Pacific Scientific Company

American Safety Equipment Corporation

William S Wright, Jr

Akira Tanaka

Elmer C Yang

Gregory G Kuszyncki

Constant or transient forces and displacements between a motion snubber and its associated load are detected and converted to an electrical signal. Electrical signals from the detection devices are transmitted to a receiving device which is electrically connected to a recording means. The signals from a plurality of detecting devices are encoded to identify the snubber having the detected force and displacement.

System for monitoring snubber loads

An adjustable locking strut is connected to a pair of relatively movable mechanical elements and permits relative motion between these elements below a predetermined motion threshold. Above this predetermined motion threshold relative movement between mechanical elements is prohibited through the engagement of nonoverhauling threaded members connected to the mechanical elements. These nonoverhauling threaded members are specially designed so that when synchronized they do not engage one another. One of the nonoverhauling threaded members which is internally threaded forms a relatively large tubular inertia mass for sensing accelerated movement between the relatively movable mechanical elements. This tubular inertia mass is machined to close tolerances to fit within a cylindrical cavity in the adjustable locking strut so that when the nonoverhauling threaded members are engaged, extremely large forces may be absorbed by the locking strut without damage thereto, there being no roller or ball bearings in the direct force path to cause system failure.

Adjustable locking strut

An adjustable locking strut is connected to a pair of relatively movable mechanical elements and permits relative motion between these elements below a predetermined motion threshold. Above this predetermined motion threshold, relative movement between the mechanical elements is prohibited through the engagement of nonoverhauling threaded members connected to the mechanical elements. These nonoverhauling threaded members are specially designed so that, when synchronized, they do not engage one another. A synchronizing, overhauling threaded member is utilized to maintain the nonoverhauling threaded elements synchronized below the predetermined motion threshold, but is inoperative above the predetermined motion threshold so that said relative motion between the mechanical elements is prohibited above this threshold.

A safety belt retractor having a frame, a strap receiving reel mounted for rotation on the frame with the reel being urged into a strap wound position and a pawl having a tab for engaging the teeth of a ratchet wheel. Inertia responsive means are associated with the pawl which is normally biased into a position out of engagement with the wheel, the inertia responsive means being responsive to a first rate of acceleration of the strap off the reel for causing the pawl tab to engage with the teeth. The inertia responsive means is selectively prevented from causing the tab to engage with the teeth upon a second rate of acceleration of the strap off of the reel above the first rate of acceleration during protraction of the strap off of the reel while permitting operation of the inertia responsive means upon acceleration of the strap off of the reel at a third rate of acceleration higher than the second rate of acceleration and is responsive to a retractive movement of the reel after unwinding of a predetermined amount of the strap off of the reel to release the inertia responsive means for engagement of the tab with the ratchet wheel teeth upon acceleration of the strap off of said reel at the first rate of acceleration.

Growing community of inventors

Corona Del Mar, CA, United States of America

William S Wright, Jr