Abstract: A control for enhanced manual start ratio engagement in a computer-assisted (48) vehicular compound transmission (16) having a synchronized main section (16A) shifted by a manually operated shift lever (31), an auxiliary splitter section, and a controller (48). The splitter section (16E) is located behind the main section and is provided with a three-position (L, H, N) actuator (46) and is commanded to a splitter-neutral position upon sensing that the vehicle is essentially stopped (OS<REF), that the master clutch (14) is disengaged and the main section is in neutral.

Abstract: Adjustable pliers for a constant tension hose clamp include a pair of arms pivotally connected together at intermediate portions of the arms. Each arm has a handle portion and a gripping portion, and the gripping portions have opposed ends that are spaced apart a predetermined distance. Each end has a grasping element, with each grasping element adapted to hold one actuating member of the hose clamp. This enables the hose clamp to be held by the grasping elements between the gripping portions to enlarge the diameter of the hose clamp by pressing the handle portions together. One of the arms has two separate sections, a gripper section and a handle section. These sections are rigidly connected together by an adjustable rod mechanism that enables the two sections to be moved relative to each other to change the angular relationship between the two sections by adjustment of the rod mechanism.

Abstract: A handheld coaxial cable trimmer tool has a removable and interchangeable blade cartridge and support insert so that the tool can easily be used with different types of coaxial cables without the need for additional tools. The cartridge is easily removed from the tool by pressing on a flexible lever on the top of the tool and the support insert snaps in and out of the tool without the need for separate fasteners.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing claw hammer includes a handle, a claw and a striking head. Vibrations in the handle caused by the striking head striking an object are at least partially reduced by shock-absorbing means. In one embodiment, the head includes a top surface and a lower surface, with the lower surface of the head coupled to the handle. The claw includes a first slit for pulling nails, and the head further defines a second slit extending from the top surface of the head towards the lower surface of the head situated generally between the striking head and the claw. In another embodiment, tension and compression rebars are positioned within the handle, with the striking head coupled to the compression rebar and the claw coupled to the tension rebar such that the striking head and the claw move relative to one another upon striking an object.

Abstract: A combination nail set includes an outer cylindrical impact sleeve within which a dual tipped setting tool is slidably supported for reciprocation between detented operative positions to expose selectively a setting tip for recessing nail heads of varying sizes into a workpiece.

Abstract: A power assisted roofing shovel for removing shingles and attached nails from a roof to facilitate re-roofing. The shovel comprises a handle, a shovel blade, a trigger mechanism, and a mechanism for reciprocating the shovel blade. The mechanism for reciprocating the shovel blade may be an air hammer, an electric motor, a solenoid, or other power assisted device. The handle is an elongate hollow cylinder having the trigger mechanism attached to its rearward end, the shovel blade attached to its forward end, and a reciprocating mechanism there between. The shovel blade has a generally flat leading edge adapted for removing roofing materials and a rearward shank. A bracket member, extending rearward from the shovel blade, is adapted to slidably connect the shovel blade and the handle for reciprocal movement of the shovel blade.

Abstract: An adjustable wrench includes a handle, a head connected to the handle and including a fixed jaw formed thereon and a movable jaw mounted thereon, an adjusting screw rotatably mounted in a web area between the handle and the head for moving the movable jaw relative to the fixed jaw, and a clearance retaining device including an actuating member, a braking wheel, and a retaining member. The actuating member includes an end connected to an axle to which the adjusting screw is mounted. The braking wheel is normally in a free position not engaged with the adjusting screw when the actuating member is in a first position. When the actuating member is moved to a second position for fine adjustment, the braking wheel is moved and rotated to cause the adjusting screw to rotate through a predetermined angle such that the movable jaw is slightly moved away from the fixed jaw for a pre-determined distance. The braking wheel is retained between the adjusting screw and the retaining member after such fine adjustment.

Abstract: A folding hand tool set having a one-piece, completely integral, plastic handle and a plurality of hand tools rotatably mounted thereto. The one-piece, completely integral, plastic handle is preferably constructed from a fiber reinforced thermoplastic. Spacers may be provided for rotationally isolating the hand tools. The folding hand tool set is capable of transmitting more then 110.0 Newton meters of torque without compromising the integrity of the one-piece, completely integral plastic handle. A one-piece, completely integral, plastic handle for receiving hand tools is also disclosed. The handle can withstand at least 30 Newton meters of torsional force without compromising the integrity of the handle.

