Abstract: The invention is an expanding, anchoring screw, made of expandable polymer material. The screw shaft is hollow. After inserting screw in a material, by allowing two reagents to mix in the hollow shaft, and a polymerization chemical reaction to occur, the reagents increase in volume exerting pressure against the inner surface of the hollow shaft, expanding the shaft, and applying greater anchoring force against material in which the screw is inserted.

Abstract: A separation fastener assembly includes a housing defining a cavity. A frangible nut is disposed in the cavity. The nut includes a plurality of nut segments. The one-piece frangible nut greatly reduces existing assembly problems and difficulties. Adjacent nut segments are interconnected at fracture lines. A bolt has an end coupled to the nut. A movable element is disposed in the housing and movable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the nut segments are restrained from radial expansion. In the second position the nut segments are permitted to radially expand for releasing the fastener assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system including a steering column, a keying member, and a squib. The steering column includes a first steering column section longitudinally slidably connected to a second steering column section. The keying member locates the first and second steering column sections at a fixed longitudinal position relative to each other. The squib is located relative to the keying member to exert a force on the keying member when the squib is initiated to thereby allow the first and second steering column sections to longitudinally slide relative to each other to shorten a length of the steering column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyromechanical securing element for the mechanical connection of two components. The securing element comprises a covering and a pyrotechnical propellant charge is arranged in the head part thereof, said propellant charge being adjacent to an adapter, and securing means or a stop for the first component are arranged on the rear part of the covering and a second component can be pushed onto the covering between the first component and the head part. The covering on the head part comprises expected fracture indents extending in the longitudinal direction which tear open the covering in the head area when the propellant charge is ignited and the first component is rigidly connected to the second component in order to allow the adapter to bend. The aim of the invention is to securely anchor the covering to the adapter without using extreme force.

Abstract: A powder-actuated mechanical lock concrete anchor, wherein the lower end portion of the concrete anchor is adapted to be disposed within the lower end portion of a blind bore drilled within a concrete substrate, and wherein a powder-actuated mechanical locking device is located within the lower end portion of the concrete anchor such that when the powder-actuated mechanism of the powder-actuated mechanical locking device is in fact actuated, either electrically or mechanically, the mechanical locking device will effectively be expanded radially outwardly so as to be lockingly engaged within lower side wall portions of the concrete substrate so as to in fact mechanically lock the concrete anchor within the blind bore drilled within the concrete substrate.

Abstract: An actuatable fastener (50) includes a body (80) including a head (82) and a shank (84). The body (80) includes an interior chamber (120) partially defined by a side wall (132) extending from the head (82) into the shank (84) and an end wall (138) positioned in the shank. A member (140) is disposed in the chamber (120). An initiator (160) is actuatable to produce combustion products in the chamber (120) that act on the member (140) to move the member in a first direction in the chamber to strike the end wall (138). The member (140) strikes the end wall (138) creating a fracture (222) in the shank (84) separating at least a portion of the shank from a remainder (220) of the shank. The combustion products moving the member (150) beyond the fracture (222) at least a predetermined distance (226) to move the portion of the shank (84) at least the predetermined distance from the remainder (220) of the shank.

Abstract: Enhanced airbag modules and associated methods are provided. An airbag module according to the invention may have a cushion with an inflatable protection zone and a flexible venting tube coupled to the inflatable protection zone. A closure mechanism may be used to compress the flexible venting tube against an anchoring member, such as a housing of the airbag module or a vehicle feature, until venting through the flexible venting tube is needed. The closure mechanism may then be actuated, for example, by igniting a pyrotechnic within a specially designed bolt of the closure mechanism. The bolt may, for example, have a bore with a pyrotechnic initiator molded-in-place within the bore. The bolt may fracture to open the closure mechanism, thereby permitting inflation gas to flow out of the inflatable protection zone via the flexible venting tube.

Abstract: An actuatable fastener (50) includes a body (80) including a head (82) and a shank (84). The body (80) includes an interior chamber (120) partially defined by a side wall (132) extending from the head (82) into the shank (84) and an end wall (138) positioned in the shank. A member (140) is disposed in the chamber (120). An initiator (160) is actuatable to produce combustion products in the chamber (120) that act on the member (140) to move the member in a first direction in the chamber to strike the end wall (138). The member (140) strikes the end wall (138) creating a fracture (222) in the shank (84) separating at least a portion of the shank from a remainder (220) of the shank. The combustion products moving the member (150) beyond the fracture (222) at least a predetermined distance (226) to move the portion of the shank (84) at least the predetermined distance from the remainder (220) of the shank.

Abstract: Enhanced airbag modules and associated methods are provided. An airbag module according to the invention may have a cushion with an inflatable protection zone and a flexible venting tube coupled to the inflatable protection zone. A closure mechanism may be used to compress the flexible venting tube against an anchoring member, such as a housing of the airbag module or a vehicle feature, until venting through the flexible venting tube is needed. The closure mechanism may then be actuated, for example, by igniting a pyrotechnic within a specially designed bolt of the closure mechanism. The bolt may, for example, have a bore with a pyrotechnic initiator molded-in-place within the bore. The bolt may fracture to open the closure mechanism, thereby permitting inflation gas to flow out of the inflatable protection zone via the flexible venting tube.

