Abstract: A wheel alignment adjustment device comprising a first member adapted for supporting an elongate shaft portion of a vehicle wheel suspension assembly and a plurality of parallel overlapping bores extending through the first member adapted for axially receiving the elongate shaft portion in a selected one of the bores and for maintaining the elongate shaft portion in a radially stationary position therein.

Abstract: A gas inflator apparatus for deploying inflatable devices, particularly automobile air bags, which provides an initial flow rate of gas into the air bag, followed by a delayed maximum flow rate to fully deploy the air bag, the apparatus particularly having the capability to program the delay by monitoring certain environmental conditions, namely pressure, and additionally providing temperature compensation for variations in ambient conditions, all of which optimize performance of the gas inflator apparatus over a wider range of operating conditions. A single electrical signal is sent to the gas inflator apparatus upon the sensing of an impact. The signal actuates an electro-explosive device which allows stored gas in the gas inflator apparatus to begin flowing into the air bag. Mechanical elements monitor the differential pressure between a pressure related to the pressure in the housing which stores the gas and a reference pressure.

Abstract: A suspension pressure control system on a vehicle applies a pressure which is proportional to a current level supplied to a solenoid of a pressure control valve to a shock absorber associated with respective one of suspensions from the valve. An electronic controller controls the current level to maintain an attitude of a vehicle substantially constant in spite of any change of longitudinal and lateral acceleration, which are detected by acceleration sensors. If a driver on the vehicle closes test indication switches TSW1 and TSW2, indicates "high" by a height indication switch HSW and rotates a steering wheel on the vehicle by B toward right, the vehicle laterally inclines such that a height of the left side of the vehicle rises up and a right side falls down responding to the rotation of the steering wheel. The inclination increases as the rotation of the steering wheel increases. The inclination decreases when the steering wheel rotates inverse direction toward the neutral position.

Abstract: A seat belt system for use with a seat in a motor vehicle comprises a combination belt including a lap belt part and a shoulder belt part, the lap belt part and the shoulder belt part restraining respectively the lap and shoulder portions of a seat occupant when in use; a first mechanism for applying, upon a vehicle collision, the lap belt part with a certain tension thereby increasing the restraining force of the lap belt part; a thigh belt positioned in front of the lap belt part with respect to the seat, the thigh belt restraining the thigh portion of the seat occupant when in use; and a second mechanism for applying, upon the vehicle collision, the thigh belt with a certain tension thereby increasing the restraining force of the thigh belt.

Abstract: A self-supporting motor-vehicle body includes outer lateral side members (sills) on a substructure in the region of the passenger cell, and front and rear side members which are angularly offset relative to a longitudinal center axis of the vehicle and respectively located at a vehicle forward structure and at a vehicle rearward structure. The front and rear side members adjoin the lateral side members via a bent portion. In order to provide stiffening of the body, struts are secured to the substructure of the body so as each to be fastened at one end to a lateral side member, and directed towards a middle region of the vehicle with their other end fastened once again to the substructure of the body. A front strut is guided from each of the two lateral side members into the vehicle forward structure and/or a rear strut is guided from each of the two lateral side members into the vehicle rearward structure, with each strut preferably being aligned at an angle of approximately 45.degree.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a roll frame pivotally mounted transverse of the vehicle, the roll frame has an arm at either end, the arms extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a wishbone is pivottaly supported on each of the arms outboard thereof, each wishbone forming part of a linkage for supporting a different wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: An auxiliary storage buckle assembly (50), of integral construction for storing a latch plate (36, 60), a safety belt (30) when not restraining an occupant of a vehicle including a base (54), and a cover (8) defining a slot (58) for receiving the latch plate (36, 60), a lock plate (70) having a resilient stem portion (72) cantilevered from a portion of the base (54) proximate the entrance of the slot, and movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the latch plate for interacting with an opening (62) in the latch plate for securing same thereto. Various alternate embodiments of a storage assembly (50') are illustrated wherein such assembly (50') may be inserted within an opening in the interior facia or trim of a vehicle or fabricated as an integral part thereof.

Abstract: A suspension control device including a control device for variably controlling a damping force of a suspension to an optimum value by determining a magnitude of acceleration is vertical opposite directions of a vehicle body which magnitude is equal to or greater than a predetermined level and measuring the accumulated duration time of a sprung resonance which is detected by a cycle of vibration of the vehicle body from a timing of the determination of the magnitude. In another aspect, the suspension control device includes a control device for outputting a command for increasing a damping force when a magnitude of acceleration in vertical opposite directions of a vehicle body is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined level, and measuring the number of repetitions of a sprung resonance which is detected by measuring a cycle of vibration of the vehicle body from a timing of the determination of the magnitude.

Abstract: A high clearance frame construction for supporting a motor vehicle, and in particular a truck, for use as a tractor-like device for farming and other such related chores. The frame construction includes front and rear tractor-like wheels. The front frame wheels are steered independent of one another through the cooperation of the steering components of the motor vehicle mounted thereon. Likewise, the rear frame wheels are driven by adapting the power take off of the vehicle to independently power each rear wheel. Independent arrangement of the steering and driving components that permits the high clearance feature of the device. The frame construction also features an adjustable frame such that both the overall length and width of the construction may be varied to accommodate different size vehicles. The frame construction is made operational for spraying crops by mounting a spraying tank and boom on the vehicle thereon.

Abstract: A full vehicle suspension control derives the vertical wheel and vertical body corner velocities at each corner of the vehicle body and derives therefrom a set of at least three body state velocity variables descriptive of vertical body motions and attitude. These body state velocity variables may be the body heave, roll and pitch velocities or a plurality of the vertical body corner velocities. The suspension control computes desired forces between each body corner and its corresponding wheel from a linear combination of the vertical wheel velocity of that wheel and the body state velocity variables and derives control signals from the desired forces and, in a semi-active system, the sign of demand power. The control signals are applied to vertical force actuators connected to exert vertical forces between the vehicle body and wheel at the vehicle body corners and capable of response at frequencies sufficient to control wheel as well as body vibrations in real time.

