Abstract: A rear suspension system for automobiles, comprising: a trailing arm pivoted to the automobile body at its front end and to a knuckle at its rear end; a first and a second lateral links extending laterally across an upper portion and a lower portion of the knuckle and the corresponding locations of the automobile body, respectively; and a third lateral link extending laterally across an intermediate position of the knuckle, located between the upper portion and the lower portion of the knuckle and behind a central axial line of a wheel axle of the knuckle, and the corresponding location of the automobile body. The second lateral link has a substantially same length as the third lateral link. Thus, the mounting positions of the lower end of the shock absorber can be lowered, and the resistance against the changes in the toe angle and the camber angle is increased.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided which maintains a substantially constant weight, and therefore traction, on all wheels, despite one wheel moving considerably higher or lower than the others, while avoiding a very soft spring suspension. The vehicle includes a chassis or body to be supported and a pair of side suspensions at either side of the body. In a six wheel vehicle, each side suspension includes a middle wheel, and front and rear linkages repectively coupling the front and rear wheels to the middle wheel. A body link pivotally connects the front and rear linkages together, with the middle of the body link rising or falling by only a fraction of the rise or fall of any of the three wheels. The body link pivotally supports the middle of the length of the body.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved slider providing adjustment of the suspension of a vehicle longitudinally with respect to the body of the vehicle. The slider is of the type comprising a pair of side rails secured at the left and right sides of the body in fixed position extending longitudinally of the body, and a frame carrying the suspension comprising left and right slide members slidable longitudinally of the body on the side rails, and a plurality of locking pins for locking the frame in various positions of adjustment relative to the side rails, the locking pins being retractible for permitting adjustment of the frame to a selected position of adjustment and extensible for locking the frame in a selected position of adjustment.

Abstract: A cover for a vehicle lap or torso belt comprises a body formed of cushioning material having a cavity therein for the accommodation of a length of the belt. The cavity is accessible through an opening formed in one side of the cover and such opening comprises a plurality of interlocking dovetail segments which may be separated from one another.

Abstract: An impact head rest device is provided for a vehicle window. The head rest device comprises a vertically adjustable support column which includes narrow-shaped end members that fit behind or into the window molding. The support column is moveable about mid-way along its length from a slightly bent position to the straight column position.This enables the device to be inserted at each end behind the upper and lower window moldings in the bent position. Upon straightening the device by moderate pressure, the support column will be firmly wedged between the window moldings and the glass portion of the window, and thereby be secured in place.

Abstract: A system for generating signal representative of the vertical velocity of the body of an automotive vehicle including position sensor for sensing the relative vertical position of a road wheel and tire assembly with respect to the body and for producing a suspension position signal corresponding to the road wheel and tire position and a processor operatively associated with the position sensor for integrating the suspension position signal so as to produce a body velocity signal which is representative of the vertical velocity of the body. A control system for utilizing the body vertical velocity signal in a variety of algorithms for adjusting the adjustable damping feature of an automotive suspension unit.

Abstract: A wheel suspension for a motor vehicle, especially with four-wheel drive and at least one guide member which underneath an axle drive shaft is pivotally supported on the side of the body and connected with a wheel carrier. A spring leg is arranged between the guide member and the vehicle body which is extended laterally past the drive shaft by means of a connecting element adjoining the spring leg cylinder and is pivotally connected with the lower guide member in a bearing support. The connecting element of the spring leg includes a groove-shaped recess extending transversely with respect to the drive shaft, in which the drive shaft is arranged immersing with a longitudinal section and having a spacing for movement. This offers the advantage that the drive shaft can be easily installed without having to disconnect the spring leg from the drive member.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to allow the lubrication of a ball and coupler while being attached together. Unity of a ball and coupler are essential to this invention. The size of ball is immaterial to the function of the design. Lubrication is accomplished through a system comprising of internal ports and external exiting port holes. An internal port system that comprising a variety of ports and exiting port holes to the surface of the ball at various angles allowing lubrication between the ball and socket of the coupler. An external lubrication fitting is attached to the internal lubrication port system. Pressurization occurs when an external lubrication is introduced into the internal porting system through the external lubrication fitting. The amount of lubrication to the ball and socket is controlled by the amount of lubrication introduced into the internal porting system via the lubrication fitting.

Abstract: An independent rear wheel suspension (100; 100') for a vehicle in which a knuckle (1) rotatably supporting a rear wheel (2) of the vehicle is pivotably connected in a vertically movable manner to the vehicle body by means of a substantially longitudinally extending trailing arm (5), a substantially transversely extending upper arm (3), a substantially transversely extending short front lower arm (6), and a substantially transversely extending long rear lower arm (4). The knuckle (1) is vertically swingingly pivotably attached to the upper arm (3) and the rear lower arm (4). The upper arm (3), trailing arm (5), front lower arm (6), and rear lower arm (4) are vertically swingingly pivotably attached to the vehicle body. The knuckle (1) is leftwardly and rightwardly swingingly pivotably attached to the trailing arm (5) so as to rotate about a substantially vertical axis (12-14) extending through the rear end part (A) of the trailing arm (5).

