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).