. A patch (50) covers the vent (42). A release thread (70) releasably secures the patch (50) to the device to close the vent (42). A holding mechanism (82) has a first condition in response to a sensor (30) sensing a condition requiring venting of inflation fluid, and a second condition when venting is not required. The holding mechanism (82) when in the first condition holds the release thread (70) so that at least a portion of it pulls away from the patch (50) and the device (10), when the device inflates, thereby releasing the patch to open the vent (42). The holding mechanism (82) when in the second condition releases the release thread (70) for movement with the patch (50) in a direction away from the holding mechanism, when the device (10) inflates.

Abstract: An inflatable device (10) has a vent (42) for enabling venting of inflation fluid. A patch (50) covers the vent (42). A release thread (70) releasably secures the patch (50) to the device to close the vent (42). A holding mechanism (82) has a first condition in response to sensor means (30) sensing a condition requiring venting of inflation fluid, and a second condition when venting is not required. The holding mechanism (82) when in the first condition holds the release thread (70) so that at least a portion of it pulls away from the patch (50) and the device (10), when the device inflates, thereby releasing the patch to open the vent (42). The holding mechanism (82) when in the second condition releases the release thread (70) for movement with the patch (50) in a direction away from the holding mechanism, when the device (10) inflates.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20), an inflator (30), and a cover (40). The inflator (30) inflates the protection device (20). The cover (40) includes a center section (155) interposed between first and second side sections (151, 152). The cover (40) has a strong tear seam (170) and a weak tear seam (160). The weak tear seam (160) releases when subjected to a first force by the protection device (20). The strong tear seam (170) releases after the weak tear seam (160) releases. The protection device (20), while being inflated, releases the weak tear seam (160) and moves at least one of the side sections (151, 152) away from the center section (155). The protection device (20) deploys through a first area provided by moving the side section (151, 152). The protection device (20) urges a vehicle occupant (15) away from the center section (155).

Abstract: A method of folding an air bag (10) includes locating the air bag in a first configuration with front and back parts (140, 142) overlying each other and with a side part (70) folded and extending outwardly from the front and back parts. First and second portions (150, 152) of the air bag (10) are on opposite sides of a top to bottom centerline (154). A retainer (114) is located adjacent the top edge (144) of the configuration. The air bag (10) is folded from bottom to top to a second configuration in which it overlies and has a height corresponding to the height of the retainer (114). The first and second portions (150, 152) of the air bag (10) have portions (151, 153) that project laterally beyond the sides (124, 126) of the retainer (114). The laterally projecting portions (151, 153) are moved laterally inward to overlie the retainer (114), and the air bag (10) has a width corresponding to the width of the retainer.

Abstract: An airbag inflator assembly is disclosed that includes a container containing a charge of pressurized gas and having a peripheral surface surrounding an opening in the container. A burst disc member has one side capacitive discharge welded to the peripheral surface of the container to seal the opening and thus confine the pressurized gas within the container. An ignitor assembly includes an ignitor assembly housing and ignition elements constructed and arranged to generate sufficient force to break the seal formed by the burst disc member and release the pressurized gas from the container. The ignitor elements are disposed substantially within the ignitor assembly housing. The ignitor assembly housing is an integrally formed unitary construction capacitive discharge welded to a side of the burst disc member opposite to the one side.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an airbag inflator assembly comprising placing a container, burst disc member, and housing for the ignitor assembly in a chamber; pressurizing the chamber to an appropriate pressure based upon a desired pressure to be contained within the container; applying force i) to urge a surface portion on one side of the burst disc member and the peripheral surface surrounding the opening in the container into forcible engagement with one another, and ii) to urge a surface portion on an opposite side of the burst disc member and an associated surface portion of the ignitor assembly housing into forcible engagement with one another; applying pulses of electrical discharge energy i) in the vicinity of the forcible engagement between the surface portion on one side of the burst disc member and the peripheral surface surrounding the opening in the container so that the surface portion on one side of the burst disc member and the peripheral surface surrounding the opening in the container are seali

Abstract: This invention relates, generally, to the recording of power related characteristics of power flowing through an electronic circuit breaker. Briefly stated, an electronic circuit breaker having a micro-processor therein and at least one port or pin on the micro-processor is used to produce an output pulse with time and/or frequency of the pulse related to the power characteristic being measured. This output pulse is thereafter transmitted to a recorder which is preferably a pulse data recorder or may be a data recorde.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging a damper with pressurized gas by forming a flow passage between the dust lip of the oil seal and the piston rod. The flow passage is formed by locally deforming the dust lip under the action of a distortion clamp. A source of pressurized gas is then placed in communication with the flow passage. The pressurized gas causes the oil seal to be displaced away from the piston rod, and the gas enters the damper between the oil seal and the piston rod. When the gas within the damper has attained the desired pressure, the distortion clamp is released allowing the dust lip to return to normal circumferential contact with the piston rod, and the source of pressurized gas is removed. The pressurized gas is retained in the damper after charging by the seal engaging the rod.

Abstract: An air bag module (10) includes a housing (12) having upper and lower side walls (30, 38) and a central wall (50). An air bag (14) is folded and stored in the housing (12), An inflator (16) is disposed in the housing (12) between the air bag (14) and the central wall (50). A spring clip (20) is disposed between the air bag (14) and the inflator (16). The spring clip (20) has end portions (150, 152) connected with the upper and lower side walls (30, 38) of the housing (12). A central portion (148) of the spring clip (20) biases and holds the inflator (16) against the central wall (50) of the housing.

Abstract: An air bag module (10) includes a housing (12), an air bag (14), and an inflator (16). A pair of wave springs (20, 22) are mounted on opposite end walls (40, 42) of the housing (12). The springs (20, 22) engage opposite end portions (132, 134) of the inflator (16) to secure the inflator to the housing (12). The inflator (16) extends through a cardboard plenum tube (18) in the housing (12). The plenum tube (18) keeps open a passage in the air bag (14) for insertion of the inflator (16) during assembly of the module (10).

Abstract: An air bag module (10) includes a housing (12) having a front portion (14) and a rear portion (16). An inflator (18) is connected with the front portion (14) of the housing (12). An air bag (20) is folded and stored in the rear portion (16) of the housing (12). The air bag (20) is secured to a retaining ring (22). Each one of a plurality of fasteners (120-134) interconnects the retaining ring (22), the front portion (14) of the housing (12), and the rear portion (16) of the housing (12).

Abstract: An air bag module (18) includes an inflator (14) and a reaction canister (16). The inflator (14) has an elongated container wall (108) with first and second longitudinally opposite end portions. The inflator (14) also has a nozzle (102) located adjacent to the first end portion of the container wall (108). An outer portion (24) of the reaction canister (16) defines an outer compartment (42) containing an air bag (12). The outer portion (24) of the reaction canister (16) has first and second side walls (34, 36) defining respective opposite ends of the outer compartment (42). An inner portion (26) of the reaction canister (16) contains the nozzle (102) and the first end portion of the container wall (108). A side wall (64) of the inner portion (26) of the reaction canister (16) has an opening (86) which is located intermediate the side walls (34, 36) of the outer portion (24).