Abstract: A seat belt device (1) including an obstacle detection portion for detecting an obstacle in an area surrounding a vehicle, a collision prediction portion (21) for predicting a probability of a collision between the vehicle and the obstacle based on a detection signal from the obstacle detection portion, a pretensioner device (40), and a pretensioner control portion (22) which controls, when a collision prediction is received from the collision prediction portion (21), the operation of the pretensioner device (40) such that seat belt is retracted prior to the collision. Multilevel tensions for retraction of the seat belt are set for the pretensioner device (40), and furthermore, the tension of the seat belt can be change by the pretensioner control portion (22) in accordance with a collision prediction level determined by the collision prediction portion (21).

Abstract: A fuel cut-off control system (12) for a vehicle (10) is provided. This system (12) includes one or more crash sensors (24) for detecting a fuel cut-off event and for generating a crash signal. These sensors (24) are coupled to a controller (26) and are utilized for transmitting the crash signal thereto. This controller (26) is coupled to a fuel supply system (14) and is intended to temporarily disable the fuel supply system (14) when the controller (26) receives the crash signal. The controller (26) is also coupled to an indicator mechanism (28) and is intended to transmit a cut-off notification signal to the indicator mechanism (28). This indicator mechanism (28) can then display a cut-off notification message to an occupant of the vehicle (10). Finally, the controller (26) also has a reset mechanism (30) coupled thereto. This reset mechanism (30) is intended to be manually operated by the occupant for the purpose of returning the fuel supply system (14) to an operational condition.

Abstract: A knee protecting airbag device in which a folded airbag and an inflator are housed and held in a case. In the inflator, a connection portion to be connected with a connector having leadwires connected is exposed to the outside of the case through insert holes formed in the airbag and in the case. The through hole of the case has an internal diameter size smaller than the external diameter size of the general portion of the inflator near the connection portion of the inflator.

Abstract: A hydraulic tilting device for tilting a cab of a vehicle between a driving position and a tilted position, which cab is resiliently supported on the chassis of the vehicle. The tilting device includes a reservoir for hydraulic fluid and a pump which is connected to the reservoir. The tilting device also includes a double-acting hydraulic tilting cylinder for tilting the cab. At the tilting cylinder there is a lost-motion passage which extends between ports which open out into the cylinder space of the tilting cylinder, which ports are respectively in communication with the pressure chamber and the pull chamber of the tilting cylinder if the piston-piston rod assembly is in the lost-motion range defined by the ports. The tilting device is designed in such a manner that the reciprocating movements of the piston-piston rod assembly within the lost-motion range can take place with as little obstacle as possible.

Abstract: A hydropneumatic, level-regulated axle suspension for the front wheel axle and rear wheel axle on vehicles, in particular vehicles whose large axle load spread is large, having two double-acting hydraulic suspension cylinders, whose cylinder spaces are each connected to a first accumulator and whose annuli on the piston side are connected to a second accumulator, the axle suspension for the front axle (39) and the rear axle (40) being designed as a reversible double-function axle suspension, so that each axle (39, 40) is switchable both as an oscillating axle (in the cylinder transverse combination) and as a stabilizing axle (in the cross combination).

Abstract: A material handling vehicle includes first and second control handles positioned at opposing ends of an operator compartment. The first control handle is positioned adjacent the forks for driving the vehicle in a fore or forks first direction, and the second control handle is positioned adjacent the back of the vehicle for driving the vehicle in the aft or forks trailing direction. The control handles provide stability for the operator and an intuitive operator interface irrespective of direction of travel.

Abstract: An air bag door for a passenger seat of an automobile for improving a coupling construction of an air bag door and a housing.

Abstract: In a gantry axle for low-platform vehicles, the gantry transmission consists of one input spur gear (2) operatively connected with a first intermediate spur gear (3) non-rotatably connected with a second intermediate spur gear (4) operatively connected with an output spur gear (5). The vertical distance of the axis of rotation (10) of the input spur gear to the ground (11) is smaller than the vertical distance of the intermediate spur gears (9, 4) to the ground (11).

Abstract: A knee bolster for a vehicle has an air bag and an air bag inflator. The air bag has an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The air bag is attached to the knee bolster, which is moveable with the air bag. The knee bolster may move from an unactuated position when the air bag is in the deflated condition to an actuated position when the air bag is inflated. A guide structure, which is attached to the knee bolster directs the bolster along a linear path from the unactuated position to the actuated position.

Abstract: The invention provides a driver's cab for a work vehicle which is provided with a function of effectively transferring an external force applied to a ceiling portion to a pillar without making a structure complex, and can achieve a reinforced structure. In a driver's cab (1) in a working vehicle, the driver's cab being structured by a pipe-like member, a connection member (30 (31)) for dispersing a stress is arranged in a support pillar (11 (12)) in an opposite side particularly in the case that an external force is applied to a transverse outer side of a ceiling portion.

