Earl Henry Nelson

Title: Earl Henry Nelson: Innovator in Safety and Composite Materials

Introduction

Earl Henry Nelson is a notable inventor based in West Haven, UT (US). He has made significant contributions to the fields of safety and composite materials, holding a total of 11 patents. His innovative designs have enhanced safety features in vehicles and advanced the technology of filament wrapping.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is the seatbelt pretensioner. This invention includes an inner tube with a gas generator housed within, an intermediate sleeve extending over the inner tube, and a spool portion that houses both the sleeve and the tube. The spool portion features spiraling flutes that correspond to a protruding member from the intermediate sleeve. When the gas generator fires, the sleeve is driven longitudinally, causing the protruding member to interact with the spiraling flutes, resulting in the rotation of the spool. Additionally, the intermediate sleeve can have a spiraling slot that receives a peg from the inner tube, allowing for compounded rotation of the spool.

Another significant patent is for filament wound inflators. This apparatus allows for filament wrapping of a composite material around an object. It includes a fixture that can rotationally fix the object at a selected angle from vertical. The fixture is secured to a rotatable planar platform, enabling rotation about an axis perpendicular to the platform. An eyelet is provided for releasing a composite material filament to wrap the object. This invention also includes methods for filament wrapping and helically wrapping a composite material filament around an inflator device subassembly.

Career Highlights

Earl Henry Nelson has worked with prominent companies such as Autoliv Asp, Incorporated and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. His work in these organizations has allowed him to develop and refine his innovative ideas, contributing to advancements in automotive safety and materials technology.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Earl has collaborated with talented individuals, including Bradley W. Smith and David W. Parkinson. These collaborations have fostered a creative environment that has led to the development of groundbreaking inventions.

Conclusion

Earl Henry Nelson's contributions to the fields of safety and composite materials are noteworthy. His innovative patents and collaborations have significantly impacted automotive safety technology. His work continues to inspire future advancements in these critical areas.