Abstract: A pneumatic energy absorbing arrangement, for use between the bumper and the frame of an automobile, includes a piston and cylinder combination which provides for an increasing amount of force or energy absorbed in relation to an increasing amount of travel between the piston and cylinder combination and, therefore, of the automobile itself. Exhaustion of the air within the piston cylinder combination is accomplished by a decreasing area of vent holes as the travel of the piston and cylinder increases. A specific or variable rate spring is provided to bias the piston and cylinder arrangement in an extended before-impact condition and absorb energy. The energy absorption device provided by this invention is reusable in that it is not destroyed during an impact.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering system having first and second linkage assemblies, each pivotally coupled to a steerable wheel to exert simultaneous pushes or pulls, depending upon the direction of a vehicle turn. The first linkage assembly has an inboard end which is pivotally coupled to a first T-shaped track-inducing member which is connected to the steering box of the vehicle. The second linkage assembly is connected to a second T-shaped track-inducing member. Ends of the track-inducing members opposite to the linkage assemblies are joined by an arm. Rotation of a vehicle steering wheel causes the first track-inducing member to rotate about a vertical axis defined by the steering box. The joinder of the track-inducing members results in displacements of the inboard ends of the linkage assemblies. Because the connections at the opposed ends of each track-inducing member are out of phase by less than 180.degree.

Abstract: A steering and suspension system which steers and tracks all wheels of a vehicle and banks the vehicle body during turns. Front and rear power assisted rack and pinion steering assemblies are mechanically linked so that the rear wheels are turned in the opposite direction of the front wheels relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The power assistance turns the radially inward wheels to a greater degree than the radially outward wheels. A pendulous mass is suspended from the vehicle body to react to centrifugal force and is operationally linked to a camber and attitude adjustment spool valve to regulate fluid flow to front and rear camber pistons and to hydraulic shock absorbers. The spool valve responds to swing of the pendulous mass to channel fluid to the camber pistons which cause the vehicle wheels to lean into a turn. Moreover, the spool valve channels fluid to the shock absorbers that are radially outward of a curve to bank into a turn.

Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle having three sources of communicating pressurized fluid to wheel brakes and having a mechanical brake. Two of the sources of communicating pressurized fluid are the reservoirs of a dual master cylinder and provide first and second hydraulic brake subsystems. The remaining source is an emergency master cylinder and provides a third hydraulic brake subsystem. The mechanical brake and the third hydraulic brake subsystem are operatively connected to an emergency brake pedal. Disc brakes each have a pair of floating calipers, each caliper being in fluid communication with a pair of sources of communicating pressurized fluid. Drum brakes have at least one dual chambered wheel cylinder in fluid communication with two sources of communicating pressurized fluid. The first and second hydraulic brake systems, as well as the emergency brake pedal, operate brakes on each of the four wheels of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly having a primary ball and a primary bearing surface. The primary ball is coaxially attached to a main shaft which pivots near the point of contact between the primary ball and the primary bearing surface. The main shaft controls a coaxially connected secondary ball spaced apart from the primary ball and closely spaced from a secondary bearing surface, similar in orientation to the primary surface, so that the secondary ball floats freely at some predetermined distance from the secondary bearing surface. The secondary ball contacts a normally closed microswitch. As the primary bearing surface wears the main shaft rises bringing the secondary ball toward the secondary bearing surface and away from the microswitch. Eventually the secondary ball will contact the secondary bearing surface and the microswitch will be activated, causing a warning light to illuminate, thereby signalling wearout of the ball joint without catastrophic failure.