Abstract: An inflator for safety system for a vehicle includes: an inflator housing having a gas discharging port, the inflator housing accommodating a pressurized medium accommodation chamber charged with a pressurized medium, and an igniter chamber for accommodating an igniter; a first retainer defining, therein, a first passage for guiding an activation energy of the igniter towards the pressurized medium accommodation chamber, and defining, outside thereof, a second passage, for guiding the pressurized medium to the gas discharging port; a second retainer arranged in alignment with the first cylindrical peripheral wall portion and defining, therein, the first passage, and defining, outside thereof, the second passage; and a single rupturable plate extending through a communicating space, formed between opposing ends of the first retainer and the second retainer and communicating the first passage with the second passage, for sealing the pressurized medium accommodation chamber from the igniter chamber and the disch

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of reducing an amount of NOx generated in actuation of a hybrid inflator. The present invention is a method of reducing nitrogen oxide which is generated in actuation of a hybrid inflator for an inflatable safety system of a vehicle provided with an airbag, the inflator comprising an inflator housing charged with a pressurized medium, a gas generator which is accommodated in the inflator housing and has one or two or more gas generating chambers storing a gas generating agent including a fuel and an oxidizing agent, and an igniting means connected to the gas generator, wherein a reducing compound having at least a reducing function of a nitrogen oxygen is placed in the hybrid inflator.

Abstract: A device comprises a gas cushion inflatable with gas by a filling device, a transceiver for electromagnetic waves, an evaluation device connected to the transceiver, and an interrogation unit, disposed on the gas cushion, that can be remotely interrogated by the transceiver to provide a degree of deployment and/or deployment velocity of the gas cushion to the evaluation device. The interrogation unit can be implemented by a transponder or a polarizing reflector.

Abstract: A tractor frame comprises a pair of left and right cranked side frame elements disposed in parallel. Each of the cranked side frame elements includes a web portion at a longitudinally intermediate portion of the cranked side frame elements, a front level portion extended forward from the web portion, and a rear level portion extended backward from the web portion so that a top of the rear level portion is lower than a top of the front level portion. A footboard is provided on the top of the rear level portion.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a motorcycle having a steering handle mounted so as to be capable of rotating with respect to a head pipe mounted at the front end of a main frame is capable of being mounted after assembly, e.g., as an after-market add-on or retrofit to an existing vehicle, or during vehicle assembly or manufacture. An airbag mounting member is mounted so as to extend from the main frame toward the front of the vehicle body across a central axis of rotation of the steering handle and a top bridge of the main frame. An airbag module is mounted on the airbag mounting member so that the upper portion of the airbag module is covered by a covering member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for actuating a reversible belt pretensioner for pretensioning a belt webbing, wound around a belt reel, of a seat belt in a motor vehicle, the belt pretensioner having a drive which acts on the belt reel. The seat belt has a locking device, acting on the belt reel in the unwinding direction, as a belt extraction lock. After the triggering of the belt pretensioner and when a predefinable condition is met, the belt pretensioner is actuated in such a way that the belt reel rotates at least to such an extent in the winding-up direction that the locking device of the belt reel opens and releases the belt webbing for unwinding.

Abstract: A rupturable cover (10) for an air bag module (22) comprises an inner cover (30) and an outer cover (80) overlying the inner cover. The inner cover (30) has a first tear seam (70) for enabling rupturing of the inner cover in response to inflation of an air bag (24). The outer cover (80) has a second tear seam (100) for enabling rupturing of the outer cover. The second tear seam (100) has a configuration different from the first tear seam (70). At least a portion of the second tear seam (100) overlies the first tear seam (70) when the outer cover (80) is adhered to the inner cover (30) in any one of a plurality of different positions of alignment. The second tear seam (100) may have a wavy configuration.

Abstract: An air-bag arrangement provides protection for the occupant of a motor vehicle. The air-bag arrangement incorporates an airbag (50) formed by two layers (51, 52) interconnected to form a first set of chambers (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58), having a plurality of elongated substantially parallel chambers. A further fabric layer (61) is connected to one of the two layers (52) forming the main part of the inflatable element to define a second chamber set including two chambers (62, 63). The chambers are off-set from the adjacent chambers (54, 55, 56) defined by the first two layers (51, 52). Apertures (59, 60) provided in the layer (52) allow for the inflation of the second set of chambers (62, 63).

Abstract: A stationary jacket is fixed to a vehicle body and a sliding jacket is axially slidably received in the stationary jacket. A steering shaft includes a first shaft part which is axially movable together with the sliding jacket and connected to a steering wheel and a second shaft part which is rotatable together with the first shaft part while being suppressed from moving in an axial direction. An opening is formed in the stationary jacket. An electric drive unit is fixed to an outer side of the stationary jacket. The drive unit has a threaded output shaft. A nut block is operatively engaged with the threaded output shaft. A binding bracket extends between the sliding jacket and the nut block through the opening of the stationary jacket. The binding bracket includes a round gripping portion which is disposed on the sliding jacket and two gripping arms which put therebetween the nut block.

Abstract: An air bag assembly adapted for use in opposing relation to a vehicle occupant. The assembly includes one or more tethering elements which may be selectively released from a first restrained condition to a second restrained condition in a predefined manner so as to control the inflated profile of the air bag cushion based upon vehicle and/or occupant conditions while nonetheless maintaining tension within the tethering elements in both the first and second restrained conditions.