Abstract: An anti-theft device for an automotive vehicle is provided. It is positioned on top of a battery for an automobile or the like which is provided with positive and negative terminals. The anti-theft device is located within a housing having upper and lower sections. The lower section has an opening for receiving the positive pole and a battery clamp.The anti-theft device receives a positive pole of the battery. The battery clamp fits over the positive pole. The anti-theft device includes a key actuated switch connected by a main power source to a new positive pole. This main power source is switch controlled.A constant power supply is connected to a resistor and by electrical connections to the key actuated switch through the positive pole of the battery. By timely use of the key actuated switch, the anti-theft device can be turned on and off to secure the automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A tension actuator suspension system is disclosed, providing control over the elevation of a load suspended from a reference system, as well as over the compliance of the suspension system. As employed in a vehicle suspension system, a preferred arrangement employs radially expansible, axially contractible tension actuators exhibiting tensile forces that decrease nonlinearly as each contracts. An antagonistic actuator pair is arranged in opposition between the chassis and each wheel of the vehicle. Air is supplied to the actuators from a compressor and accumulator by lines under the control of pressure regulator valves. Manual or automatic inputs allow the adjustment of both vehicle chassis elevation and suspension system compliance individually with respect to each wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle for activating a safety device in response to an impact force exceeding a predetermined level. The apparatus includes elongated structure mounted to the body of a vehicle with one end recessed from the periphery of the body and movable relative thereto in response to such an impact force. The elongated structure is operatively connected, as by a cable, with the safety device to activate the latter in response to movement.

Abstract: A retractable undercarriage for mounting dual wheels for a large transport vehicle comprising a support member adapted for connection to the vehicle and having a vertically extending leg and an arm member pivotally connected to one end thereof to the lower end of the leg by a special pin connection employing ring bearings. A running gear sub-assembly is connected to the other end of the arm member. First and second mounting blocks are respectively attached to an upper portion of the support member and to the arm member. Each of these blocks has a slot formed therein for receiving a pivot pin, which slot is open at one end. A hydraulic cylinder mechanism extends and retracts the undercarriage by pivoting the arm member. The upper and lower ends of this mechanism are pivotally connected by the pivot pins to the mounting blocks. Threaded fasteners secure the pivot pins in their respective slots.

Abstract: An improved MacPherson strut is disclosed having a guard flange disposed to shield an automobile wheel from contact with a fractured portion of the strut's spring. The flange is configured as an arcuate surface extending from the spring seat to a position between the spring and wheel. The strut also includes a bracket supporting the flange and attaching the flange to the strut body. The bracket is generally planer, and extends radially from the strut body.

Abstract: In a vehicle front suspension of the type wherein a control arm is vertically pivotally mounted to a vehicle body at two inboard end portions thereof spaced apart substantially in the vehicle longitudinal direction through respectively a front and a rear elastic linkage bearing and is horizontally pivotably connected at an outboard end portion thereof with a wheel support member bearing a knuckle arm extending rearwardly and rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel, and the free end of the knuckle arm is pivotably connected with an end portion of a tie rod for steering of the vehicle, the rear elastic linkage bearing is constructed to exhibit non-linear spring characteristics such as to exhibit a first spring constant with respect to force acting thereto in a vehicle lateral direction and not exceeding a certain value and a second spring constant which is lower than said first spring constant with respect to the lateral force exceeding said certain value, and the first spring constant of the rear elastic linkage

Abstract: A sensor for determining the operational position of an automotive suspension including two members relatively movable with respect to one another includes an assembly with the first component movable with respect to a second component, with the first and second components being relatively movable with respect to each other as a result of the movement of the vehicle suspension. A sensor according to this invention will further include, without limitation, a signal generation device associated with said first and second sensor components for generating a plurality of position signals including both unique and non-unique signals.

Abstract: There is provided a sensing system compatible with articulating axles whereby the angular difference between the axles is sensed by a limit switch. A spring loaded contact arm carried by one axle is used to trip a limit switch carried by the other axle.

Abstract: An air-portable all-terrain vehicle is provided with six wheels on three equidistant axles all driven from a single engine via two transfer boxes and differential gear units on each axle. The axles are fully floating beam axles on long travel coil springs and controlled by radius arms and Panhard rods. The radius arms may be parallel to and co-extensive with the respective propeller shafts coupling the differential gears to the transfer boxes and the connections between the propeller shafts and the transfer box outputs may include torsional vibration dampers. A dual circuit braking system with a deceleration sensing valve can be provided to limit the hydraulic pressure to the front wheel brakes. Loading/unloading in the field is facilitated by demountable side panels serving also as loading ramps.

Abstract: A wheel support rotatably supports a dirigible wheel. An upper wheel-support support member connects an upper portion of the wheel support to the vehicle body, and a lower wheel-support support member connects a lower portion of the wheel support to the vehicle body. The upper and lower wheel-support support members are arranged to respectively define upper and lower pivot points which define an imaginary kingpin axis. At least one of the upper and lower wheel-support support members is formed of a pair of separate link members one end of each of which is pivoted on the vehicle body at different portions of the vehicle body and the other end of each of which is rotatably connected to the wheel support at different portions of the wheel support.

Abstract: The sensor means crashes earlier and discriminates better when mounted at an angle to a horizontal plane passing through the horizontal axis of the vehicle. The sensor preferably is of the damped ball-in-tube type and the angular mounting thereof ranges from 10 to 40 degrees with respect to the horizontal axis of the vehicle, with the forward end of the sensor lower than the rear.