Automated Solutions, LLC

Other

Itt Corporation

Kenneth C Blaisdell

Larry P Hulsey

Robert A Rhinefrank

James A Dent

William F Baker

A folded air bag retaining apparatus for retaining a folded air bag coupled to a reaction plate in a folded configuration during the positioning of a cover. The apparatus including a holding fixture for supporting the reaction plate and the folded air bag coupled to the reaction plate, in a position to receive the enclosing cover, and a flexible band for retaining the folded air bag in a folded configuration until after the enclosing cover is positioned to enclose the folded air bag and the enclosing cover is coupled to the reaction plate.

Folded air bag retention apparatus

Method of producing an air bag module using a retractable air bag

A method of automatically folding an air bag having an end coupled to a retainer and an opposed distal end including flattening and narrowing the bag, providing first and second upright blade assemblies each having individually movable blades between a normal position and an interdigitated position. The bag is positioned between the blade assemblies with the retainer held and the distal end allowed to gradually move toward the retainer. Undulating folds are formed in the bag between the retainer and the distal end by moving a blade of the first assembly into a raised position, moving a blade of the second assembly into a lowered position, and alternately and individually moving each remaining blade into a raised and lowered positions, respectively, while allowing the distal end of the bag to gradually move toward the retainer as each undulating fold is formed.

Bag folding system

An apparatus for automatically folding an air bag to include a bubble fold, and for inserting the folded air bag into a retainer, the air bag having a first end coupled to the retainer and a second end. The apparatus includes a holding fixture for receiving and holding the retainer, a bag folding apparatus for folding the second end of the air bag and leaving a coupling portion coupling the second end to the first end, an inserter assembly for inserting the folded second end into the retainer, and a bubble blade for forming a bubble fold in the coupling portion, the bubble blade movable between a first position intermediate the holding fixture and the inserter assembly for overlying and contacting the coupling portion and a second position removed from intermediate the holding fixture and the inserter assembly.

A cover (40, FIG. 1) is provided for installation on an electrical connector to prevent rotation of a coupling nut (24) relative to the body (22) of the connector, which can be readily installed and removed. The cover is in the form of a tube. The tube is constructed of resilient material and has a slot (46) forming a pair of slot edges that can be spread apart to move the cover sidewardly onto or off of the connector. There is a space between the inside of the cover and the connector, with the space (78, FIG. 2) being greater around the nut than around a rearward portion (50) of the body so that compression of the cover causes it to grip the body rather than the nut. The cover has an inwardly-extending ridge-like projection (64) that fits in a recess of the connector between the rear of the nut and the front of an enlarged part of the connector body to limit axial movement of the cover. The ridge is of reduced thickness at locations (80, 82 in FIG. 4) spaced on either side of the slot, to facilitate bending of the cover to separate the slot edges. The slotted cover design can be used to hold a marking identifying the connector.

Cover for circular electrical connectors

A tail stock ram drive mechanism comprising a removable end adapter member adapted to be attached to the rear end of a tail stock guide about the axis of the guide, a housing member and means for removably attaching the housing member to the adapter member. The housing and adapter members each have a bore axially aligned with each other and with the guide. The bore of the housing and adapter members slidingly accomodate a gear rack. The housing is provided with a through bore extending transversely of the housing bore which accomodates the gear rack. A pinion shaft having a pinion mounted thereon is rotatably mounted in the transverse bore with the pinion meshing with the gear rack. A hub and lever assembly are mounted on the pinion shaft for operating the pinion shaft and thereby the gear rack. Means are provided for selectively limiting the forward and backward movement of the gear rack and for holding it in a given position when performing centering work, for example. The housing member is angularly adjustable about the axis of the adapter member and carries means for locking the housing member in a desired angular position with respect to the adapter member. In a preferred embodiment, removable connector means are provided for connecting the forward end of the gear rack with tail stock rams of various sizes.

Growing community of inventors

Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Kenneth C Blaisdell