Abstract: An adjustable shoulder anchorage is provided for use in a vehicle seat belt system. The anchorage includes a base defining a plurality of engagement portions distributed at predetermined intervals along the length of the base; a slide anchor provided movably under guidance along the base and carrying a joint on which a webbing is supported; a lock member provided on the slide anchor, the lock member being selectively engageable with the engagement portions; a stopper provided on a side of one end of the base so that movement of the slide anchor can be limited; and an impact absorber interposed between the stopper and the slide anchor, the impact absorber being flexible when brought into abutment against the stopper.

Abstract: An end link assembly includes an elongated link terminating in a barrel portion at one end and a ring portion at the other end. An elastomeric bushing having a pair of flexible annular walls projecting outwardly from an outer surface is mounted at the ring portion of the link. A stabilizer bar is press fitted into the bushing. The barrel portion is mounted to the control arm by a fastener. During operation, the bushing provides a working angle large enough to accommodate the movement between the stabilizer bar and the link.

Abstract: A suspension apparatus of a vehicle has a cylinder unit interposed between a sprang weight and an unsprung weight, which changes a ride height of the vehicle body by supplying or discharging an operating liquid through a supply/discharge control valve. The supply/discharge control valve is controlled on the basis of a predetermined condition so as to control a posture of the vehicle body. There are further provided a rebound detecting means for detecting a rebound of each of the wheels and a pressure detecting means for detecting a pressure in the cylinder unit. When the rebound is detected by the rebound detecting sensor to be above a given value, if the pressure detected by the pressure detecting means is continued at a magnitude above a given value for a given period of time, it is judged that the supply/discharge control valve is in trouble.

Abstract: Suspension apparatus provides a real time suspension tuning control for a motor vehicle. An actuator is connected to exert a variable force between the vehicle body and wheel. A control derives a control signal for the actuator from a linear combination of vehicle state variables derived from sensed vehicle variables, the linear combination being characterized by gains determining the relative contribution of each state variable to the control signal. The control further stores in memory a plurality of alternatives sets of gains, with each stored set of gains comprising gain values tending to produce a different suspension performance. The control is responsive to one of the sensed vehicle varibles in real time to select between the alternative sets of gains in deriving the control signal. The suspension tuning characteristics are thus easily and quickly changed in emphasis between isolation, wheel control and body attitude control in real time vehicle operation.

Abstract: A controlled suspension for a wheeled vehicle includes a damper between the vehicle body and wheel, the damper being switchable, at a frequency sufficient for the control of resonant wheel vibrations, between a first mode of operation characterized by a high damping force and a second mode of operation having a low damping force. A control repeatedly derives from sensed vehicle suspension related operating variables desired force to be applied between the body and wheel in order to produce a desired suspension behavior determines whether that force result in active or dissipative suspension power.

Abstract: To deploy an inflatable member, such as an occupant restraint safety bag in a motor vehicle, a liquid propellant is expelled from a storage reservoir into a reaction chamber through ports created at frangible pressure points in the reservoir wall and ignited by detonation of an explosive charge to generate a non-toxic, bag inflating gas by exothermic reaction.

Abstract: The front wall of a cover for a vehicle safety air bag has weakened zones along which the cover fractures upon inflation of the air bag. The weakened zones have lesser strength in portions nearer the center of the front wall and greater strength in portions farther from the center, thereby ensuring that fracture of the cover begins in the center and propogates outward from the center.

Abstract: An electrically powered suspension for a vehicle including a roadwheel and tire assembly, an electrically powered suspension unit having one end attached to the roadwheel and tire assembly and the other end attached to the chasis of the vehicle, with the suspension unit including an electric motor for positioning the roadwheel with respect to the chasis, and a controller for operating the electric motor so as to control the vertical movement of the wheel and tire assembly with respect to the vehicle's chassis. The electric motor may include either a linear or rotating electric motor, acting either alone or in parallel with a static load carrying device such as a fluid or coil spring.

Abstract: A suspension apparatus of a vehicle has a cylinder unit interposed between a sprang weight and an unsprung weight, which changes a ride height of the vehicle body by supplying or discharging an operating liquid through a supply/discharge control valve. The supply/discharge control value is controlled on the basis of a predetermined condition so as to control a posture of the vehicle body. There are further provided a rebound detecting sensor for detecting a rebound of each of the wheels, which occurs further from a state in which the wheel is rebounded, and a pressure detecting sensor for detecting a pressure in the cylinder unit. When it is sensed by the rebound detecting sensor that the rebound occurs further from the rebounding state, if the pressure detected by the pressure detecting sensor is continued in an elevating state for a given period of time, it is judged that the supply/discharge control valve is in trouble.

Abstract: A gas inflator apparatus for deploying inflatable devices, particularly automobile air bags, which provides an initial flow rate of gas onto the air bag, followed by a delayed maximum flow rate to fully depoly the air bag, the apparatus particularly having the capability to program the delay by monitoring cartain environmental conditions, namely pressure, and additionally providing temperature compensation for variations in ambient conditions, all of which optimize performance of the gas inflator apparatus over a wider range of operating conditions. A single electrical signal is sent to the gas inflator apparatus upon the sensing of an impact. The signal actuates an electro-explosive device which allows stored gas in the gas inflator apparatus to begin flowing into the air bag. Mechanical elements monitor the differential pressure between a pressure related to the pressure in the housing which stores the gas and a reference pressure.