Abstract: A spring-loaded screwdriver with cover and changeable heads for covering an entire screw to guide it directly into its threading hole. The device includes a handle portion having an outer end and an inner end. An outer cylinder is secured to the outer end of the handle portion. The outer cylinder has a closed inner end, an open outer end and a cylindrical side wall therebetween. The outer cylinder has a spring disposed interiorly thereof. An inner cylinder is slidably received within the open outer end of the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder has an open inner end and an open outer end. The open inner end of the inner cylinder abuts an outer end of the spring. A magnetized shaft is secured to the inner end of the cylindrical handle and extends within the outer cylinder and through the spring. The magnetized shaft has a hexagonal shaped recess formed within a free end thereof.

Abstract: A drive tool for use in driving a fastener having a combination head having slots to accommodate either a flat-blade screwdriver or a Phillips-type screwdriver, the drive tool having both a flat-blade and a Phillips-type blade, and foot portions positioned on each of said flat-blade and said Phillips-type blade for engaging the slots in the combination head. Additionally, a centering tip is provided that fits into the slots of the combination head and allows the drive tool to be guided into proper position by the slots.

Abstract: A micro-torque limiting production tool and subassembly comprises a hollow cylindrically shaped housing in which a combination bit retainer clutch mechanism is supported. The combination bit retainer-clutch mechanism includes a pair of cylindrical drive and driven clutch disks of a plastic composite composed of teflon fluorocarbon and acetal resin, each having a bulbous region and a region supported front to back relative to each other to define a primary braking surface of area .pi.(D5/2).sup.2 where D5 is the diameter of the bulbous region.

Abstract: The machine tool includes a workpiece-holding spindle consisting of a slide capable of being moved along the X-axis perpendicular to the main axis of rotation of the machine. The slide is moved via a tie-rod, actuated at one end by a numerical axis and having at the other end an oblique projection fitted in an oblique hole in the slide. Movement of the tie-rod along the Z-axis therefore causes movement of the slide, hence of the workpiece, along the X-axis. Provision is made for counterbalancing the rotating spindle. The machine tool is thus capable of machining parts having eccentric shoulders.

Abstract: A perforator for making perforations in a continuous film which is thereafter cut into individual filmstrips having variable lengths. A die set unit of the perforator has a plurality of punches and corresponding dies which are respectively arranged along the continuous film. The die set unit performs die-punching N times (N=1, 2, 3 . . . ) in every first section having a variable length Lx, and the measuring feeder transports the continuous film by a first length after each of (N-1) times die-punching and by a second length after the last die-punching for every first section. The first length is given as Lx/N, and the second length corresponds to the first length plus the length L2 of a second section disposed alternately with the first section along the continuous film. In alternative, the die set unit is constituted of first to nth die sets aligned in order from downstream to in the film transporting direction. The ith die set of the die sets has a number Gi (i=1, 2, . . .

Abstract: A hydraulic press has closed loop feedback control on a slide, a slide pad and bolster cylinders. Hydraulic cylinders actuating various components of the press are controlled according to ideal position estimates to produce consistent and precise pressing action. A closed loop control consists of an ideal position/pressure value generator, a position/pressure detector and an arithmetic unit comparing the ideal and actual position/pressure values. Using the ideal and actual comparison result, the arithmetic unit produces a control signal to drive a cylinder to a desired position/pressure. The hydraulic press is capable of performing several operations on a workpiece in one press cycle, an improvement over presses requiring several operation steps or die changes. The bolster cylinders augment clamping force, reduce shock, and improve die alignment to produce better results with less wear on press components.

Abstract: Point needles in a conveying cylinder of a rotary press are caused to follow a curve course which securely fastens a web to the cylinder while eliminating transport damage to the printed products as well as reducing paper waste. The needle tips of the point needles are moved along their path by the superimpositioning of two pivot movements, one of which is accomplished by a point holder arm and the second of which is accomplished by a rocker. The two cooperate to form a level four member swivel joint.

