Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the diagnosis of a disease or condition in an individual. The methods employ a primary self-organizing map trained with biological marker profiles from tissues having known diseases or conditions, in combination with a secondary self-organizing map which displays a representation of a subset of the primary self-organizing map with sample data obtained from an individual in need of diagnosis. A result is prepared from the secondary SOM(s) that reveals the extent of similarity between the known diseases or conditions with the sample data set of the individual. The result can be provided to a practitioner to aid in the diagnosis or prognosis of the individual. The result can additionally be used to select an individual for a clinical trial to evaluate a treatment.

Abstract: A glass-to-metal bushing for igniters of airbags or belt tensioning pulleys. A metal pin is arranged in a slot in the base plate in the fixing material, the base plate being formed by one element whereby the base geometry describing the slot is produced by at least one separation process. Structure is provided between the front and rear of the base plate for preventing relative motion of the fixing material in the direction of the base plate rear portion across from the inner circumference of the slot.

Abstract: An ignition unit for igniting propellants having at least one electrically conductive pin with a pin holder comprising a metal ring which encloses the pin by leaving an annular cavity with an insulating filing in the annular cavity. An electrically conductive bridge or a semi-conductor bridge connects between the metal ring and the pin with a sealing cap which is connected to the one face side of the pin holder and which receives the propellant. A plug can be connected in a positive or non-positive way with the metal ring on its end averted from the sealing cap and which enters into an electrically conductive connection with the pin in operation. At least one of the two elements, either the metal ring or the plug are provided with a coating in the region between the mutual connection, which coating has a low electric contact resistance between the plug and the metal ring.

Abstract: An ignition unit for igniting propellants having at least one electrically conductive pin with a pin holder comprising a metal ring which encloses the pin by leaving an annular cavity with an insulating filing in the annular cavity. An electrically conductive bridge or a semi-conductor bridge connects between the metal ring and the pin with a sealing cap which is connected to the one face side of the pin holder and which receives the propellant. A plug can be connected in a positive or non-positive way with the metal ring on its end averted from the sealing cap and which enters into an electrically conductive connection with the pin in operation. At least one of the two elements, either the metal ring or the plug are provided with a coating in the region between the mutual connection, which coating has a low electric contact resistance between the plug and the metal ring.

Abstract: A glass-to-metal bushing for ignitors of airbags or belt tensioning pulleys. A metal pin is arranged in a slot in the base plate in the fixing material, the base plate being formed by one element whereby the base geometry describing the slot is produced by at least one separation process. Structure is provided between the front and rear of the base plate for preventing relative motion of the fixing material in the direction of the base plate rear portion across from the inner circumference of the slot.

Abstract: In a method and an air bag system for depleting the kinetic energy of a vehicle occupant in case of a vehicle accident involving heavy, negative acceleration, the air bag system comprising a control unit for inflating an air bag which activates the air bag system on the basis of electric signals of an acceleration sensor provided in the vehicle, further sensor elements are provided by means of which the parameters determining the individual kinetic energy of the vehicle occupant are sensed and electrical signals representing these parameters are transmitted by the sensor elements to an electronic analyzer connected to the control unit, this electronic analyzer establishing on the basis of these signals a point in time t4 at which the vehicle occupant is likely to come into contact with the inflated air bag of the air bag system, the electronic analyzer calculating on the basis of the established point in time t4 a prior point in time t2 at which the inflation of the air bag is to commence and signalling this

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for filling a restraint device, in particular an impact cushion (airbag) for the protection of the occupants of a motor vehicle, with the following features. The restraint device is filled by an inert gas or gas mixture stored in a pressure container; the pressure container has an outlet opening which is closed by a burstable membrane; a module for opening the membrane is associated with the outlet opening; the module has an ignition unit; the igniter case is surrounded by a toroidal propellant chamber; for the ignition of the propellant stored in the propellant chamber, the igniter case has, in addition to axial nozzles, further nozzles directed radially outwards and finally a flow control is provided which directs the hot gas, produced by the propellant, onto the membrane.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tubular gas generator for the filling of an airbag in a retention system for occupants of motor vehicles, whereby two separate combustion chamber units have a common connector and each combustion chamber unit has an ignitor unit with respective filters.

Abstract: A device for disconnecting the flow of current in the positive or impregnated battery cable of a motor vehicle has an electrically conductive plug-in connection that can be placed in the positive or impregnated battery cable in the form of a housing and a plug connector. The housing contains a gas generator of the kind used, for example, for belt tighteners. The gas generator is arranged in the housing in such a way that the propellant gas produced when the gas generator is ignited electrically separates the connector from the housing and this in turn interrupts the flow of current in the positive or impregnated battery cable. Consequently, a short circuit that might occur in the event of an accident and which could otherwise lead to damage of the cable tree and then set the vehicle on fire, is avoided in good time.

Abstract: A hybrid gas generator for vehicle safety, systems, in particular airbag inflating and seat belt tensioning systems or pyrotechnical isolating switches for disconnecting the vehicle electrical system from the vehicle battery in the event of an impact accident, is described, whereby a moving piston is provided to destroy the bursting diaphragm which closes off the compressed gas container. This piston is moved towards the bursting diaphragm by igniting an ignition system whereby according to this invention the piston has a flange-shaped projection which is located against a shoulder on the internal surface of a sleeve facing the piston and is designed such that when the ignition system is ignited the flange-shaped projection shears off. Advantageously, the operating pressure in the combustion chamber of the hybrid gas generator according to this invention can thus be determined by the area of the shearing surface on the flange-shaped projection.