Abstract: An explosive assisted fastener for joining steel framing members. The fastener is comprised of an integrally formed member having a head section, a stem section and a tip section, such that the head section is disposed at a first end of the stem section and adapted to be linearly driven by a driving device into the framing members, and the tip section is disposed at a distal second end of the stem section and adapted to penetrate the framing members. The fastener further includes an explosive material embedded in the tip section of the fastener. In operation, the fastener is driven through the framing members until the head section of the fastener seats against an outer surface of the framing members. Once driven into place, the explosive material residing in the fastener is detonated, thereby radially expanding the tip section of the fastener and preventing removal of the fastener from the framing members.

Abstract: A device for holding down solar panels with a holding-down bolt and for releasing the solar panels after shearing off with a pyrotechnical striking pin device is arranged on the outer side of the solar panels. After severing with the striking pin and after lifting out of the striking pin device with a spring, the holding-down bolt pivots out of spacers, which are connected to the solar panels via crossbolts, as a result of which the solar panels can be freely unfolded.

Abstract: An explosive bolt is made of electrically non-conductive plastic material and is provided with a bore accommodating a low order deflagrating squid having only sufficient explosive energy to shatter a non-metallic bolt insulation surrounds the squib and fills the center bore and seals the squib in the center bore. There is a detonator for detonating the squib. Detonation of the squib is initiated by electrical current from an outside source electrically connected to the squib. A device has a stationary part and a removable part connected by the bolt.

Abstract: An anchor bolt to be anchored by an explosive charge in a blind bore in a solid material, in particular a rock face or concrete, has a deformation chamber containing the explosive charge. To achieve inexpensive manufacture of the anchor bolt, simple mounting and high withdrawal values of the anchor bolt to be anchored, the deformation chamber open towards the leading end of the anchor bolt is closed by a stopper. A striking pin projecting beyond the leading end of the anchor bolt is inserted and guided in the stopper, so that as the rear end of the anchor bolt is hit the striking pin contacts an ignition capsule arranged between the stopper and the explosive charge.

Abstract: An explosively driven nail having a head which carries a solid explosive propellent charge. A Zener diode in the form of a thin film of material functions as a primer and is attached to and overlies at least a portion of the exposed end surface of the explosive propellant charge. The primer is electrically detonated.

Abstract: An anchoring assembly for attachment to a base material having a body with a hollow insertion portion with an open end and an expandable portion positioned behind said open end, an explosive cartridge movably housed within said insertion portion near to said open end and capable of moving from said insertion portion to said expandable portion when forces are applied thereto, and a firing pin housed within said body behind said cartridge for igniting said cartridge when said cartridge is moved from said insertion portion to said expandable portion, upon ignition causing an explosive discharge which outwardly deforms said expandable mid-section against said base material. Such assemblies provide anchorage to remote objects, when shot from a gun or rifle, and allow for attachment of ropes, hooks, ladders and other devices for firemen or mountain climbers.

Abstract: A method of securing a cylindrical centering pin for a nuclear fuel assembly in a bore formed in a plate includes introducing an end of the centering pin into the bore until at least part of a coaxial, radially expandable wall portion of the end to be secured protrudes beyond the plate; and generating pressure in a closed hollow space surrounded by the wall portion with a pressure fluid until the wall portion radially expands and anchors the centering pin. According to another method, the end is introduced into the bore until at least part of the end to be secured, which has a periphery and an interior with radial slits formed therein, protrudes beyond the plate; and a mandrel-like tool is partially brought into the slits in the interior of the end of the centering pin and radially expands the end of the centering pin with the tool for anchoring the centering pin.

Abstract: A separable fastener includes a fastener body having a head end and a shank nd. The head end defines a generally cylindrical open ended cavity in which a cylindrical punch is disposed. The cavity is sealed and closed by a gas generator that develops an increasing fluid pressure against the punch. The punch is restrained within the cavity by a retaining ring which yields once a preselected gas pressure is reached. The release of the punch causes it to rapidly accelerate in a short distance to impact the shank end of the fastener body. The shank end is thereby sheared from the body with the void created in the body being sealed by the impacting punch.

Abstract: A pyrotechnical dowel has a shank and a deformation chamber located at the forward end of the shank. The chamber contains a blasting cap. Triggering of the blasting cap takes place from the rearward end of the shank by means of a triggering tool which is introduced into a longitudinal duct within the shank and which comes into direct contact with a bottom of the blasting cap.

Abstract: A supporting element is firmly attachable to a structure by detonating an explosive charge which is placed behind a body projection displaceable by an explosion of the charge to and into firm bond with the structure.

Abstract: In order to provide an anchor site in a matrix of solid material which has an accessible face, a socket is formed in the material through the accessible face. A shaft such as an anchor bolt is inserted in the socket, leaving an accessible emergent outer end portion. Via the outer end, explosive force is introduced to or generated in a central cavity of the shaft, which explosive force dislodges and deploys radially essentially outwardly at least one key at at least one level within the socket. Various ways for producing the explosive force are described.

Abstract: A fastening element having a cavity containing an explosive charge arranged so that, upon explosion of the explosive charge, anchoring of the fastening element in a bore of a workpiece takes place automatically. This fastening element functions both as a rivet and nail in combination and comprises sleeve means defining the cavity containing the explosive charge at one end and providing an aperture at the other end, and a nail disposed within the sleeve means, said nail comprising a head, shank and a tip and being arranged to be driven outside the aperture formed in the other end of the sleeve means. The head of the nail acts as a piston which can be driven by explosion of the explosive charge and as a stop which arrests the driving-out movement when the shank of the nail has passed through said aperture.