Abstract: A sawing apparatus comprises a base structure including bed rolls defining a horizontal bed plane for supporting a workpiece, a saw arbor carrying at least one saw for rotation about the central axis of the saw arbor, and a carriage supporting the saw arbor so that its central axis extends horizontally above the bed plane. A drive mechanism selectively raises and lowers the carriage relative to the base structure.

Abstract: An oil kit and method eliminate glue build-up on slitting blades of a slitting device. The oil kit includes a bracket assembly that is readily attachable an existing slitting device in the vicinity of the slitting blades. The bracket assembly supports a plurality of pad units each supporting a felt pad soaked in oil. The pad units are adjustable such that the oil kit can be customized for any slitting device slitting blade configuration. The felt pads are secured by friction and can be readily removed and resecured in various configurations before requiring re-soaking of the pads.

Abstract: A punch and die device for working such as punching of a pipe material is disclosed, of which internal die means can easily be inserted into a pipe material even if an open end of the pipe material to be worked has burrs inward extending therefrom, and in which it is easily detected whether the internal die means is pushed toward a lateral side or lateral sides of the pipe material and thereby firmly held. The punch and die device for working a pipe material comprises: external punch means located outside a pipe material P, and internal die means K inserted in the pipe material for cooperation with a punch 30 of the external punch means to work the pipe material P; the internal die means K being divided into two parts in a direction orthogonal to that of reciprocating motion of the punch 30 of the external punch means, one 1 of the parts having working function and the other 2 having no working function, the non-working part 2 being forward and backward movable in the opening direction, i. e.

Abstract: A saw for removing opposing deck boards from a pallet. A pair of band saws are suspendedly and pivotally mounted to a frame. Guide fingers extend between the saw blades to engage the opposing surfaces of pallet deck boards to automatically position the saw blades with the junctions between deck boards and pallet runners. An upwardly extending bed is cantileverly mounted to the saw supporting the pallet.

Abstract: A jig which allows hardwood flooring or other building material to be cut to an exact length to fit with precision between two fixed pieces of building material. The jig includes a marking member which attaches to a workpiece which is positioned with one end abutted to a fixed piece of building material and the other end extending beyond a second fixed piece of building material. The marking member attaches to the workpiece in such a way that it is secured in a precise position relative to the second fixed piece of building material. The jig also includes a receiving member which is affixed to a cutting device. The marking member, when aligned with the receiving member, serves as a saw guide that allows consistent cuts to be made so that the workpiece will fit with precision between the two fixed pieces of building material.

Abstract: The circular saw mill has an engine driven circular saw on a carriage. The carriage has a table that catches the sawn lumber and caries it back to the operator. The saw mill is laid out so one man can operate the mill, which eliminates the necessity for extra help. The set works for the saw mill has a hand lever at the operator station so the operator can advance the log towards the saw, controlling the thickness of the board to be cut. The log is held in a position for cutting by conventional dog asssemblies. The carriage is moved by a conventional chain and sprocket mounted on a hydraulic motor powered by a hydraulic power unit.

Abstract: An agricultural machine has a feed passage for stalk products, a cutting device provided on the feed passage and having a plurality of turnably supported knives which are arranged in a row and extend in their cutting position into the feed passage, spring loaded knife levers which hold the knives in the cutting position, so that under the action of a foreign body the knives can turn out against a spring loading from the feed passage, a joint traverse with which the knife levers are displaceably connected through hingedly connected rods, a frame which is downwardly turnable to a fixed abutment and in which the cutting device is arranged, the frame having side walls provided with slot guides, the traverse being displaceably received at both ends of the traverse in the slot guides of the side walls of the frame, and a cylinder-piston a unit which engages with the traverse.

Abstract: The food holder has two vertical plates, mounted on a base vertically and parallel to each other. The two plates create a gap between the plates where food is held. Knife guides with vertically extending guide slits are provided at both ends of the gap. The two vertical plates are connected to the base in a manner allowing their translational motion in directions which can change the gap size. Additionally, a centering mechanism insures the distance moved by each plate is equal.

Abstract: A cutting assembly for a motor chainsaw has a guide bar with peripheral guide groove and guide surfaces. A saw chain circulates in the guide groove in a longitudinal direction of the guide bar. The saw chain has chain members such as centrally arranged drive members and connectors, laterally connecting the drive members. Some of the connectors and some of the drive members are embodied as cutters arranged alternatingly on opposite sides of the saw chain. Rivets connect the chain members pivotably to one another and extend transversely to the circulating direction. The drive members engage the guide groove and the connectors are slidably supported on the guide surfaces. Each cutter has a base, a support stay connected to the base, and a cutting tooth connected to the support stay. The cutting tooth has a laterally projecting roof portion having a leading end in the circulating direction with a roof cutting edge.

