What's New at Congress 2002
Airbag test chamber
MGA Research Corp. has recently introduced a new chamber that is used during development of all types of airbags. The system complements an array of test systems and has been designed specifically for synchronized impact testing with airbag deployments at extreme temperatures. It has ample windows for high-speed camera coverage from a variety of angles. The entire front wall is a large door, which opens by sliding straight up, making vehicle body setup easier since there are no partial walls that can cause obstructions. The chamber also has a provision for rigidly securing a fixture or vehicle buck, which makes temperature-conditioned impact tests easier to perform. It takes 15 s to fully open the door, so the test item is exposed to ambient air for a minimum amount of time. The system is also capable of firing an airbag timed to deploy in conjunction with a dynamic moving impact mass to evaluate airbag effectiveness. The internal space of the unit is 2.4 x 2.4 x 2.4 m (8 x 8 x 8 ft), and the temperature range is -40 to +85°C (-40 to +185°F).
Airbag deployment testing
Microsys Technologies Inc. has completed the installation of a fully automated, static airbag deployment room within its new facilities. The 3.7- x 3.4-m (12- x 11-ft) room has an operator area complete with viewing window and allows for the installation of up to three SureFire control systems for product development, demonstrations to potential buyers, and training of new hires, customers, and sales agents. Customers may rent the facility for test deployments if their own facilities are not available or capable of meeting peak test demands. The facility includes SureFire control system and software, PowerPlay analysis software, dual Redlake HG2000 imagers, dual 2A squib supplies, squib resistance, squib current readback, automatic light control of seven 1000-W halogen lights and a 35-W HID light, combination of mobile light poles and ceiling-mounted light track, safety interlocks, ambient temperature and humidity monitoring, and flexible test fixture to accommodate different types of airbags.
Helium leak detector
MKS Instruments' PICO Series is a portable mass spectrometer-based leak detector that weighs only 7.3 kg (16 lb). Using an ion-trap mass spectrometer, the unit can detect leak rates as low as 1 x 10-7 atm-cc/s from pressurized lines or enclosures and from vacuum chambers. The device is suitable for air-conditioning, automotive, petrochemical, and semiconductor applications. The PICO also has an integral vacuum system, which incorporates a turbomolecular pump as well as a backing scroll pump. It measures approximately 100 mm (4 in) wide, 380 mm (15 in) long, and 250 mm (10 in) high. A touch-screen interface displays the current helium leak-rate and historical leak-rate data. An adjustable audio signal is provided.
High-speed video imaging
NAC's Memrecam fx high-speed digital camcorders are suitable for airbag deployment and automotive test image acquisition. The self-contained, digital, Hi-G system is capable of monochrome or full color image capture of up to 10,000 pps with resolutions of up to 1280 x 1024 pixels. The camcorders consist of the Memrecam 4,000 and K3. The 4,000 is a CCD sensor with full-frame resolution of up to 4000 pps and split-frame resolution up to 10,000 pps. The K3 is based on a CMOS sensor that provides up to 1280 x 1024 pixel resolution at 1000 pps. The 4,000 offers up to 4 s of record time at 4000 pps, and the K3 will provide 2-4 s record time at 1000 pps. The systems are easy to set up and operate either locally, at the camera, or remotely, via PC.
Terminal material
C18080/K88, a new precipitation strengthened alloy designed to meet the needs of the automotive connector market, was developed jointly between Olin Brass and Wieland Werke. C18080 addresses the demand for high conductivity copper alloys with improved strength, formability, and stress relaxation. The alloy has strength up to 550 MPa (80 ksi) combined with 80% IACS electrical conductivity. These properties, combined with the ability to operate at temperatures up to 200°C (392°F), make the alloy suitable for demanding applications.
Data acquisition/analysis
PTrAc/PTrAn from Optimum Power Technology provides a powerful electronic system for data acquisition and analysis in one package. PTrAc takes advantage of low-cost PC hardware and advanced electronics to produce a high-speed data-acquisition system capable of sampling up to 1.25 MHz in either time- or angle-based mode. The system provides savings in both cost and time over other available systems due to its ease of use and a unique filtering system. Its software-controlled digital filtering system ensures that the correct level of filtering is applied to prevent aliasing of the incoming signals regardless of the engine speed. PTrAn, available as part of the system or as an individual software package, is a high-quality combustion analysis software. In a user-friendly environment it combines industry-standard computations with enhanced graphical capabilities, reducing test, analysis, and development costs.