Abstract: Gas generator for an airbag that provides protection against side impact in a vehicle. The gas generator has a housing with a flange for attaching the gas generator to a part of the vehicle, in particular to the backrest of a vehicle seat, and for fixing the airbag. The gas generator also has a sealed fluid-tight propellant tank that acts as combustion chamber. The propellant tank is arranged concentrically in the housing such that an annular chamber is formed between the housing and the propellant tank to allow afterburning. The annular chamber can be connected on the one hand to the inside of the propellant tank through the passage that opens as a result of the burning process and on the other hand to the inside of the airbag through the outlet apertures provided in the housing wall, but otherwise it is sealed fluid-tight. The construction of the generator is therefore very simple and it is of very small size.

Abstract: An essentially cylindrical gas generator for generating combustion gases. The gas generator includes a housing having gas outlet openings; a combustion chamber surrounded by the housing; gas-generating fuel disposed in the combustion chamber; an igniting device disposed in the combustion chamber for igniting the fuel; a first filter disposed between the fuel and the gas outlet openings for prefiltering generated gases upon passage thereof from the combustion chamber through the first filter toward the outlet openings; a second filter disposed between the first filter and the outlet openings for filtering the gases upon passage thereof from the first filter through the second filter; and a generally tubular body surrounding the second filter. The tubular body is surrounded by the housing, and is composed of a plurality of third filters and a plurality of guide plates circumferentially alternating with the third filters.

Abstract: A fence post cap is provided which is formed from plastic materials and having a fastener support member, which resists cap deformation during application of the fastener and includes fluid sealing portions about the fastener, and locating studs adjacent the perimeter sides of the cap to facilitate positive seating of the cap on the fence post. The plastic material can be molded in any desired color to match or contrast the fence color. The fastener is received within a counter bore such that the fastener head is more isolated from inadvertent contact after installation.

Abstract: Ring pellets for gas generators exhibit optimum reaction rates by having configurations which optimize such rates. The pellet has a central ignition duct; from the latter, outlet channels extend radially toward a rim of the pellet. Specific embodiments contain, on the topside and underside of the pellets, either conical recesses or annular channels or both. The pellets preferably exhibit a proportion of surface area/unit weight of from 4 to 7 cm.sup.2 /g, which can be set by variation of the channels and, respectively, of the recesses to obtain a desired value. The higher this value, the greater the reaction rate. The ring pellets are especially well suited for airbag generators which must display differently high reaction rates on the driver's side and on the front-seat passenger's side, and which are to exhibit at the same time a high breaking and abrasion stability.

Abstract: In a gas generator for an airbag of a vehicle, a chamber is provided around a cylindrical pressure reservoir filled with gas-releasing materials. The chamber contains a filter and is traversed over its entire length by a gas stream produced from the gas-releasing materials along a cylindrical outer surface. Such a gas generator is especially suitable for an airbag intended to prevent primarily only the impacting of the driver's head against the steering column while the other protective functions, which are otherwise also to be carried out by an airbag in a vehcle as the sole protective device, are taken over by a safety belt.

Abstract: For the purpose of welding one side of a metallic foil to a relatively thick-walled metal tube, it is proposed to cover the foil from the other side in an annular fashion with a similar or identical tube section also made of metal and to join the tube and the tube section from the outside by means of welding, e.g., plasma welding; in this procedure, the welding bond is not allowed to extend through the entire tube wall thickness. In this way, tubular elements such as cylindrical casings of primer caps can be made tight, which primer caps can be filled from the front in a simple way, but wherein it has thus far been difficult to test for the reliability of the cover formed over a primer charge.

Abstract: By providing a cover of heat-resistant fabric over a pressure tank of a gas generator for an airbag, the objective can be attained that the outer exposed surface of the covered gas generator is not heated up to an excessive degree. Moreover, due to this feature, the proportion of solid and liquid, hot particles in the gaseous streams discharged from the gas generator can be additionally reduced.

Abstract: The present invention concerns propellant compositions for the generation of nontoxic gases which are utilized, for example, in airbag generators. These compositions contain, as a gas-yielding component, at least one alkali azide. According to the invention, the compositions are stabilized against the effects of moisture and carbon dioxide by the addition of talc and/or magnesium oxide. These additives are included in amounts of from 3 to 10% by weight. The additive acts so that the propellant compositions do not release hydrazoic acid even under the action of moisture and/or carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A pin of a retracting or ejecting pyrotechnical power element preferably mounted on the side of a belt lock facing away from the engaged belt is connected to a trigger key in such a way that, upon initiation of the charge of the pyrotechnical power element as a result of a threshold of a sensor in the vehicle being exceeded, due to an occurrence to be sensed, i.e. an impact upon collision and, after a required delay, the trigger key is depressed completely--and remains depressed. The required delay between the occurrence and the instant of belt separation can be effected electronically or, quite especially preferably, integrated in the pyrotechnical power element by means of a pyrotechnical transmission path.

Abstract: A gas generator for an air bag, which can be manufactured in an advantageous manner, has at least two tubular pressure tanks wherein materials that release gas are combusted. The pressure tanks are connected radially with a central member containing an igniter element. The gas-releasing material fills up a tubular interior extensively in the form of stackable molded elements adapted to fit within the pressure tank. In most cases, an adequate path for the ignition vapors is constituted by a central channel within each element, while in case of rod-shaped molded elements, such adequate path is represented by the "natural" cavities; additionally, a free surface area should exist between the elements and may be provided by nubs and/or indentations on the lateral faces of these molded elements.