Abstract: A continuous intersecting braided composite preform including a first member with at least one ply of biased fibers and a second member also with at least one ply of biased fiber. The first member intersects with the second member and passes continuously through the second member such that the biased fibers of the first member are interstitially arranged with respect to the biased fibers of the second member at the intersection.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for protection of active armor against attack by sensor guided armor piercing projectiles, preferably with twin shaped charges, wherein inflatable individual segments are arranged at the object to be protected so as to be pressure- and temperature regulated.

Abstract: A firearm, in particular a hand firearm is proposed having a displaceable barrel (23) and a locking mechanism between a bolt carriage (22) accepting the barrel and a guide rod (26) coupled to the barrel (23), wherein the unlocking is effected through rotation of this guide rod (26)

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the function of all kinds of reciprocable power machines which are actuated by pneumatic, hydraulic of any other pressure fluid, irrespective if the machines are of rotary or axially operating type, in which the active power stroke is accomplished using full power of pressure fluid against a reciprocatable piston (2) in the active air pressure chamber (10, 12), and in which the reversing of the direction of operation is made by alternatingly supplying pressure fluid to the opposite air pressure chamber (12, 10) of the machine. A valve poppet (6) having several channels alternately places one of the pressure chambers (10, 12) of the reciprocatable fluid actuated machine (1, 2) under full pressure, builds up a certain counter pressure in a pressure chamber which is, at the actual moment, inactive, and evacuates the pressure from an inactive pressure chamber of the fluid actuated machine.

Abstract: A valve arrangement including a micro-valve at an intake opening and a fuer valve at an output opening of a chamber connecting to a pressure-variable switching member, the valves being structured to maintain a closed state by an applied pressure difference. At least the micro-valve is provided with a closure member which can be energized to affect a change-over from one state to another. No energy is required to maintain the changed-over state.

Abstract: A rotation-preventing mechanism for regulating the free rotation of an outer piston in a boosting cylinder apparatus is composed of at least one engaged groove formed in the inner surface of a cylinder tube integrally with the cylinder hole and at least one engaging member that is mounted on the outer circumference of the outer piston and fitted in the engaged groove in such a way as to be moved along the engaged groove.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for securely attaching existing conventional central adaptors for air brake actuators to service brake housings, emergency brake housings, or both, that are made from a metal that is dissimilar to that of the adaptor without major modification to either the housing or the adaptor. An annular shoulder with an elongated annular flange above it is provided on the steel part, and the aluminum part is provided with a small outwardly extending annular lip. A flexible diaphragm is first placed directly on the shoulder of the selected steel part. The aluminum part is then placed on top of the diaphragm such that the annular lip of the aluminum part fits inside the annular flange of the steel part. A slightly deformable annular steel piece is placed around the aluminum part so that it comes to rest against the annular aluminum lip while also touching the annular steel flange of the steel part.

Abstract: A piston for a piston-cylinder unit comprises a piston body having passages which connect two spaces in a cylinder on opposing sides of the piston. The passages are covered by at least one valve disk which is centered relative to a center of the piston by a centering sleeve. A spring element is arranged between the piston body and the centering sleeve. This spring element, when mounted, spaces the centering element from the piston body and accordingly displaces the useful range of the centering element until the piston is assembled in its entirety and every structural component part of the piston occupies its intended position.

Abstract: A coffee machine is provided with a boiler for heating brewing water, a brewing cylinder defining a brewing chamber, a closure piston for closing the one open end of the brewing cylinder as well as a brewing piston for compressing the coffee powder in the brewing cylinder and/or for ejecting the elutriated coffee powder cake, whereby the brewing piston is longitudinally movable in the brewing cylinder. The closure piston is integrally formed or rigidly connected to the housing of the boiler and firmly mounted to the housing of the coffee machine. Moreover, there is provided a brewing module that is removably inserted into the housing of the coffee machine and that includes at least the brewing cylinder and the brewing piston. The brewing cylinder and the brewing piston are movable in longitudinal direction, but cannot be rotated. Such a coffee machine can be designed very compactly.

