Abstract: A damping disk assembly for a gas damped deceleration switch forms part of a means for generating a vacuum to damp movement of a mass which is movable in response to deceleration. The damping disk assembly comprises a rigid damping disk, and a coaxial flexible damping disk with a diameter greater than the diameter of the rigid damping disk. The flexible damping disk comprises a flexible spring disk and a flexible sealing disk, and has an unflexed position in overlaying surface contact with the rigid damping disk.

Abstract: A gas damped deceleration switch is calibratable to enable the switch to perform in a desired manner in response to deceleration pulses of various magnitudes and durations. A vacuum which is generated upon initial movement of a mass away from a rest position toward an activated position restrains movement of the mass away from the rest position. The vacuum is adjustable by means of an adjustable flow of gas into the vacuum. Adjustment of the flow of gas into the vacuum adjusts the degree to which the vacuum is generated for a given rate of movement of the mass away from the rest position, and thereby adjusts the magnitude and duration of a deceleration pulse required to overcome the gas damping forces resisting movement of the mass upon generation of the vacuum.

Abstract: A gas damped deceleration switch for a vehicle performs repeatedly in a consistent manner in response to decelerating crash forces acting transversely to the direction of movement of the vehicle or traversely to the axis of the deceleration switch. A mass assembly comprising a mass and a damping member is supported for movement along the axis of the deceleration switch in response to deceleration of the vehicle. A spiral spring is connected to the mass assembly at a location in a plane which extends perpendicular to the axis of the deceleration switch and which contains the center of mass of the mass assembly. Axially transverse components of a deceleration pulse experienced by the deceleration switch act upon the movable mass assembly at the axial location wherein the movable mass assembly is least susceptible to being moved out of its position centrally aligned with the axis of the deceleration switch.