Abstract: An electric automatic pop-up toaster has a carriage and a pivotably connected manually operative arm for moving the carriage to a lowermost position for toasting in well-known manner. At the beginning of each toasting cycle, the arm is horizontal and a latching plate is magnetically held down to hold the arm and the carriage in a lowermost position. The arm presses against a wire spring to hold closed a power switch (not shown) that supplies power to heating elements of the toaster. The latching plate is (magnetically) released at the end of each toasting cycle by a timer. This allows the carriage to move upwards to pop-up toasted bread in a usual way. However should the carriage fail to move upwards when the latching plate is released, the arm is pivoted by a spring and tilted to the position shown in the Figure. The wire is therefore released and enters a slot in a bracket mounted to the carriage. The switch opens and remains open to prevent power being re-instated to the heating elements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to making the mixing and refining of chocolate masses more cost effective by increasing the flow of energy through the material to be treated.

Abstract: A baking apparatus for the production of foamed carbohydrate-based baked products which expand during the baking process has a baking tongs with a pair of tong parts hinged together and a baking mold whose mold halves are each received in a respective one of the tong parts. The hinge has hinge sections connected by two pivot pins with pivot axes offset from one another and enabling a change in the volume of the baking mold. Opposite the hinge sections, a holding device can hold the baking tongs closed.

Abstract: A dry raw cereal material having a starch fraction is fed into the inlet (38) of a twin screw preconditioning unit (10). The dry material is rapidly advanced and mixed in the first two zones (31, 32) and conveyed into a third zone (33). Water is introduced by ducts (42) and is admixed with the dry material to form a well mixed wetted cereal material. The screws (14, 16) include blank segments (14c, 16c) having radially extending pins (40) to create a material plug in the barrel (30) of the preconditioning unit (10). Steam is added to the wetted material in the next zone (34) to form a heated wetted cereal material which is worked in the fourth zone (34) to form a heated precooked non-continuous cereal compacted dough material which is generally maintained below its gelatinization point.

Abstract: A paper calender has a stack of rolls arranged one above the other. They form an upper stack and a lower stack with a common center roll. Additional center rolls are carried on levers that are capable of pivoting about axes fixed with respect to the frame, and are capable of being placed under load by devices applying force. These devices should be designed to be powerful enough to be capable of compensating for more than the total weight of the associated roll and the parts connected to it. As a result of the various possible settings for the line load, the finishing of the paper can be improved. A method is provided for operating a paper calender having an upper stack of rolls and a lower stack of rolls positioned below the upper stack. Each stack is individually capable of being placed under load by upper and lower force generators.

Abstract: The doctor portion of the ink cup of a pad printing machine is formed of a polymeric composite which has high compressive strength and high resistance to chemicals, notably to printing inks. The polymeric doctoring portion is tapered and defines a narrow distal end surface which circumscribes the open end of the cup for doctoring engagement with an opposed plastic gravure surface. The doctoring portion may be a separate ring element suitably mounted at the open end of the cup body or it may be a unitary part of the cup.

Abstract: A stencil printer of the present invention includes at least one ink drum for wrapping a master around its outer periphery. An ink feed device feeds ink to the master wrapped around the ink drum. A pressing member is movable into and out of contact with the ink drum at a position where it faces the ink feed device. An image is printed on a paper fed from a paper feed section at a print section where the ink drum and pressing member face each other. A belt conveyor includes a belt extending between the paper feed section located upstream of the print section in the direction of paper conveyance and a paper discharge section located downstream of the print section in the same direction through the print section. The belt conveys the paper fed from the paper feed section while causing it to electrostatically adhere thereto. The paper is sufficiently electrostatically adhered to the belt before it reaches the print section, so that air suction, an air knife, a separator or the like is not necessary.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing paste onto a surface of a printed circuit board through a screen having openings therein. The apparatus comprises a holder for holding the screen (5) horizontally in position, a vertically movable printing table (3) carrying the board (4) thereon a mechanically drivable squeegee device (1) for filling paste into openings (7) in the screen as the surface of the board is in contact with a lower surface of the screen (5), a drive for moving the printing table between a lower position, a raised printing position where printing of the board occurs and a higher third position higher than the printing position. The printing table (3) acts to push the screen upwardly, as it is raised from the printing position, so as to cause the screen to be elastically deformed into a substantially arcuate form so that the screen and the board are substantially separated from each other and printed paste deposits (8) are left on the board at the higher third position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining color registration in a multi-color printing press having a plurality of printing stations. A process black registration mark is formed in an identified area by positioning a plurality of color registration marks on top of each other. The process black registration mark is position in a portion of the image that is intended to be printed black, and preferably adjacent to a black ink image. The identified area is examined to determine whether the process black registration mark is properly positioned.

Abstract: A stamping toy having a pair of self inking stamp pads. The arms are part of a housing assembly including a central drum which is rotatably mounted on a center support post and is biased along with the housing assembly by spring means into an inoperative position. A series of opposed radially spaced depending fingers and upwardly projecting projections are positioned in opposed relationship within the drum. An indexing rod on the post is adapted to cooperate with camming surfaces on the fingers and projections to rotate the arms as the drum is moved from an inoperative to the operative position and back to the inoperative position.

Abstract: A cylinder for a rotary printing press can be changed between two operating modes. In a first one of these operating modes the cylinder's surface is divided into many sections. In the second operating mode, the cylinder has a functionally continuous surface area.

Abstract: An impression cylinder for a rotary printing machine is equipped with outlet orifices for feeding a pressure medium into a slot for the purpose of lifting off a flexible plate from the outer surface of the impression cylinder. The orifice on the circumference of the impression cylinder is inclined in the direction of rotation of the cylinder. The ends of the plate are insertable into the slot and are secured therein against slipping out. The impression cylinder includes a cavity which runs in the longitudinal direction separately from the slot and is capable of being subjected to the pressure medium. The cavity includes at least one duct which is connected to the outlet orifice arranged in a side face of the slot. The side face is adjacent to the trailing end of the plate in the region of the slot orifice on the circumference of the impression cylinder.

Abstract: A printer cleaning cloth is described having multiple plies sonically or thermally bonded together. An embossed pattern of the cleaning cloth provides stiffness and rigidity to the cloth and imparts a roughened surface texture to the cloth. The cleaning cloth is soaked in a terpene cleaning solvent. The cleaning cloth is attached to a roll of printing labels and passes through the printer at the beginning or end of the label roll. As the cloth passes through the printer, the cloth wipes clean the printer, especially the printheads to the printer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air exhaust device for printing machines, tin-plate printing machines, varnishing units or the like, in particular for the removal of ink mist, having at least one exhaust element arranged above the rolls of the printing machine, which exhaust element has at least one air exhaust opening. The exhaust element (16) is arranged laterally of the rolls (4) and the air exhaust opening (14) draws the air in in approximately horizontal direction.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising a plate cylinder; at least one ink transfer roller for transferring ink to the plate cylinder; and a smoother associated with at least one of the at least one ink transfer roller for smoothing the ink on the ink transfer roller. Also provided is a method of providing ink for a printing apparatus comprising the steps of providing ink to an ink transfer roller transferring the ink to a plate cylinder; and smoothing the ink on the ink transfer roller using a smoother.

Abstract: A safety and arming unit for a round of ammunition, comprising one or more acceleration sensors for detecting when the acceleration of the ammunition reaches at least two different predetermined linear acceleration values; timer means for measuring the time interval between the detection of two of the predetermined linear acceleration values, means for electronically comparing the said measured time interval with a range of predetermined and pre-set time intervals representing satisfactory firing for the round of ammunition, and means for producing an electronic signal when the said measured time interval falls within the range of predetermined and pre-set time intervals, which signal operates to arm the ammunition ready for detonation.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of protecting the occupants of a motor vehicle by an inflatable airbag.The invention relates to a process consisting in inflating an airbag (1) by a pyrotechnic generator (2) containing a double-composition charge (9) formed around a main charge having a linear burning rate V.sub.1 and at least part of the ignition faces of which are covered with a skin of moderate pyrotechnic composition having a linear burning rate V.sub.2 satisfying the relationship:0.05 V.sub.1 .ltoreq.V.sub.2 .ltoreq.0.5 V.sub.1.The invention thus makes it possible to inflate the airbag gradually during the first milliseconds of deployment of the latter.